California Man Found Dead with Hose in Hand as Uncontained Wildfires Spread
One of the five confirmed casualties from the devastating wildfires in southern California was 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who lost his life while trying to protect his family's longtime home from the advancing Eaton fire.
According to KTLA, Shaw's charred body was discovered on Wednesday morning, with a garden hose still clutched in his hands. It appeared he had been making a last effort to battle the encroaching flames.
The family had owned the house for more than 50 years, making it a cherished property. On Tuesday, Shaw's younger sister, Shari Shaw, tried to persuade him to leave the house and evacuate, but he refused.
As Shari explained to KTLA, her brother was determined to stay and defend their home despite the growing danger. She recounted the harrowing moment she fled the house, saying, "When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm — I had to save myself."
She continued, "And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave."
Al Tanner, a close family friend, told reporters, "It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years."
Shari Shaw also shared her emotional reaction upon learning of her brother's death. She told KTLA, "I fell to the ground, and I didn’t know — I didn’t want to look at him. They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace."
Victor Shaw's tragic death comes as Los Angeles County faces evacuation orders impacting more than 130,000 residents. Several fires continue to burn out of control, including the Palisades, Sunset, Eaton, Hurst, and Lidia fires, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Palisades fire alone has already destroyed at least 1,000 structures, while the Eaton fire caused significant damage to another 1,000 homes and buildings, according to officials from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Approximately 2,500 firefighters are currently battling those two major blazes. They have been facing increasingly difficult conditions due to strong winds, dry vegetation, and low humidity levels. In addition, water supplies are stretched thin, adding to the challenges.
On Wednesday evening, another fire ignited in the Hollywood Hills, further straining emergency resources. The Los Angeles Times reported that the new blaze has heightened concerns among residents and officials.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell described the situation as unprecedented. "What we saw here in the last 24 hours is unprecedented. I’ve never seen anything like this," he stated on Wednesday.
As of early Thursday morning, none of the fires were fully under control. Officials confirmed that the Hurst fire was 10 percent contained, while the Lidia fire was 40 percent contained, but the rest remained entirely uncontained.