ESCAPING THE FLAMES, FACING THE AFTERMATH
- Heart Of Hollywood Team
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A Reader Describes the Losses and Emotional Toll Caused by the Los Angeles Fires
Heart of Hollywood Magazine is based in Los Angeles, which was plagued by devastating fires earlier this year. We are amazed at the strength and resilience of Angelenos who are dealing with the aftermath. One of our brave readers kindly shared his experience with us.
Hey everyone,
I'm writing because, like many of you, I've been deeply affected by the Eaton Canyon fire.
It has impacted me in ways I never expected, beyond just the obvious devastation. This wasn’t just "a fire"—it ripped away pieces of my history.
One of the hardest losses was my family home. It was built and occupied in 1941, long before the "white flight." My family was one of the first and few African American families to live in that neighborhood before that occurred. Over time, it became a welcoming space where families of all shapes and sizes could gather, enjoying free food and music prepared by my family and me. That place meant so much to me, and now it's just... gone. It feels like a piece of my childhood has been erased.
And it's not just the memories. Eaton Canyon was our local go-to spot, home to a second waterfall— a hidden gem known only to the locals. Eaton Canyon, Echo Mountain, Cheyney, and JPL Trails weren’t just locations; they were part of our family history and traditions. We would hike, let the kids play, and escape the noise of the city. It's hard to imagine ever recreating those moments.
The fire has even strained some relationships. Dealing with the aftermath has been stressful for everyone, bringing up old tensions and making it difficult to coordinate with family on what to do next. While some want to rebuild, others just want to let go and move on. It's a tough situation all around.
On top of everything, the fire itself was a terrifying experience. In the middle of the chaos, I actually broke my leg. It sounds crazy, but somehow, I managed to get my brother, who has autism, out of harm’s way. That was my only focus. The adrenaline must have been pumping because I didn’t even realize how badly I was hurt until we were safe.
Now, I’m dealing with the broken leg, the emotional fallout, and the overwhelming task of trying to rebuild. It feels like my whole world has been turned upside down. My friend even created a GoFundMe to help tackle some of the burdens I’ll be facing and to help me navigate this uncharted territory: https://gofund.me/6a24ce78.
I’m sharing this story because, like everyone else, we all lost something that day, and I know you can relate. Many of us are still processing this tragedy in our own ways. It’s important to talk about it and support each other during this difficult time.
-Donald Christopher Lamont Jones
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