Let's Do This - For LA

Catastrophes have a way of showing us the spectrum of human nature, from resilience and kindness to fear and heartbreak. Watching the wildfires in California unfold is a visceral reminder of this. The flames are not just devouring homes; they’re upending lives and reshaping landscapes that hold memories, dreams, and roots. The home, our most sacred space, is at the heart of it all. My heart and prayers go out to everyone affected.

Recently, I reconnected with an old friend. Our lives had drifted apart, as happens when someone moves far away—he to Los Angeles, me caught in the currents of my daily grind.? Many of us know someone impacted by these fires, but hearing his story sharply highlighted the devastation.

Here’s the text he sent me yesterday morning: (edited for privacy)

“Thanks, everyone, for your concerns. We love you all! Apologies for the generic message—there are too many to respond to individually.? First, the good news: David, the dogs, and I are now settled at Shutters on the Beach with my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and their two dogs. It’s been a chaotic journey: we evacuated our house to a Santa Monica hotel on Tuesday, only to be evacuated again that night to Chateau Marmont, and then the Hollywood fire broke out yesterday afternoon and the hotel was evacuated with no notice.? The fire appears to have started on a ridge at the top neighborhood?Tuesday morning.? I saw the smoke and smelled the smoke?at around 10:30 AM Tuesday?from my home office, and it looked literally like it was coming right toward our house.? We evacuated very quickly, and even though we organized the night before, doing it was hard, and we left with very little.

Our street is frequently mentioned on the news since it’s the main access to our neighborhood. Tuesday night, we received fire and smoke alarm alerts?at 11:45 PM. Unfortunately, the fire department couldn’t respond, given the massive firestorms and difficult terrain in our canyon-filled hillside neighborhood not sure what they could have done.? We then feared the worst after losing connection to our alarm system when the battery to the system must have died, and we thought the house was gone. Thankfully, a neighbor sent a photo yesterday showing our house is intact, though several homes directly below us were apparently destroyed.?

Yesterday, I helped my brother put out hot spots on his property, which unfortunately left David and my sister-in-law and niece to evacuate the Chateau with all four dogs, without us with flames visible from their room. When we got to my brother’s he was lucky to have a neighbor with fire training on the property putting out several small brush fires on his property. Though my brother’s house is safe, we saw two nearby homes burn with some very dramatic helicopter water drops.?

The smoke smell is overwhelming, reminding me of post-9/11 NYC when the smoke lingered for months, as I am sure it will here. Our small town of 18 years appears mostly gone, as shown on TV. There’s a lot of uncertainty, tragedy and heartache.? We have several friends who have lost their homes, and I am sure we will learn of more and hopefully not become one of them. But thankfully there is also of lot of love and hope??”

This message hit me like a wave. The chaos, fear, and resilience all feel surreal and apocalyptic, yet profoundly human. His story is one of many pouring in through texts, news, and social media feeds. They tell of lives uprooted and homes reduced to ash. But they also tell of neighbors banding together, families leaning on each other, and strangers offering a helping hand.

There’s a haunting truth in the destruction of a home: it’s not just a structure lost but the physical embodiment of safety, memories, and belonging. And yet, as my friend’s story reminds me, the foundation of love and community remains even when the walls crumble. A house may shelter us, but our connections—to friends, family, and neighbors—truly make it a home. Even as the smoke lingers, so does the hope that they will rebuild—not just what was lost, but something stronger, bound by compassion and the shared will to move forward together.

If you’re looking for ways to help, consider donating to local organizations supporting the?LA Fire Department or those victims of the fires or checking in with friends and family who may be affected. Every small act of kindness counts.

???Let's do this - for LA

Shaun