Sister of wildfire victim who 'died clutching hose pipe' reveals last words said to him
Topics: California, Los Angeles, US News, Wildfires
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: KTLA/Google Maps
Topics: California, Los Angeles, US News, Wildfires
The younger sister of a victim of the Eaton Fire has spoken out about being caught in a 'firestorm'.
On Wednesday (January 8), 66-year-old Victor Shaw was found passed away on the side of the road by his family's home in the 3000 block of Montrose Avenue, California.
The Eaton Fire broke out on January 7 and currently impacts 13,690 acres of northern Los Angeles in the area near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in Altadena/Pasadena.
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Five people are reported as having passed away as a result of the blaze, the Los Angeles County Fire Department told CBS News Los Angeles yesterday (January 9) - and the number is expected to rise.
One of those to get caught up in the blaze is Victor, his sister Shari Shaw having since spoken out about her escape from the fire but her devastation at being forced to leave her sibling behind.
Shari told KTLA 5: “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 added that she opened the front door and tried yelling out to her brother urging him to leave but 'didn't hear him say anything'.
"And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave," she said, Shari making the difficult decision to run to her car and 'just [get] out'.
Victor's body was later discovered on the side of the road near their home, Victor reportedly clutching onto a hosepipe, a family friend Al Tanner told the outlet.
"It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years," Tanner said.
Shari told ABC7: "He discovered he had a water hose in his hand. So, we think that he might have tried to put the fire out or tried to make a path to lead to his truck. Or maybe had doused himself."
When Shari received the news of her brother's passing, she 'fell to the ground'.
"And I didn’t know - I didn’t want to look at him," she continued. "They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace."
You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].