What we know about LA fires victims

The wildfires in Los Angeles have caused immense destruction and sorrow, claiming the lives of at least 11 individuals, with concerns that this number may increase. Authorities have indicated that identifying the victims could take several weeks, as traditional identification methods like fingerprinting and visual recognition may not be feasible in this situation. Here, we share the stories of some of the victims as recounted by their grieving families. One of the victims, Victor Shaw, was a 66-year-old man who tragically lost his life while attempting to defend his home from the encroaching flames. His family reported that his body was discovered on the roadside near his property, with a garden hose still in his hand. Victor had lived in that house for nearly 55 years alongside his younger sister, Shari. On the night of the fire, Shari urged him to evacuate with her, but he insisted on staying to fight the fire. She described the terrifying scene, stating, 'the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm,' which ultimately forced her to flee. Shari expressed her deep sorrow, saying, 'I'll miss talking to him, joking about, travelling with him and I'll just miss him to death. ' Another heartbreaking account is that of Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin, who both perished in their home in Altadena while trying to escape the wildfires. Anthony, a 67-year-old retired salesman and amputee, lived with his son Justin, who was in his early 20s and had cerebral palsy. Hajime White, Anthony's daughter, received a distressing call from her father, who informed her, 'the fire's in the yard. ' Tragically, she later learned that both her father and brother had died, leaving her feeling as if 'a ton of bricks just fell on me. ' Anthony was a devoted father of four, a grandfather to 11, and a great-grandfather to 10. Rodney Nickerson was another victim of the wildfires. His daughter, Kimiko, shared that her father believed the fire would simply pass over their home. Having purchased the property in 1968, he had experienced previous fires and felt confident that he would be safe. The last words he spoke to Kimiko were, 'I'll be here tomorrow. ' Unfortunately, his body was later found. Another victim, Rory Callum Sykes, was a 32-year-old Australian citizen. His mother, Shelley, recounted that they were at their Malibu estate when the fire broke out. Rory, who had cerebral palsy, was in a cottage on the property while Shelley attempted to extinguish the flames. She was devastated to find that there was no water coming from the hose, and she expressed her heartbreak, saying, 'I'm totally heartbroken. ' Rory, who was born blind, had undergone surgeries that allowed him to regain his sight and learn to walk, eventually becoming an inspirational speaker. Shelley, who had a broken arm, was unable to lift her son to safety. Lastly, Erliene Kelley, an 83-year-old woman, was also among the victims. Her family discovered late on Thursday that she had perished in the fire. Briana Navarro, Erliene's granddaughter, shared that her grandmother was adamant about not evacuating, believing that previous fires had never reached their home in Altadena. Tragically, they learned that authorities had found a body in the rubble of her house, and it had been over 48 hours since Briana had last heard from her grandmother. These stories highlight the profound impact of the wildfires on families in Los Angeles, leaving behind a trail of grief and loss.