California wildfire survivor shares story of narrowly saving his own house from Eaton Fire: 'A miracle'
Share and Follow

A survivor of the devastating Eaton Fire that devastated the Altadena area of Los Angeles County recently spoke up about his experience fighting the inferno.

Justin Christie, a resident of Altadena, spoke with Fox News Digital on Saturday afternoon about his experience. As of Saturday evening, the Eaton Fire, which began on Tuesday, is only 15% contained.

Christie explained that his family has lived in the area since 1967, and had never seen anything as destructive as the Eaton Fire before.

“[I’ve seen] tons of fires on this hillside,” Christie recalled. “When I saw this, when I came out in the street and I saw the flames up on the hillside, something just told me this was different.”

But Christie said that that sense of relief was short-lived before another neighbor of his suffered a fire in their garage. Though Christie’s house was unscathed from that fire, the resident described the whole situation as “just shocking.”

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s just enough to make you want to cry,” Christie said. “So many people just lost everything.”

“And I never, ever thought….we’ve been here for so long…I always thought we were just far enough out of the fire’s reach.”

When thinking back to the experience, Christie described the sounds and sights of the wildfires as “incredible.”

Aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires

The auditorium at Elliott Junior High is barely recognizable after being ravaged by wildfire in Altadena, Calif., on Friday.  (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

“The breaking glass, the explosions from gas lines, people’s propane tanks, cars catching on fire,” he vividly described. “It just sounded like several freight trains coming at you.”

Overall, Christie said that his house’s survival from the Eaton Fire was nothing short of a miracle.

“It was some miracle that I got a hold of the fire…the wind died down at one opportune time,” he said. “And if it hadn’t….it would have caught this trellis I have next to me, it would have caught my house on fire and I would have been done. And there were several times when I wanted to leave, but I didn’t. I stayed.

“If I had left, the house would be gone. Totally gone.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Internet slow? Map reveals which provider is fastest at every Alabama address

Discover Alabama’s Fastest Internet Provider: Unveiling the Ultimate Speed Map for Your Address

(NEXSTAR) – If you’re constantly dealing with web pages failing to load…
Doctor-‘assisted’ death: Letters | New York Post

Exploring the Ethics of Doctor-Assisted Death: A Thought-Provoking Discussion

The Issue: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to make assisted suicide legal in…
Forget Florida! Retirees ditching golf and sun for this unlikely city

Why Retirees Are Swapping Florida Sunshine for Culture-Rich Living in Unexpected City

Mention ‘retirement’ in the United States, and a common vision emerges for…
CBS pulls '60 Minutes' episode about CECOT before premiere

CBS Withdraws ’60 Minutes’ Episode on CECOT Ahead of Scheduled Premiere

Just hours before its scheduled Sunday broadcast, there was an unexpected change…
J.T. Miller set to miss multiple Rangers games with injury

J.T. Miller sidelined for several Rangers games due to injury

NASHVILLE — The Rangers are facing a temporary setback as their captain,…
School bus driver responds to backlash for 'English-only' sign

School Bus Controversy: Driver’s ‘English-Only’ Sign Sparks Heated Debate

A bus driver from Pennsylvania, who lost her job over a controversial…
Patriots use rally to top Ravens after Lamar Jackson's injury exit

Patriots Mount Comeback Victory Over Ravens Following Lamar Jackson’s Injury Departure

BALTIMORE — The rest of the NFL may have enjoyed a brief…
Kash Patel says FBI boosting AI use to counter domestic, global threats

Kash Patel Highlights FBI’s Enhanced AI Utilization to Tackle Domestic and International Threats

On Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the agency is intensifying…