Share and Follow
(KTLA) One Altadena couple is heartbroken and still processing the loss of their beloved home in the Eaton Fire, which happened to occur on their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Herman and Juanita Landry are two of the many thousands who lost everything in the fire, which has claimed the lives of 16 people, destroyed over 7,000 structures and burned more than 14,000 acres since erupting last week.
The couple spoke with affiliate KTLA on Tuesday morning after firefighters escorted them through the remains of their neighborhood on Monday.
“I’m heartbroken. It’s heartbreaking,” Juanita said.
“It was like being in a war zone,” Herman added. “Nothing but ashes…it seemed like some of the trees did not burn, but all of the home was flat. The things that you see in the movies, that’s what it was like.”
The pair were celebrating their 62nd anniversary on the day they had to flee from their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
“It made [the fire] even worse,” Juanita said. “We had plans to do something better than that, of course…a celebration.”
Herman, a retired police officer, and Juanita, who used to work for the Los Angeles Dodgers, have been staying at a hotel since the blaze destroyed their residence and all of their precious possessions.
They know the situation is temporary, but like the many others affected by the wildfire, they are faced with the challenge of finding a new home.
“Right now, we’re shopping for a place to stay; some place to rent out, and we’ll go from there,” Herman said through tears. “We don’t have exactly a place we want to rent, but we’re still looking.”
-
Herman and Juanita Landry visit the remains of their home. (Family photo) -
Herman and Juanita Landry visit the remains of their home. (Family photo) -
The home of Herman and Juanita Landry before it burned down in the Eaton Fire. (Family photo) -
Herman and Juanita Landry on their wedding day. The couple’s Altadena home burned down on their 62nd anniversary. (Family photo) -
Herman and Juanita Landry as seen in a family photo.
Speaking on the lawsuits alleging that SoCal Edison equipment sparked the Eaton Fire, Herman, who has attended a community meeting for affected residents, said he doesn’t “have any facts one way or the other” and while the community meeting went well, he is taking his time figuring out what to do next.
“I am looking and analyzing whether I will take [the lawsuits] into consideration or not,” he told KTLA 5’s Annie Rose Ramos. “There’s always a way of improving whatever the situation is, and this particular situation, I don’t really know, because I don’t have that much experience in firefighting.”
