Our neighbor’s home in Los Angeles was completely destroyed by a fire caused by squatters living in an abandoned house next door. This tragedy was preventable.

For over two years, residents repeatedly contacted the City of Los Angeles, the police, and other city officials to report the dangerous conditions at the abandoned property. We warned authorities about squatters occupying the house, unsafe activity, and serious fire hazards. Despite these warnings and repeated pleas for help, no meaningful action was taken to address the situation.

At one point, the squatters even ran an illegal electrical line from a city light pole into the abandoned house. This was a clear safety hazard and a violation that was reported. Still, the city failed to intervene.

After months of calls, complaints, and requests for assistance, the abandoned property finally caught fire. The flames quickly spread to our neighbor’s home.

Our neighbor lost everything.

Not only was his home destroyed, but two of his beloved dogs died in the fire because they could not be rescued in time.

This neighbor is a hard-working, faith-driven family man who has spent years working as a construction worker to support his family. In the fire, he also lost all of his tools, which were essential for his livelihood.

This heartbreaking loss was not simply the result of a random accident—it was the consequence of years of ignored warnings and a failure to address a known dangerous property.

Our community deserves better. When residents report unsafe and illegal conditions, city leaders must act before tragedy strikes—not after.

In the face of this heartbreaking and preventable tragedy, we are coming together as neighbors, family, and a community to stand with Juan and his family during their time of greatest need. They have lost their home, their belongings, and the tools Juan depended on to provide for his family. But they have not lost their community.

We are asking others to join us in supporting Juan and helping his family rebuild their lives after this devastating loss.

We also want to express our deepest gratitude to the Los Angeles Fire Department for their extraordinary bravery and compassion. In the midst of the chaos and destruction, these firefighters risked their lives to save others.

One moment we will never forget was when a firefighter carried one of the family’s dogs out of the burning home. The dog appeared lifeless. Without hesitation, the firefighter knelt down and spent nearly 15 minutes performing resuscitation, refusing to give up until the beloved pet finally began to breathe again.

Thanks to the dedication and determination of the firefighters, one of the dogs survived.

Their courage and humanity in that moment reminded us all what true heroism looks like.

We saw the best in our our neighbors and public servants.