Los Angeles firefighters and the woman who was protecting homes from the Palisades fire proved that kindness and courage can be a powerful combination in times of tragedy and devastation.
Mahusa Nagash and her husband were forced to evacuate their Pacific Palisades home on Jan. 7 as Santa Ana wind storms sparked flames and hot embers that threatened their neighborhood. . Video from the first hours of the fire, which destroyed thousands of structures, showed neighbors’ homes on fire in disturbing scenes.
But before Nagash was evacuated, she wanted the firefighters to know how much their heroic efforts in the face of brutal conditions were appreciated. Nagash gave them handmade tiles that he had bought from historic mosques in his homeland in Iran.
“I told them I had something, just to say thank you. That’s it,” Nagash said.
LAFD Firefighter-Paraming Andrew Mott said Nagash’s thoughtful gesture meant that much more. It’s a bright spot at a discouraging point when flames burn an entire neighborhood to the ground.
“Her kindness and generosity touched our hearts in a very special way,” Mott said.
Firefighters describe conditions on January 7 as the worst they have ever seen. The fire started that morning and was pushed by wind gusts of 60 mph to 80 mph in the first hour, making it the third most destructive fire ever recorded in California.
“It was just incredible. Experiencing that level of wind, that speed of wind, and having a fire behind it,” said LAFD Firefighter-Palming Tony Verdecia. “We are the people who are supposed to bring the solution and we can’t.
“These weren’t just houses. These weren’t just buildings. These were people. These were families who lost everything or lost everything.”
When they left, in what seemed like an unlikely outcome, Nagash’s home was damaged but still standing. When she returned a few days later, there was a note on the door.
“Hello, this note is from Andrew and Tony, two firefighters you met, and they gave it to Tile. We came back to check on you and your home. I I hope you are safe.
Nagash said he was overcome with gratitude.
“I don’t know how to explain how to be honest with you about how I feel. I don’t know what to say,” she said. “If you want to start talking, you can’t stop crying.
“They risked their lives. God bless them.”
It’s been almost two weeks since historic wildfires started in Southern California. This is a look back at moments captured in the first 24 hours of devastation. Photographer Sean Browning reports NBC4 News reports on January 19, 2025 at 11:00 p.m.
NBCLA tracked down the two firefighters with the help of social media. They said they had seen an earlier NBCLA report detailing Nagash’s experience.
“We saw that news segment…and it hit both of us,” Verdesia said. “We were tearing up.”
Mott said the tiles have special meaning to him. He traveled to Iran several times in what he described as life-changing trips.
Firefighters left Nagash’s home on the chaotic night of January 7 and said they would continue the fight elsewhere. They returned the next day with notes.
“At a moment when there is so much destruction around us and she is on the brink of losing her family’s home, she is thinking, ‘Let me bless them with a gift,'” Verdescia said. .
Firefighters and their families plan to join Nagash’s family for dinner in the coming months.
“I felt like I really couldn’t do enough in that moment,” Mott said. “So, that really sat heavy on Tony and my heart. We just wanted to make that extra effort and make that extra effort to return that generosity and return that kindness.
The Palisades Fire destroyed 6,770 structures. Thursday was 23,400 acres and containment was 72%.
The fire damaged approximately 900 structures.
Twenty-eight people have been confirmed dead in the Palisade and Eaton fires in Altadena, which started on the night of January 7th.
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