LAFD captain loses home in Eaton Fire: 'I've never seen anything like it'
LOS ANGELES - A longtime member of the Los Angeles Fire Department is opening up about his personal loss after his home was destroyed in the recent fires in Altadena, California.
Al Hugo, a 32-year veteran and captain with the LAFD, was forced to flee his home with his wife and their four large dogs, leaving behind everything except a few clothes.
"I can't even explain it," his wife Carmen Hugo told FOX 11 News. "I'm just thinking I want to go home, I want to go home, knowing there's no home to go to.
Despite working more than three decades for the fire department, he initially did not think the fires would impact his family's home and community.
"I've never seen anything like it," he shared, adding, "I know this city, but this caught everyone off guard."
Despite the tragic loss, Hugo's first instinct has been to continue serving others, even as he faces his own hardships.
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"I'm speaking for all my brothers and sisters. We're proud. We're supposed to help people, and it's really uncomfortable for me to ask for help, but I need to find a place."
Hugo and his family are currently staying with his mother in Echo Park, trying to rebuild their lives in the wake of the disaster.
To support Hugo and his family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe page has been set up by his son. The funds will assist in covering immediate needs and help with the rebuilding process.
As of Tuesday, the Eaton Fire, which has impacted communities in Altadena, has burned more than 14,000 acres and has 35% containment.