As wildfires engulf the Los Angeles area, a local family has chosen to remain in their Altadena home amidst the chaos. Vanessa Prata and her parents quickly packed their car in an effort to save irreplaceable family heirlooms, even as flames threatened to encroach on their property.
Defying evacuation orders, the Pratas have stayed in their home of 27 years, which has uniquely survived the devastation surrounding them. With nearby homes in peril, Vanessa and her father have taken on the role of checking on their neighbors, offering reassurance amid the uncertainty.
“The residents in shelters don’t know whether their houses have survived,” Vanessa commented. “Understanding their situation can help them regroup and plan their next steps.”
The fires have swept through an area larger than San Francisco, leading to tens of thousands of evacuation orders and the destruction of over 12,000 structures, tragically resulting in at least 16 fatalities. In response, the Department of Defense is providing emergency shelter at local bases, including more than 1,000 available beds.
On the night the fires intensified, 25-year-old nursing student Vanessa witnessed their approach while returning home from dinner. Her quick call to her father preceded a frantic packing session as the power failed. Her father, Aluizio Prata, a professor at the University of Southern California, opted to stay and defend their property against the advancing flames.
Throughout the night, they worked tirelessly, battling embers with buckets of water and hoses to protect their home from the inferno. In the aftermath, Vanessa noticed a surge of community support for those impacted, with people donating food, clothing, and essential supplies.
Staying close to their home, the Pratas occasionally used a generator to monitor updates and keep their food supplies cold. Restricted by police barriers, Vanessa felt compelled to assist those displaced by the disasters.
On Friday morning, she reached out in a community forum, offering to take photos of homes for residents unable to return. The outpouring of requests flooded in, with as many as 45 submitted by Saturday morning. Armed with a notebook, Vanessa and her father navigated the turmoil to check on as many homes as possible.
Of the countless homes they visited, less than half remained standing. They sometimes encountered smoldering ruins and were faced with the heartbreaking task of delivering tragic news to homeowners about the loss of their properties.
“I’m there telling them their homes are gone, knowing how beautiful they were before the fire,” Vanessa reflected. Drawing from her nursing experience, she found herself equipped to handle this emotional burden effectively.
Seeing the community come together has inspired her greatly. An overwhelming response at local donation centers resulted in volunteers being turned away due to sheer numbers.
“Everyone is doing what they can to help,” Vanessa remarked. “It’s truly beautiful to witness.”
