My name is Evan Chambers and I created this GoFundMe for my neighbors, Joseph Garcia, Jose Garcia, and their extended family, who are all longtime residents and homeowners in Altadena. As a lot of Altadena residents, including my family, evacuated when the fire reached our homes, Joseph, his father Jose and Joseph’s brother-in-law Herman stayed back to fight it. They worked in extremely dangerous conditions for hours, hosing down houses and pulling neighbors out of burning buildings (sometimes wrapped in wetted-down sleeping bags). This was all done on their own with ZERO support from any first responders. Because of their efforts, Jose and Joseph were able to save many neighbors' houses and one of their family homes. They lost three of their family homes within a block of each other and 9 cars total, including their work trucks. Jose is close to my age and went to a local rival high school. Since then, he has worked hard building and maintaining a gardening route, had four (now grown) children, purchased his house (in 2000), and supported his community and family. Unfortunately most of his gardening route clients lost their homes too in the fire and so he is down to a skeleton route.

Joseph is younger and a hardworking employee at Jiffy Lube in Pasadena.

After battling for four hours to save their house and block, a fire engine finally came into the neighborhood. Unfortunately, it only told them to leave the area before continuing on its way. Jose and Joseph chose to stay anyway to continue to protect their neighborhood alone.

Losing three out of four family homes is a devastating loss. As is losing work trucks and tools. When I asked Joseph what he was able to save, he showed me an urn of his uncle's ashes that he pulled out of his grandmother's house while it was burning.

This family is extremely proud and independent. They have asked for ZERO help from outsiders. They received ZERO help from first responders in saving their block.

I believe that the example of Jose and Joseph is the model of how we will need to fight fires in the future. Putting our neighbors before ourselves and supporting eachother to the end. I made this gofundme in order to reach a larger community who wants to support Altadena. Altadena will support you back when the time comes.