Marcia Zellers, who had just bought her home in Altadena six months before the wildfire broke out in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, but she figured she was safe nearly 40 miles east of flames.
“I was working from home,” says Zellers, whose 22-year-old daughter who lives with her was in Paris at the time. “It was very windy. I was kind of happy that the wind was whipping all the leaves together up against the garage, which would make my monthly raking much easier. I was taking an evening French class in Silver Lake and wondered whether anyone would attend. There was a fire burning in the Palisades, but I decided that it wouldn’t affect the east side and people would still attend.
“So, I went to my 6 p.m. class,” she says. “At 7:30 p.m., when I hopped back in my car to head home, my phone was buzzing with texts asking me if I was planning to evacuate. I had no idea what they were talking about. I called some Altadena friends, who confirmed the mountain was on fire and they were packing to-go bags, but they didn’t seem overly concerned.
I headed home, and as I rounded the curve off the 134 East [freeway] from Eagle Rock, I could see that the entire mountain was on fire. When I arrived home, a transformer had already blown on my street and the power to my house was out.
“I couldn’t get my [electric vehicle] into the garage because the electric gate wouldn’t open. I decided I would grab my dog and leave, not waiting for evacuation orders. Good thing — because I never got an evacuation order.”
Zellers tells more of her story below.
Finding refuge and community support
What things did you grab as you headed out the door? What stands out the most when you think back?
I was a bit panicked and not thinking terribly straight. What stands out the most was my indecisiveness about leaving. None of my neighbors were evacuating at this point — around 8 p.m. — and everyone seemed comfortable that they’d been through this before and everything would be fine. I texted a friend to ask if she was leaving, and her response was “Meh. 2 stars” — meaning no big deal. Possibly if I’d had power I would have stayed, too. But I decided to grab my dog and get out of there, thinking I’d be back the next day. I never once considered that my house might burn down!
I grabbed four cans of dog food, my dog’s meds and her bed and water bowl. Then I realized I should probably bring some clothes for me since I’d probably be hanging out at a friend’s house for a few days. I went to the garage and got a suitcase, threw in three sweaters, two pairs of jeans, two pairs of shoes, a puffer coat, a few toiletries and a few pairs of earrings and 2 necklaces so I’d have a few options.
I had the wherewithal to open the safe and grab my passport, but I didn’t grab anything else. I decided to leave the EV and take my daughter’s 2013 Kia Soul gas-engine car that was parked on the street in case I didn’t have a place to charge my EV.
Where did you find refuge?
I had taken the Kia Soul to Ojai the previous weekend, so it was low on gas. And of course, the minute I turned it on, the “check engine” light came on! I wasn’t sure where I was going. I didn’t want to go east further into the fires, I didn’t want to go west toward the Palisades fire and I didn’t want to drive all the way to Orange County to my family.
I decided I would simply drive to my old neighborhood in Silver Lake, get some gas and figure out what to do. Texts were flying in from friends, including my friend Mike, who suggested I come to their house. His wife and my friend, Jenny, was away on a business trip. Their power was out, too, but I feel comfortable and at home in their house, so I headed there.
What resources or support have you found most helpful during this crisis? What has been least helpful (including advice)?
At around 1 p.m. on Jan. 8, my neighbor across the street texted and told me my house was on fire. A few hours later, another neighbor confirmed it was “gone.”
That day, Jenny and Mike said, “Stay as long as you need to.” Approximately 20 other people reached out and offered various accommodations.
The next morning, around 9 a.m., a friend texted and said, “We’re starting a GoFundMe. Are you good with that?” A few close girlfriends, along with my daughter, leapt into action, and within a few hours that site was live. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the incredible support I’ve received from friends, loved ones and caring people from all aspects of my life. This GoFundMe site is a lifeline, and significantly lowered my stress level.
In addition, multiple girlfriends put out calls for clothes. Within a week, at least 10 stylish friends donated enough clothes that I may just be better dressed after this ordeal than before. People have been amazing, and I’m so grateful. There is simply nothing anyone has offered that has not been helpful, even if only as an expression of their love and support.
Describe your Altadena community.
My community of Altadena is new to me; I only moved there from Silver Lake six months prior. But I’ve come to know multiple neighbors quite well and have a number of good friends in the neighborhood. There is a lot of pride in Altadena, and people who live there feel very attached to Altadena’s unique character. This is all reflected in the “Beautiful Altadena” Facebook group that is now essentially an extremely helpful fire recovery information source.
Coping with loss and rebuilding
How is your daughter coping?
I raised my daughter and only child as a single mother, and we are very, very close. She has had a very difficult time with this. She is far away and has no close friends or relatives in Paris to give her a hug or support her through this. She watched from a distance, worrying about me and watching her beloved city appear to burn to the ground.
She did so much, tasking on tasks every day to lighten the load for me. She helped my friends with the GoFundMe. But she no longer has a home to come home to. She lost all her clothes, her memories, her boxes of things stored in the garage intended to help her get started as an adult. She lost any things she would have had someday to remind her of me, our family, her young life. All pictures of me and my youth are gone. So she did get a bit swept under by sadness there for a week or so. But she’s rallying. I know her. She’s strong and she will come through this OK.
What support do you need the most as a parent?
The last few years have been tough financially, and the one thing I could continue to offer my daughter was a home, a place to live if she chose to or needed to. Now I can’t offer even that. I’m not sure I need anything, but it’s a very sad situation.
Housing is a huge issue. So many have lost their homes, so there is no inventory. Landlords are taking advantage, and already high rents are going up. I have insurance, but there is a limited bucket of money that definitely won’t last as long as it will take to rebuild a house.
Luckily, I am solo at the moment, which makes it easier. My mom has graciously taken my dog. But I am faced with most likely having to be a nomad for a year to save on housing costs. My daughter will come home from Paris next summer for a time before she goes to law school, and I hope to have somewhere where we can be together to support each other for that limited time.
For work, I currently work freelance and from home. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. So I can’t skip a beat. I’ve worked every single day since the fire. It’s been challenging to be out of my home office space and work comfortably away from my space, without additional monitors or my usual equipment and setup.
How are you maintaining some sense of normalcy during this time?
I am prioritizing connection and socializing. I’m a social person already, and I am not allowing myself to sit around and mope. I’m keeping a social calendar that looks a lot like the one I would have had before the fire.
What would you like to tell other families who are also starting over?
It’s so hard. Short of something happening to one of your children, it’s about the worst thing that could happen. But you just have to accept it and move forward. Allow yourself time to grieve, but don’t wallow too much. Let go of the notion of your possessions; you can acquire more. Enjoy the goodness of people who will help you through this. As horrifying as this is, there are good things that will come from it.
