Children and their families in Los Angeles have shared their experiences of fleeing devastating fires that destroyed their homes and schools, leaving them with only a few belongings.
The New York Times conducted interviews with ten children and their parents, revealing their fears and coping mechanisms following the wildfires. The families recounted their harrowing escapes and the emotional toll of losing their homes.
Ivy and Ruby Van Kline, six-year-old twin sisters, lost both their house and Aveson School of Leaders in Altadena, California. They are now living with their grandparents. Similarly, Jet Crawford, also six, has moved to a new house with his mother and sister after their Altadena home was destroyed.
Kurtis Odom, aged nine, and his twelve-year-old sister Kayla are residing in a vacation rental while attending school online. Their home was lost in the fires, and they continue to adjust to their new circumstances. Phoebe Hanelin, ten, lost her home and school in the Palisades fire and, along with her older sister Abigail, is now taking classes online.
Despite their homes surviving the fires, friends Lily Yadegar, Alessandra Santini, and Yasmine Santini were evacuated for over a week. They initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild their school and organized a donation drive for their classmates.
Children described their feelings during the evacuation. Ivy recounted the fear she felt when the fire approached, while Kurtis expressed confusion and sadness upon learning their home was gone. The emotional responses varied among siblings; for instance, Alessandra packed cherished belongings while Yasmine focused on practical items.
Currently, Ivy and Ruby are adapting to life at their grandparents' home, while Kurtis and Kayla are participating in remote learning. Jet, who has autism, is struggling with the closure of his school. Phoebe and her sisters have moved multiple times since the fire and face uncertainty about their future accommodations.
The children expressed worries about their losses and adjustments to their new realities. Kurtis lamented the loss of personal items like sports equipment, while Kayla feared starting at a new school. Ivy and Ruby looked forward to celebrating their birthday, and Jet's mother noted his distress in processing the loss of their home.
As they reflect on their homes and schools, the children recall special memories. Kurtis cherished his grandparents' home, while Phoebe missed the familiarity of her school's spacious yard. Ivy and Ruby fondly remembered the "ginormous playground" and the animals at their school. Ivy expressed sentiment about their old house, which she believed had magical qualities.
Many children were unable to take much with them during the evacuation, including Abigail, who only grabbed a couple of books. Ivy managed to bring some stuffed animals, blankets, and personal items, while Ruby was saddened by the loss of her bunk bed slide. Kurtis noted with irony that their trampoline remained intact despite the destruction of their house.