California Wildfire Victims: Stories of Loss and Sacrifice

California wildfires claim lives; read heartbreaking stories of victims who tried to protect homes and loved ones. Death toll rises.

At least two fatalities in the Southern California wildfires reportedly involved individuals attempting to safeguard their residences, long-time family homes, while another remained with his son, incapacitated and unable to flee.

The death toll from the sweeping wildfires across the Los Angeles area has reached twenty-seven, authorities confirmed, following the conflagrations that ignited on Jan. 7, intensified by arid conditions and forceful winds.

Over 12,000 structures are confirmed destroyed, and an estimated tens of thousands remain displaced, officials stated. The definitive casualty count remains undetermined as the blazes continue their destructive path through communities.

The following constitutes preliminary information regarding the victims:

Anthony and Justin Mitchell

Anthony Mitchell memorialized his father as a dedicated "protector," unwavering in his commitment to family. The elder Mitchell, 67, a great-grandfather of 10, sharing his given name with his son, perished at his Altadena residence. Justin Mitchell, the younger brother of Anthony, also succumbed to the blaze.

According to Anthony, his father relied on a wheelchair following a leg amputation the previous year and steadfastly refused to abandon Justin, who suffered from cerebral palsy and was non-ambulatory.

“He likely possessed the means to escape, but he would not leave my brother,” he conveyed to NBC News. “His love for his children was profound.”

Anthony recounted his last communication with his father at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Jan. 8. His father indicated they were awaiting evacuation, but roughly 30 minutes later, a subsequent call to another relative revealed the fire's proximity across the street.

“The collective sentiment is one of profound shock and grief,” Anthony stated.

Anthony characterized his father as a guiding figure whose family held paramount importance. He bestowed nicknames upon each grandchild and great-grandchild and consistently offered assistance.

“Family was everything to my dad,” Anthony affirmed. “We had an extensive conversation where he expressed: ‘I want you to know that my children, my grandchildren, my nieces, and my nephews, you are my legacy. You are my treasure.’ He emphasized, ‘Material possessions are inconsequential; my children and my family are my true wealth.’”

Justin found solace in television and enjoyed being read to.

“He was simply a genuinely kind individual,” Anthony reflected.

Erliene Louise Kelley

Briana Navarro, 33, fondly remembered her grandmother, Erliene Louise Kelley, as a “sweet” yet “stern” matriarch with extensive community connections.

“Accompanying her in public inevitably meant multiple encounters with acquaintances. Everyone knew her – her contemporaries, my parents’ generation, even my high school friends would remark on her kindness,” Navarro shared with NBC News.

Navarro recounted being at the family’s Altadena home – her residence alongside her husband, two daughters, and grandmother – when she noticed smoke.

“Upon stepping outside, a red glow was visible,” she recalled. “It didn’t initially appear to be a major incident.”

While there was no immediate urgency to depart, Navarro’s husband advocated for evacuation.

“My husband, being from outside the area, perhaps perceived the situation differently,” Navarro explained. “We consulted [her grandmother], but she reassured us, ‘No, no, I’m fine. You guys go ahead.’”

Kelley, 83, having previously experienced a significant wildfire, believed the situation was manageable, according to her granddaughter. Police confirmed Kelley’s death Thursday night after the fire engulfed their home, Navarro stated.

Navarro believes her grandmother found “peace” in remaining at the home she had “cared for daily” for over four decades. The family is currently contending with the devastating loss.

“My grandmother maintained an active lifestyle. … We envisioned her reaching her late nineties, still vibrant. Her tragic and unexpected passing is the source of our deepest sorrow,” she lamented.

Victor Shaw

Victor Shaw, 66, was reportedly engaged in efforts to protect his family’s residence of over half a century when he perished on the night of Jan. 7 during the Eaton Fire, family members confirmed.

His sister, Shari Shaw, disclosed to KTLA-TV that they shared the home and that she implored him to evacuate as flames began engulfing the property.

“Upon returning and calling out his name, there was no response, and I was forced to flee due to the intensity of the embers, which were large and airborne like a firestorm,” she recounted. “Looking back, the house was igniting, and I had no choice but to leave.”

Shari Shaw declined a request for an interview from NBC News, citing the need to concentrate on her brother’s funeral arrangements.

