After flames almost destroyed their house in the Los Angeles suburbs, a Harrisburg-related California couple expresses gratitude.
Ellen Kramer and Shalom Staub discovered on Sunday that the evacuation orders that were previously required for their community in Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, had been reduced to warnings.
The couple stated that they are not yet going back to their house out of extreme caution. Over the next two days, it is predicted that the Santa Ana winds and humidity will increase.
Kramer stated that although our region appears to be in decent condition, we are still in danger. Hot areas have been extinguished. We are a little worried since we haven’t returned to our home, but our neighbors are watching out for us.
Uncertain of whether they would ever return, the couple departed last week with a few possessions, including clothes, prescription drugs, picture albums, and their rescue dog, Rupert. They moved to an Airbnb around fifteen minutes from their home after driving to Kramer’s son’s residence in San Diego.
With a population of over 11,000, the 3-square-mile Sierra Madre incorporated community is located close to the Angeles National Forest.
In the Los Angeles area, flames have damaged thousands of houses and killed at least 24 people. Due to dry circumstances in the area, which hasn’t seen rain in eight months, Santa Ana winds were held mostly responsible for starting the flames that turned into infernos.
After Staub obtained a job offer at UCLA in 2018, the pair relocated from Harrisburg to Los Angeles. In 2022, they relocated to the house north of Pasadena, close to the Eaton Canyon, after briefly residing in Westwood.
Kramer, a former Dauphin County public defender, had served in a number of roles while residing in Harrisburg, including executive director of the Council on Aging at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Kramer said she found out on Monday that the Eaton Fire next to them is roughly 33% contained.
The most recent evacuation alert requires homeowners to be prepared to evacuate, which is another reason they chose not to go back to their house, Kramer added, adding that the risk is currently too great.
It’s going to be a long-term recovery process, she added, and I believe we’re dealing with it on a day-to-day basis.
Kramer said that there is a genuine sense of loss and that the devastation caused by the flames is staggering.
She reported that when she checked up with her employees at Pasadena’s nonprofit, Young & Healthy, this morning, they were all crying. In addition, residents must wear masks and contend with poor air quality.
She went on to say that the region’s response, kindness, and relief efforts have been incredible. A flatbed truck loaded with donated goods from a nearby business community arrived over the weekend.
To be honest, she said, it’s the ignorance. That’s only our tale; many others have experienced complete loss. We are extremely fortunate and appreciative.
Stories by
Sue Gleiter