The Shin Family's Story

On the morning of January 7, the Shin family in Pacific Palisades started their day as usual. Jenny Shin left early for work, while her son-in-law Brian and her daughter Christine, who works from home, stayed with their 3-year-old daughter Ellie.

Around 10 a.m., a neighbor called to say they could see smoke rising from the hills. “Having lived here for over 40 years, we’ve experienced a few small fires before, so I didn’t think much of it at first,” Jenny said. “I never imagined the fire would spread so quickly.”

The remains of the Shin family's house in the midst of strong winds

After receiving an evacuation alert, Christine began packing essentials for Ellie and the family while Brian climbed onto the roof to spray water on the house and surrounding areas. By midday, as the smoke grew thicker, Christine left with Ellie to evacuate. The roads were already packed with cars trying to flee the area.

Brian stayed behind, removing flammable items like propane tanks and firewood from the property. He connected every hose in the house and tirelessly sprayed water not only around his home but also on neighboring properties. It wasn’t until after 2 p.m., when police officers came through the neighborhood urging immediate evacuation, that Brian finally left.

At the same time, Jenny was making her way back to the Palisades to reach her family. Roads were blocked in several places, and what should have been a short drive took over two hours. After reuniting with her family, they began moving toward the Valley. Along the way, rocks tumbled from the canyon walls onto the road, creating chaotic scenes. Despite the challenges, the family was relieved to finally reunite and ensure everyone was safe.

Even as they evacuated, the Shin family never imagined their home would be reduced to ashes. “It’s not a house deep in the hills, and the roads in the area are wide. I thought any fire would be contained,” Jenny said. “But until I left after 2 p.m., not a single firetruck had entered the neighborhood. The fire spread so fast that there was no time to stop it, and everything burned down.”

Of the 28 houses in Jenny’s street, only three remained standing. The rest, including the Shin family home, were completely destroyed.

The Shin family is now staying at the home of Jenny’s younger brother.

“This was where I raised my children and where I said goodbye to my beloved husband. It’s hard to believe that the place we called home for 42 years is gone in an instant,” Jenny said. “Letting go of all the memories and the time we spent there is heartbreaking, and I feel overwhelmed about how to start over.”