Al Tanner, a family acquaintance, informed KTLA that upon returning to the residence on the morning of Jan. 8, they discovered Victor’s body by the roadside, a garden hose in hand.

“It appears he was attempting to salvage the home his parents had owned for nearly 55 years,” Tanner stated.

Rodney Kent Nickerson

Rodney Kent Nickerson, 83, had reportedly reassured loved ones of his safety as family and neighbors urged him to evacuate his Altadena home, according to his daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, who spoke with KCAL-TV.

“My son, my neighbors, and I all tried to persuade him to leave, but he insisted he would be fine—‘I’ll be here when you guys come back.’ He was confident his house would remain standing,” she stated.

Nickerson was outside, attempting to douse his property with water at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 7, his daughter reported. Their last communication occurred via FaceTime around 9:30 p.m.

“His house is still standing, and he was there, too. I found him in his bed. His entire body was intact,” she told the news outlet.

Kimiko could not be reached for comment at the listed phone numbers.

Nickerson, a 45-year veteran of aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin, where he served as a project engineer manager, had resided in the home since 1968. Kimiko conveyed to the station, “This is the only home I’ve ever known.”

“I’ve lived here my entire life,” she said. “My brother, my son, and his other grandchildren, this is where we have always lived.”

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officially confirmed Nickerson’s death.

Rory Sykes

Former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who was born blind and had cerebral palsy, died Jan. 8 after, his mother said, she was unable to save him from his burning cottage.

Sykes, 32, who starred in the late-’90s British TV show “Kiddy Kapers,” was living in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate, which flames engulfed Jan. 8.

Shelley Sykes said it burned down in the Palisades Fire when she “couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose” because of a lack of water.

She told Australian outlet 10 News First that she has a broken arm and could not lift or move her son.

“He said, ‘Mom, leave me.’ And no mom could leave their kid,” she said, crying.

Shelley Sykes said that she drove to the local fire department for help but that it told her it had no water. She said that when the fire department took her back, Rory’s “cottage was burnt to the ground.”

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken,” she wrote Thursday on X, calling him “a wonderful son.”

Randall Lawrence Miod

Randy “Craw Daddy” Miod, a well-known Malibu figure, died at his home — which he had lovingly dubbed the “Crab Shack” — in the Palisades Fire, according to his mother.

His mother, Carol Smith, noted that detectives said he was most likely trying to save his house when he succumbed to the smoke and the heat. She said in a written statement that Miod “lived and died in the place he loved the most.”

Smith said the last time she spoke to him was Jan. 7, the day the fires started. He told her he could see the smoke and “sounded like he was on the verge of tears.” Though she pleaded with him to grab his cat and evacuate to a shelter, she said, he refused.

“He said, ‘No, Mom, I don’t trust the fire department, and I have a hose,’” Smith said. “His last words to me that day were ‘Pray for the Palisades and pray for Malibu. I love you.’”

She added that he had been through “so many fires” in the 30 years he resided there and that he most likely did not believe this fire would be much different. But it was.

“He will be remembered for his kindness, his loving spirit, his generosity, his laughter, the encouragement he gave others, for working hard and playing hard,” Smith said. “I don’t think he ever realized how much everyone loved and respected him, for just being Randy, ‘the Craw.’”

Dalyce Curry

Dalyce “Mama Dee” Curry, 95, was killed in the Eaton Fire, her granddaughter said.

Curry’s granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, was the last person to see her alive and dropped her off at her home the day the wildfire ignited, Kelley told NBC News’ Tom Llamas. When evacuation orders were issued the next day, Curry was not able to make it out, Kelley said.

She said it was possible her grandmother didn’t receive emergency alerts and was unaware of evacuation recommendations and alerts.

“Elderly people, they just don’t get into cellphones,” Kelley said. “Not her.”

Curry was part of old Black Hollywood in the 1950s and appeared as an extra in classic movies like the “Ten Commandments” and “The Blues Brothers,” her granddaughter said.

Kelley said her grandmother was mentored by Madame Sul-Te-Wan, whose real name was Nellie Crawford, said to be the first Black woman under a movie studio contract in the silent film era, according to the Golden Globes.

Kelley said her grandmother loved her Altadena community, and the destruction the wildfire caused would have hurt her deeply.

