Woman shares heartbreaking memories of her home devastated in the Los Angeles fires

The devastating wildfire wreaking havoc in Los Angeles has claimed lives, destroyed homes, and displaced countless residents. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the blaze, which, according to the BBC, is believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike. Among those profoundly impacted is Fran, a longtime resident of Altadena who lost her home of 26 years in the fire.

Brian Entin, Senior News Correspondent for News Nation, shared a clip on his X account, @BrianEntin, featuring Fran standing amidst the charred remains of her once-beloved home. “This was my house,” Fran said, visibly emotional. “We moved in 26 years ago. We did the floors, put on the doors and windows, and painted it. My grandchildren loved it.” The house had been a cornerstone of her family’s life, hosting countless cherished Christmas Eve celebrations.

Fran’s heartbreak was compounded by her husband Bobby’s ongoing battle with cancer. Having recently undergone his fourth cancer surgery, Bobby and Fran had been staying in a hotel after the fire left them with nowhere else to go. The wildfire has not only destroyed their home but also upended their lives at an already difficult time.

Entin expressed his condolences to Fran, offering comfort as she shared more about the devastation. She spoke about her neighbors, many of whom were also severely affected by the fire, with some losing both their homes and loved ones. "Fran's daughter-in-law created a GoFundMe to help with rebuilding and the insurance deductible. I talked to Fran tonight and verified it is real," Entin wrote in a separate comment and shared the link to the elderly couple's GoFundMe. 

In the fundraiser description, Sara Gwin-Lenth Perez, Fran's daughter-in-law, provided further details about the couple's tragic situation. "Along with so many others, my wonderful mother and father-in-law, Fran and Bobby, tragically lost their sweet Altadena home in the Eaton Fire. With no advance notice, they had to evacuate immediately with no time to pack essentials, family photos or anything but the clothes they were wearing," Perez wrote. She also expressed her gratitude to Entin for sharing Fran's story through the video he filmed. The comments section of the video was filled with heartfelt messages, with many offering support to Fran, Bobby, and others who experienced such a devastating loss.

@JulieMatth27690 commented, "This is heartbreaking! How was this allowed to get out of control? In Florida, we have a lot of natural disasters. We have to prepare and protect ourselves and our property. Maintaining trees and building structures, we’ve learned from June to November that we have to be ready. I just couldn’t imagine having no water! Dear God no water! Bring water in from other states with high rainfall. Have large water containers ready. I mean massive water containers and trucks ready. You are important to us." @BadScientistas mentioned, "This type of community is rare now. And it’s so special and a blessing to live like this. Much more was lost than a house."

According to The Los Angeles Times, it is estimated that about 7,000 structures in and around the Altadena area have been lost to the fire so far. Investigators also suspected that an electrical transmission tower in the Eaton Canyon could be responsible for sparking the wildfire. Notable celebrities like Sir Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Milo Ventimiglia, Cary Elwes, Miles Teller and many more also had residences in the Los Angeles area. They ended up losing their houses as well, per BBC.