Local man in Altadena uses garden hoses to protect 7 homes, including his own, from the Eaton Fire

Antonio Antonetti, a 66-year-old resident of Altadena, California, defied mandatory wildfire evacuation orders to save his home and multiple others in his neighborhood during the Eaton Fire on January 8. Inspired by his Buddhist beliefs and a desire to avoid dealing with insurance claims, Antonetti and a group of neighbors used garden hoses to fend off the flames that were rapidly spreading through the community. Despite warnings to evacuate, Antonetti and his neighbors stayed and saved seven homes, while many others were lost to the fire. The group worked together, spraying down properties with hopeful determination as embers crossed property lines. The fire, like several others in the area, was fueled by dry winds and climate change, resulting in the destruction of thousands of structures. Antonetti, although acknowledging the risks, was emotionally affected by the losses suffered by his neighbors. He advises others not to defy evacuation orders, but his actions and those of his neighbors ultimately saved multiple homes in the face of disaster. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Antonetti’s bravery in confronting the flames inspired those around him, even as he grappled with the emotional toll of the devastation.

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