A tragic fire engulfed a home in Altadena, claiming the lives of Jackie McDaniels’s brother-in-law and nephew. Desperate for help, McDaniels managed to flag down a firetruck. However, the grim words from one of the firefighters were that it was too late, instilling a deep sorrow in her as she was forced to leave the scene. “I pray to God that they were. But it was horrible to have to leave them there,” she lamented. As with many others affected, McDaniels is left grappling with profound grief and the haunting question of whether anything could have changed the outcome. Expert opinions highlight that survivors of such disasters are themselves victims; the wildfires that consumed the Los Angeles area this month were frighteningly rapid and intense.

Benjamin Hatchett, a fire meteorologist, described these fires as incredibly unpredictable and chaotic, which adds to the distress of those left behind. For the families mourning their lost loved ones, including over two dozen fatalities, the emotional turmoil is exacerbated by the speed of the flames and an inability to escape. One of the victims was Dalyce Curry, who had once mingled with Hollywood’s elite. To close family, she was affectionately known as “Momma Dee.” Her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, shared her deep regret for not asking her grandmother more about the situation when they were together hours before the fire struck. Kelley wished she had intervened sooner and expressed, “I will live with that regret for the rest of my life.”

Jennifer Marlon, a wildfire and climate research expert, pointed out that broader climate factors contributed to the fires, including a historically warm summer in California that left vegetation dry and susceptible to flames. “These are, by and large, not situations that people could have really anticipated,” she noted, expressing sorrow that many feel guilt-ridden over their inability to prevent the tragedy. This shared sentiment is echoed by Tory Fiedler, a mental health manager with the Red Cross, who explained that many people derive their sense of worth from helping others. When they cannot assist, they face overwhelming feelings of guilt and helplessness.

To make matters worse, the families of victims often face an agonizing wait for formal identification from medical examiners, a process that can extend for weeks. In this excruciating wait, Carol Smith has turned to prayer for her son, Randy Miod, a well-known surfer who owned his Malibu home for thirty years. Despite previous fire evacuations in the area, Randy resisted his mother’s pleas to leave, insisting he would manage the situation himself, saying, “I’ve got the hose.” Tragically, when human remains were discovered in his home, a detective informed Smith that the fire had surged at an alarming speed, far beyond what her son had anticipated.

Meanwhile, in Altadena, as McDaniels prepared her exit in the early hours of January 8, her late sister’s husband, Anthony Mitchell, assured her that help was on the way. He was waiting to be evacuated along with his son, Justin, who was bed-bound due to cerebral palsy. Just as McDaniels was leaving, Anthony called for her to stay with them a bit longer. As she pulled over, she could hear her nephew’s anxious voice in the background, prompting Anthony to reassure him. Yet, disaster struck as the flames rapidly approached, with Anthony’s final plea for “help” echoing in McDaniels’s ears as she raced back towards the burning home.

Feeling powerless, McDaniels recalled nearly losing control of her vehicle in her frantic escape, overwhelmed by smoke and grief as her own home lay in ruins. Looking back, she wonders what else could have been done. The family had believed the ambulance would arrive in time to save Anthony and Justin, but alas, that was not the case. Perhaps, had they recognized the urgency, family members could have found a way to carry Justin to safety. Tragically, Justin’s younger brother, Jordan, was hospitalized at the time with sepsis, leaving him unable to assist. Feeling a sense of protective duty towards his brother, he commented, “I didn’t think he’d be gone this soon, I figured I’d be taking care of him the rest of my life.”