In the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, California, firefighters are being hailed as unsung heroes. They not only rescue people but also save important belongings. It has been reported by the media that some firefighters bravely entered the fire zone to rescue valuable photo albums, hoping to preserve precious memories for the affected households.
Following a major fire in the Pacific Palisades community of Los Angeles County on January 7th, authorities ordered local residents to evacuate, while firefighters swiftly rushed to the scene to combat the blaze.
As firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Station 37 battled the fire in a residential area outside Westwood, a reporter from NBC4 was also on-site for coverage.
The reporter, Karma Dickerson, witnessed firefighters carrying out a pile of photo albums, an old clock, and other antiques from the raging flames.
Dickerson approached the firefighters to inquire about their actions, and one firefighter responded that they were “trying to save some things, trying to do what we can. Maybe it can bring them some comfort.”
“They are indeed making efforts to rescue some items from inside the houses. I saw them bringing out memorabilia from the houses. They know that the house is likely to be damaged, so they prioritized this, which is very unusual,” Dickerson said.
Pacific Palisades is one of the severely affected areas in the recent Los Angeles wildfires. According to the Los Angeles Times, the blaze has consumed nearly 24,000 acres of land and over 12,000 structures are still under threat. Local officials estimate that over 5,300 structures, including many homes, have been damaged or destroyed.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office stated that the fire has claimed at least 25 lives so far. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced on January 14th that the death toll could rise as around 30 people are still missing.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined by authorities. Speculations surrounding the cause include fallen power lines, arson, airborne fireworks, or the embers from previous fires.
However, Jose Medina, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) leading the investigation, mentioned that it is too early to draw a conclusion at the moment.