What California Families Saved Before Wildfires Ravaged Their Homes
As wildfires tore through Southern California, residents were forced to make heart-wrenching decisions about what to save—whether heirlooms, keepsakes, or essential items—before fleeing their homes.
When the wildfires in Southern California swept through the region earlier this month, residents were given mere minutes to evacuate. Faced with the terror of flames closing in, families scrambled to gather whatever they could carry—an impossible choice between preserving treasured belongings and fleeing for safety.
As the fires destroyed homes and lives, leaving at least 29 people dead and thousands of structures consumed, the loss of both practical items and cherished mementos has left survivors with a unique form of grief. Psychologists note that the anguish often stems from the inability to protect both daily necessities and meaningful keepsakes simultaneously.
NBC News spoke with five families in the Los Angeles area to understand the difficult decisions they made when time ran out.
A Daughter’s Art and an Author’s Books
Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, who lives in Altadena, was told to evacuate on the evening of January 7, not realizing it would be the last time she would see her home. In the chaos, she packed clothes and her journals, while her husband, Jervey Tervalon, an author, grabbed a few of his beloved books.
Their daughter, Colette, 9, instinctively packed her artwork and stuffed animals, including her Minecraft plush toys. Jinghuan recalls dismissing a coffee mug Colette wanted to bring, but the young girl insisted, saying her mother would regret not taking it if the house burned down.
The next morning, when they returned to their street, it was already too late. Their home was reduced to ashes. “It was so hard to believe,” Jinghuan said. “It felt like someone poured buckets of cold water on me.” The family now resides in a temporary rental, mourning not just the home but the memories they couldn’t save, like Colette’s art.
A Bear, Journals, and the Weight of Loss
For Jianling Horton, a high school senior, the realization of the approaching fire on January 7 came too quickly. When smoke filled the sky and a nearby school caught fire, she and her family rushed to evacuate their Pacific Palisades apartment. Jianling packed a jewelry box, a favorite stuffed bear named Toaster, and a stack of journals dating back to first grade.
Her parents also salvaged sentimental items, including her mother’s jewelry and keepsakes. The next day, Jianling’s childhood home was reduced to rubble. “It’s more about the time I lost there,” Jianling said, especially since she was about to leave for college and had hoped to make more memories with her family in their home.
Faith and Family Heirlooms
Rabbi Sholom Diskin of the Pacific Palisades Chabad Jewish Community Center was forced to leave behind many treasured possessions when the fire approached on January 7. He managed to save his and his wife’s marriage contract, prayer shawl, and Torah scrolls, items that held deep religious significance. However, many other irreplaceable objects, such as a menorah passed down from his grandparents, were lost in the flames.
Despite the material loss, Rabbi Diskin is focusing on the safety of his family and the community. “There are people who are mourning right now,” he said. “My job is to be there for them.”
Generations of Art Lost
Courtney Tindall, an artist, and her partner, Bobak Lotfipour, were forced to flee their Altadena home on January 7, just months after moving in. In the panic, Courtney packed several of her own paintings, as well as works from her late grandmother and a paint-by-numbers image created by her mother when she was a child.
Bobak, a composer, also tried to save musical equipment from his recording studio, though much of it was lost in the fire. “I could feel my hands shaking,” Courtney said as they evacuated, knowing they couldn’t take everything with them.
Cherished Gifts and Family Memories
Terica Roberts’ home in Altadena was not only a place for her family’s belongings but also where she had marked her children’s growth on the walls each year. When the fire hit on January 7, Terica grabbed important records and medical documents, while her son Gavin took a special engraved watch from his mother.
When Terica returned to find her home destroyed, the loss felt overwhelming. “It was honestly heartbroken,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.” While they mourn the loss of irreplaceable items, Terica’s son Grayson reminded her, “We have our memories.”
As Californians begin to rebuild after these devastating fires, the emotional toll of lost possessions will remain. Still, the resilience of those who have survived serves as a reminder that memories—though difficult to carry—cannot be taken away.
For those looking to assist those displaced by the California wildfires, click [here].