All they could grab were plush animals, toothbrushes, barbie dolls and blankets. Their bunk beds, grilles and clothes burned with their homes.
The New York Times interviewed 10 children and their parents about how it was to escape the fires in Los Angeles. They talked about what worries them and what helps them feel better.
Ivy and Ruby Van Kline They are twin sisters who just closed 6 this week. They are in the kindergarten in Aveson School of Leaders, a charter school in Altadena, California. Their home and school were both burned, so the family moved with their grandparents.
Jet Crawford6, he was also in the kindergarten in Aveson. He lives in a new home with his mom and his sister, Ilana, 3 years old, after burning their home in Altadena. Their new city is about 20 minutes from home.
Kurtis Odom, 9, is in the fourth grade at the McKinley School of the Arts in Pasadena, California. His sister, Kayla Odom; She is 12 years old in high school. They live on holiday rent after burning their home and make school online.
Phoebe Hannelin10, is also in the fourth elementary school. Her school, the Marquez Charter Elementary, burned in the Palisades fire. Her home, just opposite, is gone. Phoebe’s older sister, Abigil HanellinHe is a second year student at Palisades Charter High School. Part of her school burned down and now all their lessons are online.
Lily yadegar; Alessandra Sandini and Yasmine Sandini They are friends who also go to Pali High. Lily is 14. Alessandra and Yasmine, and both 17, are twins.
Their homes survived, but spent more than a week evacuated, staying in hotels and rented houses. The three girls wanted to do something for their friends and neighbors, so they started a gofundme to help rebuild their school and a donation move to help their classmates.
What was it like to leave home?
Ivy He said it was “very, very scary” when the fire came. The current extinguished. Then the cats began to nibble.
“Dad told me that our house would not burn on fire,” Ivi said. “But I knew just before our home was set on fire, because it seemed that the fire was, right next to our backyard.”
Curt He left his home in Altadena at midnight with his mom, older brother and older sister. It was seeing the fire becoming more and more. Later, they learned that their home was gone.
“I went to bed. I woke up. All my life broke, “Kurtis said.
“I thought we would be okay.”
Although Yasmine and Alessandra They are twins, teenagers responded differently on the night of the Palisades fire. Alessandra cried. She collected baby photos and her aroma collection.
He took the clothes. “Most of the time we share our clothes, even though it doesn’t ask me, and sometimes I don’t ask it,” Alessandra said.
Yasmine brought things that she thought would be forgotten by everyone else, such as medicines and food. “And then I brought my baby’s blanket and the stuffed elephant I always had,” he said.
How are your days right now?
Ivy, ruby And their parents stay with their grandparents in western Los Angeles. They like that the house is large and has stairs.
”You can get off and upload them, and I could do parting, “Ruby said.
Kurtis and kayla They make school online. Their mom decided to keep them home until she realized where they will live. When Kurtis does not do school work, he plays papers with his family and talks to his friends on his tablet.
Jet He stays in a new house with donation furniture. His school remains closed and his mom is worried. He has autism and did well with the help of his teachers.
Phoebe And her sisters have moved twice since their home burned. And they know they should move again. Maid He is worried about where they will go afterwards.
How do you feel?
Curt He is worried about everything his family lost.
“Everything has been burned,” he said. He wonders how his mom can afford to replace his football rack and other sports equipment.
His sister, KaylaHe says he is shy and worried that he needs to go to a new school. “It will just be uncomfortable for me,” he said.
Ivy and ruby They were excited about their 6th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese this weekend, where they hoped to see friends from their old school. And Ruby looks forward to a milestone in her new school: “To go out into the big kids when I’m a big kid and go to the monkey bar.”
Jet’s Mom says she’s very sad. When he asked him about the fire, he buried his head on the pillows of their new sofa.
“It’s broken,” he said. “Mom’s house”.
Lily He is missing to lead to school with Alessandra and Yasmine and stop at Starbucks along the way.
“All our lives, we were looking forward to going to high school together,” Lily said. “It’s just sad.”
Distance education reminds Maid of the pandemic, when he was in high school. This time, it feels worse. At that time, secondary education students across the country were on the same boat.
“It was fine to Covid because they were all. But now it’s just a school, “he said.
What was your home and school special?
Curt He will miss the house where he met his grandmother. His grandparents bought it about 50 years ago after moving to California from Haiti.
Phoebe Sometimes she went alone to school. Now he can’t. She likes her new school, but she’s not the same. “Their courtyard is so small, our courtyard was giant, so big,” he said.
In Pali High, Lily He says that everyone knew each other. “I’m only there for a semester and it already seems like a second home,” he said.
Ivy and Ruby’s The school had a “great playground”, a garden, chicken called Sunshine and Marshmallow and a rabbit named Mr. Fluff.
“I don’t know if the chickens or bunny brought,” Ivi said.
Ivy and Ruby’s house was 99 years old. Their dad told them he had magic from all the people who had lived there and could even fulfill their desires.
“But he died, so we have to celebrate it,” Ruby said.
Did you bring anything with you?
Phoebe and Maid I didn’t have time to grab a lot. Abigail, who likes to read, took only two books and is already over.
But they managed to get all their pets: a dog, two cats, a beta fish, a hamster dwarf and the turbo turtle.
‘I brought only two bites’ Ivy he said. “And we brought our toothpaste and toothbrushes, we got our blankets, and we got some of our pillows, and that’s all I brought.”
Ruby brought Barbie dolls. But it is sad because “the bunk slide that was ours was burned.”
Curt He brought his school chromebook and a tablet he can use to talk to his friends.
“The crazy place is that trampoline was still upright,” Kurtis said. “And you know what, if the trampoline stands, I don’t know why the house doesn’t stand.”
