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BYU student finds comfort in community after losing home in LA Eaton Fire

Robert Vasquez side by side
Robert Vasquez grew up in his home in Altadena, California, which had been in his family for 30 years. The home burned down in the Eaton Fire in Southern California in January 2025. (Robert Vasquez)

The home of a BYU sophomore was destroyed in the wildfires that continue to rage across Southern California.

Robert Vasquez, a sophomore studying business and finance, returned home to Altadena, California in December 2024. A few weeks later, the deadly wildfires erupted in his home state.

When evacuation orders were sent out as the Eaton fire began, Vasquez’s family of eight began to pack all of their belongings into their cars and trailer. They believed they would be returning to their home in a couple of days — a home which had been occupied by his family for thirty years.

Surrounded by three of Southern California’s fires — the Eaton, Pasadena and Hurst — and driving through the harsh Santa Anna winds, the drive out of Altadena was nothing short of apocalyptic, Vasquez said.

“It really felt like an apocalypse. There was fire everywhere, you couldn’t see much,” Vasquez said. “The wind was blowing really strong, really powerfully."

Two days after Vasquez and his family evacuated to his cousin’s house, their neighbor went back to their neighborhood to assess the damage. He reported back to the family that the Eaton fire had destroyed the neighborhood and their home.

“Nobody ever thinks it going to happen to them, until it does,” Vasquez said.

Screenshot 2025-01-20 205954.jpg
Map showing the extent of the Eaton Fire in Southern California. Vasquez was born and raised in Altadena. (Courtesy of The New York Times)

Now homeless, Vasquez and his family have been relying on family members and their community for basic needs and shelter.

“I’m grateful for what I have, and losing everything has made me realize how much I do have — even now,” Vasquez said.

Before the fires, Vasquez believed his community was already tightly-knit. But after the disaster struck, the community came together stronger than before, he said. Restaurants now offer free meals to evacuees and first responders.

Instead of turning bitter, Vasquez has felt blessed to see all of the good his community has done for each other. Vasquez's losing his family home and gaining a stronger community have helped strengthen his testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“I’m homeless right now, which is crazy. And yet, you have two choices, I think, and that’s either that you turn to God or you turn away from him,” Vasquez said.

Before the fires began, Vasquez was planning to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wanted to leave right after the end of the Fall 2024 semester, but his call to the Jacksonville, Florida mission listed March 10, 2025, as his departure date. It was three months later than he had hoped.

Vasquez was angry and confused about why he had to wait to serve a mission, he said. It was something that he had always planned on doing. But after losing his home, he believes he was told to wait for a reason.

“The fire hit, and I realize there’s a reason why I’m back here,” Vasquez said.

“I’ve been through the hardest things I’ve ever been through — we’ve ever been through — and yet we’re still okay, so I think that says a lot about our community,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his family after their house burned down. In just a couple of Weeks, he raised $5,541.00 through the GoFundMe, showcasing all the support surrounding him.