Table of Contents
Against All Odds: Tristin Perez’s Heroic Battle to Protect His Home from the Eaton Fire
A Community in Crisis
As flames consumed parts of Altadena, California, 34-year-old carpenter Tristin Perez refused to leave his home on El Molino Avenue. Despite choking smoke, searing heat, and the constant threat of flying bullets, Perez stayed behind to defend his property and his neighbors’ homes from the deadly Eaton fire.
A Desperate Fight
The fire, which started on the hillside above Altadena, quickly raced down toward the neighborhood. Though police officers warned residents to evacuate, Perez chose to stay, armed with only two water pitchers after ripping out their filters. “Your front yard is on fire, palm trees lit up—it looked like something out of a movie,” Perez said. He poured water onto embers, his wooden fence, and anything else he could reach to stop the spread of flames.
A Neighborhood in Ruins
Perez’s determination paid off. His one-story yellow duplex survived, as did two neighboring homes. Across the street, however, entire houses burned to the ground, leaving only chimneys standing amid the wreckage.
“When you look across the street… If I wasn’t here, that is what would have happened,” he reflected.
The Rapid Spread of Fire
Perez described how quickly the fire escalated. On Tuesday evening, residents noticed a faint glow in the distance. But by early Wednesday, powerful winds had turned the fire into an unstoppable force. “It looked like it was sprinting down a football field,” Perez recalled.
As the flames approached, he urged his neighbors to evacuate. Despite warnings from officials, he stayed, believing he could make a difference with the empty dirt lot between his home and the fire as a buffer.
New Dangers Emerge
The situation became even more perilous when stored ammunition in a neighbor’s home began exploding. “Bullets flying, gas tanks exploding, embers raining down—you can’t see anything,” Perez said. He continued to fight the flames through the night, enduring unbearable heat and smoke.
Stories of Loss and Resilience
Not everyone was as fortunate as Perez. Just around the corner, Pablo Scarpellini stood in the ashes of his wife’s Spanish immersion preschool, Rayuela. The building had been reduced to rubble, with only a melted playground slide as a reminder of what once stood.
“It’s devastating,” Scarpellini said. “But I’ve cried so much the last few days, now my vision is more of hope and trying to visualize how to rebuild it.”
Rebuilding and Moving Forward
On Saturday, Perez surveyed the damage. His home remained standing, but his yard was scorched, and his white picket fence had melted in places. Despite having no power or running water, he remained optimistic.
With firefighters gaining ground on the blaze—15% containment as of late Saturday—Perez said he’s ready for whatever comes next. “Lord forbid anything happens, I will be ready,” he said. He also plans to volunteer in the community cleanup and help local businesses recover.
A Community’s Resolve
Perez’s story is a testament to the resilience of Altadena’s residents. “This isn’t the end of Altadena,” he said. “This is just turning the next chapter.”