Nani's Story

From the moment the evacuation alarm sounded, it took less than 30 minutes for Nani to pack a bag with important documents and clothes, load her four dogs into the car, and prepare to leave. But the real challenge was her six cats. All six were rescues she had taken in from the streets, completely feral and unwilling to let her touch or hold them, even on a normal day.

Nani desperately tried to catch at least one and get it into a carrier, but it was futile. The fire was spreading too quickly. In the end, she had no choice but to leave the windows and doors open, fill the bathtub with water, and pray they would find a way to escape or protect themselves.

The charred remains of Nani's home destroyed in the Palisades Fire, captured by Nani herself

She started the car, but for some reason, the engine wouldn’t turn over. Panicked, she tried several times before giving up and running out to get help. Battling strong winds and flying embers, she ran for what felt like an eternity before finally finding a car.

“Please help me! My car won’t start!”

A kind man picked her up and drove back to her house, where they loaded her four dogs into his car. Together, they managed to escape through the fiery hellscape. Nani couldn’t save her emergency bag, her documents, or even her wallet—everything was gone. All she had left were her four dogs.

She had lived in Pacific Palisades for 46 years. Every memory of her childhood and entire life was rooted there. For over 20 years, she had lovingly maintained and renovated her current home, turning it into a sanctuary for herself, her rescue dogs, and her feral cats. She was near finishing the construction when the fires happened.

It wasn’t until 11 days after the fire that she was finally allowed to return and inspect her property. Her home and car were reduced to ash. There wasn’t a single thing she could salvage. She didn’t even dare to think about whether any of her six cats had survived.

Her neighborhood, a warm and charming community which had nurtured her for most of her life, had been completely demolished. The house she grew up in, her parents’ current house, her friends’ homes, her old high school—everything was gone.

For now, she’s staying with a friend but is looking for a rental. Finding a place that can accommodate four dogs isn’t easy. She is also spending her days scouring local shelters for any sign of the cats she was forced to leave behind, but she hasn't been able to find any of them.

It’s hard to believe that the neighborhood where she spent 46 years of her life has been reduced to ruins. She feels uprooted, but her heart still belongs in the Palisades. She is now planning how she will rebuild. 

A video of Nani's escape from the rescuer's perspective: