A California couple fled with just a few valuables and their dog after witnessing their beloved home of 40 years destroyed “in the blink of an eye” through their doorbell camera.
The Altadena home where Walter and Yalda Schiess built their lives was reduced to a pile of rubble Tuesday when a fire ripped through the neighborhood.
“It's overwhelming. I don't know how we're going to get through it… It's going to be a long process, but we will do it,” said Yalda Schiess. he told KABC.
Footage from a camera overlooking the driveway showed the fire rushing into the home as heavy winds pushed smoke into the camera's view.
Yalda's sister, Nikki Griswald, wrote that when the couple evacuated in the face of the heatwave, all they took with them were precious family photos and their two dogs. GoFundMe For couples.
“This unimaginable loss forced them to start from scratch,” Griswald said.
When they saw the live footage, they believed the house would survive, but were heartbroken to find the house in ruins.
“I'm leaving, it's okay. I'm going back, it's okay,” said Yalda Seeth. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of other people who are in the same situation, and it's actually devastating.”
The Cees scoured the rubble, searching for belongings that had survived the fire.
“There's nothing here and 40 years of my life went by in one night. It's unfathomable,” added Walter Schiess.
Yalda Sies took to social media early Friday morning to share a touching tribute to her home, along with a photo of her family inside.
“I'm so grateful for the countless memories we've created within the walls of our home over the years. It's incredible how much love and life a space can hold, but… You can’t really understand it until it’s gone,” she said. he wrote on Instagram.
The fitness coach believes the family will get through an “incredibly difficult time” and rebuild stronger.
She also paid tribute to her fellow Californians who have been affected by the wildfires.
“My heart goes out to our community and all those who have lost their homes. I keep you all in my prayers.”
The almost incomprehensible scope of Los Angeles' searing nightmare:
palisades fire
19,978 acres
Contains 6%
Eaton Fire
13,690 acres
Contains 0%
Hurst Fire
771 acres
Contains 37%
lydia fire
394 acres
Contains 75%
sunset fire
43 acres
Contains 0%
Evacuation order in progress
130,000 people
Estimated damage
$52 billion to $57 billion
deaths (number
7
Source: Cal Fire, Associated Press
Yalda has no plans to move after losing her home because she loves living in her Southern California community.
“This is home. I have always wanted to live in Altadena. This is home, I will rebuild it. I will find a way,” she told the media.
The Eaton Fire had burned 13,690 acres as of early Friday morning. The fire brigade has not yet been able to extinguish the fire.
At least five people were killed in the Pasadena-Altadena fire.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said Thursday that the county has been devastated by multiple wildfires since Tuesday, and at least 10 fire-related deaths have been reported to the agency.
