Steve Peterson, a resident on the border of Altadena and Pasadena, watched as flames neared his home, describing the scene as apocalyptic. Strong winds knocked down a tree onto his truck, and he had to water down his house and put out a small fire in his backyard. Despite neighbors leaving and fire officials recommending evacuation, Peterson chose to stay and ride out the fires in his home of 18 years.
In the neighborhood, firefighters and residents worked together to contain the fires, with some using hoses and buckets while children helped by scooping up water. Although some homes were engulfed in flames, efforts were made to save as many as possible.
The fires were exacerbated by strong winds, which caused significant destruction further north. Entire rows of homes were destroyed, cars were burnt, and power lines were down in the streets. Peterson acknowledged that the situation would not have escalated to this level without the winds.
Overall, the community was coming together to try and combat the fires, with individuals doing what they could to protect their homes and help their neighbors. Despite the devastation, there was a sense of resilience and determination among those affected by the fires.
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