“She loved Altadena,” she said. “She loved that city. She loved that little cottage.”

Arthur Simoneau

Arthur Simoneau, 69, a practitioner of hang-gliding for four decades, was identified by associates and relatives in statements to the Los Angeles Times.

Simoneau, who perished in the Palisades Fire, was reportedly en route from a skiing excursion when he became aware of the evacuation directives for his Topanga residence in the Santa Monica Mountains, according to Steve Murillo, a long-time friend and fellow hang-glider pilot, as reported by the news outlet.

“His intention was to return home and protect it if feasible,” Murillo stated. “Arthur possessed a resolute character; once committed to a course of action, dissuasion was improbable.”

Simoneau's remains were discovered near the entrance of his dwelling, purportedly engaged in its defense, Murillo indicated, as per the newspaper's account.

His neighbor, Susan Dumond, conveyed to the publication that Simoneau was universally recognized in the area as a neighborhood custodian. She noted his habit of greeting neighbors with a smile and a peace sign, often leaving behind a trail of recently removed non-native plant species.

“His inherent inclination was to safeguard the community and his property. I surmise that was his course of action,” she remarked. “His dedication to the community was profound, and he was willing to exert himself to assist it.”

Charles Mortimer

Charles Mortimer, 84, was a fatality of the Palisades Fire, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Meredith Mortimer, his niece, stated that he “genuinely embraced life to its maximum potential” and was characterized as a “global traveler, an admirer of the sun, and a devoted sports enthusiast.”

“He will be remembered as an individual with a sharp intellect, a brilliant mind, and a deep affection for his family. His captivating smile and perpetual sense of humor will be deeply missed by his friends and family internationally,” she expressed in a formal statement.

Kim Winiecki

Kim Winiecki, 77, “derived pleasure from interpersonal communication” and possessed qualities of being “highly expressive” and humorous, according to her long-standing friend, Jeannette McMahon.

Winiecki had adopted a somewhat secluded lifestyle following her retirement some years prior, but found enjoyment in attending church functions and convening with McMahon and another mutual friend. This trio referred to themselves as the “Three Amigos,” McMahon indicated during a telephone conversation.

“We genuinely valued her presence, as she truly became animated in our company,” she stated.

McMahon and Winiecki, whose friendship spanned over two decades, shared a dinner engagement on Jan. 6, followed by a visit to McMahon’s residence for refreshments of cookies and tea.

Within a timeframe of less than 48 hours, Winiecki perished when flames consumed her Altadena dwelling.

McMahon, a resident located a short six-minute distance from Winiecki, reported that the area was subject to an evacuation order at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, but her friend opted to remain.

“She conveyed, ‘No, I am secure. I will assemble some belongings, and if necessary, I will depart on foot.’ Reflecting on it, I believe she was unable to abandon her home,” McMahon expressed. “I do not believe her thoughts necessarily centered on this being the end, but rather, ‘How could I vacate this place? This represents my security, my entirety.’”

Zhi Feng Zhao

Zhi Feng Zhao, 84, was a fatality in Altadena during the Eaton Fire, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Additional details regarding his circumstances were not immediately procurable.

Annette Rossilli

Annette Rossilli, 85, was characterized as "sweet" and "very bubbly" by Fay Vahdani, the director of Luxe Homecare, an organization that administered in-home care services to Rossilli.

“We are deeply saddened,” Vahdani stated. “We have lost a valued patient, which is a profoundly devastating experience for our team.”

Vahdani indicated that multiple attempts were made to persuade Rossilli to evacuate her residence, but she declined due to concerns for her pets. Rossilli was the owner of several animals, including a canine, two parrots, and a canary.

Vahdani noted that they offered to accommodate her pets, but Rossilli continued to refuse evacuation.

Rossilli was “held in high regard by members of the local church” and was “a much-loved figure within our community,” Vahdani conveyed.

Jeffrey Takeyama

Jeffrey Takeyama, 69, was a fatality of the Palisades Fire. His death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Takeyama was last observed on Jan. 7, the date of the fire's origin, in Malibu, and had been the subject of a missing person report, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bulletin.

Carolyn Burns

Carolyn Burns, 56, was a fatality in Altadena during the Eaton Fire, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.