3 Altadena Mountain Rescue members lose homes in Eaton Fire

Three members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue team lost their homes in the recent devastating Eaton Fire.

The fire, which ravaged the Altadena area, left behind scenes of destruction. 

For members of the rescue team, the devastation is especially personal as they watched their own homes, some of them filled with a lifetime of memories, go up in flames.

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"It’s like I fell into a raging river, and I haven’t had a moment to stop swimming," said Richard De Leon, one of the affected team members.

Last week, the Eaton Fire swept through their neighborhood, forcing them to evacuate. Though all were able to get their loved ones and pets to safety, they were forced to leave behind most other things. Only a few personal items managed to be salvaged.

"There’s sentimental things that I think hurt the most — things I’ve collected from all my travels — that I’ll never get back. That’s probably the most sad part of it," Heather McAlpine, another team member, said.

Masha Zann, also with the rescue team, described the shock of realizing the full extent of the damage. 

"In our minds, we thought we were evacuating to be safe, but I don’t think we could even comprehend that the house would be gone," she shared.

De Leon shared the emotional toll of losing everything, adding, "It’s horrifying. You look at everything you worked for your entire life, and it’s gone. Then you look at your own neighborhood, and it’s gone, and you’re just like, wow, ‘How long until things are anywhere near normal again,’ you know?"

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In a profession that requires leadership and selflessness, accepting help has been difficult for these heroes. However, the outpouring of support from the local community has been nothing short of inspiring. 

"To see how everyone’s coming together, to see how everyone’s really rallied with donations and people really wanting to help, has just been really, really inspiring," McAlpine said.

Despite the devastation they’ve faced, the Altadena Mountain Rescue team members are continuing their work in the aftermath of the fire, helping other fire victims and showing remarkable resilience.

Zann expressed her commitment to returning to Altadena, saying, "I want to come back here. I love Altadena, and it’s been pretty unreal seeing it completely gone."

As the fire is now 55% contained, much of the area remains without power. Those who wish to support the rescue members during this challenging time can do so through a GoFundMe account that has been set up for them.

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