At least six people have died in the Eaton Fire during a tragic week in the area northeast of Los Angeles.
As of Friday, 11 people had died in wildfires in Los Angeles County, including the largest blaze in the Pacific Palisades region of the Los Angeles County coast.
Here’s how loved ones are remembering the families lost in the Eaton Fire.
anthony mitchell
Anthony Mitchell, 67, last spoke to his daughter, Hajime White, on Tuesday the morning of the Eaton fire. A fire that broke out in Altadena that afternoon was fanned by strong winds and destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings.
“He called me and said, ‘Babe, we’re preparing to evacuate. I love you,'” White said. “Before he hung up, he said, ‘Baby, you gotta go, the fire’s coming all the way to our front yard.'”
White says his father is a hero.
“He was the most amazing father any girl could dream of and have,” White said.
White’s younger brother, Justin, 24, who also died in the fire, suffered from cerebral palsy. The last time she spoke to him was the day of the fire.
“He tried to talk to me. He tried to mumble the word ‘hello,’ and I’ll never hear those words again,” White said.
rodney kent nickerson
His 82-year-old grandfather, Rodney Kent Nickerson, was also a victim of the Eaton fire. He worked for Lockheed Martin for 40 years.
Her daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, said she went to sleep the night of the fire believing she would be able to evacuate the next day.
However, that night, the fire reached his house.
“My whole neighborhood is gone…my whole life is gone,” Nickerson said.
Mr. Nickerson’s daughter confirmed that he is the grandson of William Nickerson, who founded Golden State Mutual, one of the first companies to offer life insurance to black people.
Arlene Kennedy
Brianna Navarro’s grandmother died in the Eaton fire. Arlene Kennedy didn’t want to leave the home they shared, Navarro said.
The former pharmacy technician had lived in the same house for years.
“I never expected it to come home in such a tragic way,” she said. “That’s what hurts the most.”
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