Following the Eaton Fire that raged through Altadena, Los Angeles, an 83-year-old grandfather was found by his family amidst the ash and debris.
The Eaton Fire claimed the lives of five out of 10 persons.
Rodney Nickerson was one of those victims; on Thursday, January 9, when his Altadena home was reduced to ash and rubble, he was found dead in his bed.
During Thursday’s tour of the remnants of her childhood home, Kimiko Nickerson, his daughter, said that the final words her father spoke to her over the phone were “I’ll be here tomorrow.”
As Kimiko said, “We found his bones; his whole body was intact.”
According to Kimiko, her father, Rodney, insisted on remaining in the family home he had bought for $5 in 1968. The Nickerson family has a strong connection to the city of Los Angeles.
According to Kimiko, her great-grandfather, William Nickerson, founded and owned Watts’ Nickerson Gardens, the city’s biggest public housing complex.
Rodney spent forty-five years as a project engineer with Lockheed Martin.
According to Kimiko, her mother was employed at Lockheed as well. She stated that since he was still accustomed to waking up at 4 a.m., he was most likely retiring to bed shortly after their previous discussion, around 9:30 p.m.
“That was the last thing he verbally said to me: ‘I’ll be here tomorrow,'” she continued.
“My son tried to get him to leave, my neighbours and myself, and he said he’ll be fine…”
After the fire devastated his neighbourhood, 66-year-old Victor Shaw was discovered clutching a hose, making him another victim.
Shari Shaw, his sister, told CBS News that she believes he attempted to put out the fire.
“He wasn’t in the best of health, but I know he probably fought with all his will,” she continued.
She will miss her older brother, Shaw said.
“I’ll miss talking to him, joking about, travelling with him, and I’ll just miss him to death,” she stated. “I just hate that he had to go out like that.”
The Altadena fire also claimed the lives of 67-year-old amputee Anthony Mitchell and his son, Justin, who has cerebral palsy.
According to Mitchell’s daughter Hajime White, “they didn’t make it out,” and the two were waiting for an ambulance to get them.
According to the AP, White claimed that authorities informed her that Mitchell had been discovered beside his son’s bed.
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Strong winds have fuelled fires in heavily populated areas of the region, destroying almost 10,000 houses. While photographs depict heartbreaking scenes of residences reduced to charred debris, residents have spoken of terrifying escapes and losing their homes.
