Help Me Rebuild After the Palisades Fire

This fundraiser is for myself who lost everything in a California wildfire today. All proceeds will go towards making sure my cats have food, litter and we have shelter while looking for a new place to live. Also towards a security deposit when I hopefully find a new apartment.

The fire is still burning in Pacific Palisades, CA and continues to burn many people’s homes and communities.

My fire story:

This morning, I lost everything I own in the Palisades fire. Myself and my partner evacuated with two of our own cats and rescued two others. By the time we got the last cat, the neighborhood was covered in dark grey, and ashes were falling like snow. We could barely breathe, even with our masks. I took two cats and my car, and my boyfriend took two cats and his car.

As I drove down our alley, I passed my neighbor and waved goodbye. She would later have to abandon her car and get rescued with her young daughter and dog in tow.

It took two hours to get out, and we almost took a route that would have made us abandon our cars. With a last-minute move, I made the decision to make a quick left down a street that I knew would take us straight to PCH. Once out, we made it to a designated spot and were able to meet up with one of the cat owners.

By that time, I was tired, scared, and in need of a bathroom and more water. Thank goodness our kind neighbor brought us a gallon of water when she picked up her cat. We drove down the street to find a bathroom and book a cheap hotel that took cats. Once we secured that, we were able to unload the cats.

We had no idea whether our apartment was on fire or not. That night, the wind was relentless and kept us awake with fear of the unknown. This morning, we woke and still had no information about our apartment other than that most of the Palisades had burned down. It wasn’t until our neighbor rented an electric bike and made his way past flames, downed trees, and electrical wires that indeed our home was completely destroyed. The three of us cried at breakfast as our neighbor told us he stayed until 11:30 pm to hose down the roof and palm trees.

It still hasn’t sunk in that the home I created with my partner is gone along with everything in it. The reality of finding a new place in a new area is so hard. I loved the Palisades and was planning on making it my forever home. Who knows how long it will take to rebuild the community that I loved so much. But I must move on, even if temporarily, and start the journey looking for a new place to call home.

I’ve lost everything, and any amount would help secure a new place so that our cats can be safe and we can start to grieve and rebuild the beautiful life we built in Los Angeles.

All funds will go towards hotels while we find a new apartment, food, water, cat food, sundries, and a security deposit for a new apartment.