Myself, fiancée Pauline, daughters Lyla (7), Ellie (3), and dog Chula (15) need all of your help.

We live on Altadena Dr. and New York Ave. in Pasadena, the epicenter of the Eaton fire.

Many of our neighbors' houses and cars were taken out by the massive fire. Our house was miraculously saved by a volunteer firefighter who saw the hedges surrounding our house on fire. If not for him, we would have lost our home.

Even though our house didn’t burn, it suffered extensive damage inside and out. We knew we had to leave when that loud knock on the door was followed by a forest worker saying, “You guys need to leave now! There are embers flying down your street!” So we grabbed what we could and left immediately.

Not only did this fire ravage my neighborhood, but it also burned Pauline’s school where she was a teacher, which means she’s out of a job. My job is also currently being affected due to clients canceling events in the area.

We are now staying at my brother's home in Montebello and don’t know when we can come home to start assessing the damage done. Days, weeks, who knows.

We are trying to find somewhere close to home to stay so we don’t have to commute that far to take Lyla to school whenever PUSD says it’s okay to return.

These funds will assist with needs that might not be fully covered by other sources of aid and prepare us as we embark on this tough journey that lies ahead of my family.

We are very fortunate to still have something to come back to, unlike many people we know who have lost it all, which our hearts deeply go out to.

Thank you for hearing me out.

-Danniel

Pasadena, CA