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The one who survived the debacle Eaton Fire that ravaged the Altadena area Los Angeles County recently spoke about his experience of dealing with hell.
Altadena resident Justin Christie spoke with Fox News Digital on Saturday afternoon about his experience. As of Saturday evening, the Eton fire, which started on Tuesday, was only 15% contained.
Christie explained that his family has lived in the area since 1967 and had never seen anything as devastating as the Eaton fire before.
“(I saw) a lot of fires on that hillside,” Christie recalled. “When I saw it, when I went outside and saw the flames on the hillside, something just told me it was different.”
Justin Christie is pictured in front of a view of damaged buildings and homes caused by the Eton wildfires in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Getty Images/Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
“I got really scared and started thinking (about) what I needed to do to prepare for this.”
Christie said he was particularly alarmed after seeing one of his palm trees catch fire, which had never happened before. He quickly put all his family members in the car and drove them away from the scene.
“I’ve never, in all the fires, had any of our trees burn,” he said. “And that was the one that really said, OK … we’re in big trouble.”
Later, Christy drove by to check on his house – when he realized no one was going to put out the fire at his palm tree, Christy decided to take matters into his own hands and fight the fire himself.
“Many times I thought my house was going to collapse,” he recalled. “From 8 pm to 12 noon. This house that was burning next to me was the last thing that put me in danger.”
“When he finally calmed down… I felt a little relieved.”
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Members of Congress visit the Altadena wildfire disaster area on Saturday. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
But Christie said that sense of relief was short-lived before another of his neighbors was injured in a fire in their garage. Although Christie’s home was not damaged in the fire, a resident described the whole situation as “just shocking”.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s enough to make you want to cry,” Christie said. “So many people just lost everything.”
“And I never, ever thought… we’ve been here so long… I always thought we were far enough away from the fire.”
Recalling the experience, Christy described the sounds and sights forest fires as “unbelievable”.
The auditorium at Elliott Junior High School is barely recognizable after a wildfire in Altadena, California, on Friday. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
“Shattering glass, exploding gas lines, people’s propane tanks, cars catching fire,” he vividly described. “It was like having multiple freight trains coming at you.”
All in all, Christie said his home’s survival after the Eton fire was nothing short of a miracle.
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“It was kind of a miracle that I got hold of the fire … the wind died down at the right time,” he said. “And if he hadn’t… he would have caught that grate next to me, my house would have caught fire, and I would have been done for. And there were a few times when I wanted to leave, but I didn’t. I stayed.
“If I left, there would be no home. It wouldn’t be at all.”
