The Los Angeles Fire

I am from Los Angeles, and all of my immediate family live there. The scenes of devastation rolling through the news about the rapid fires are heartbreaking, and in a very literal sense are hitting close to home.

Just over New Years I was in Pasadena, watching with anticipation as large boisterously colorful floats lined up for the Rose Parade. It brought back memories of when I helped build and decorate the float for my city, La Cañada-Flintridge back in high school.

The next day as we watched the parade in person, I saw thousands of people who… though tired from claiming and sleeping on their precious section of sidewalks all night long… clapped and cheered as shiny and crisp marching bands from around the world played in clipped procession along Colorado Boulevard. As we watched, an Ohio State fan who had flown into town for the Rose Bowl stood next to me and said, “I can’t believe this happens here. How incredible!”

He had intended on skipping the parade, (“Are parades really that fun?” He thought) but had run into my Uncle at a local restaurant the night before. And when my Uncle heard the man and his wife had flown across the country and were missing THE Rose Parade, he invited them to come to his apartment on Colorado Boulevard the next morning where we as a family would be watching and having breakfast.

“I never knew Los Angeles was so friendly.” He said. “Everyone has been incredibly kind and welcoming. Not what I expected at all.”

(Watching the Rose Parade a few days ago)

Today, that same street is just a 3 minute drive from homes that are on fire or completely lost as we speak. And many of those families who were camping out on the curb just a week ago, are likely sleeping on borrowed couches today because they have no other place to go.

Gratefully my parents and immediate family are currently safe. However I do know people who lost everything in a matter of hours. My brother was staying in an extended stay AirBnB near Pacific Palisades and had to flee, only to return to the rubbled remains of a once beautiful home. He lost everything. Our family has run a restaurant in La Cañada for nearly 30 years and many of our long-time employees have lost everything and are picking through the remains of what’s left.

It is simply devastating.

Despite the ongoing tragedy, over the past few days I’ve witnessed something remarkable. I can’t tell you the number of texts, calls, and messages through Social Media I’ve received from people around the country (and world) who know me and my family. Including many of you.

Is your family safe?

Have they lost their home?

Are you OK?

It has been humbling and heartening to be the recipient of these thoughtful and concerned outreaches. Friends from high school that I haven’t heard from in years have been actively reaching out to me and to each other. I’ve also done the same.

How are your parents?

Your siblings, are they affected?

What about your family restaurant?

(Fire smoke viewed from my hometown. And the “Touch-Down Jesus” church as we call it. Lutherans really do know how to have a good time.)

I’ve seen churches and community groups open up and band together, creating meals and supplies for the first responders and collecting funds for people who are facing the bleak uncertainty of rebuilding. Celebrities who most people think live in ivory towers are using their bare hands to rescue those being caught in flames. Behind their social media accounts, they are real people too. And are our neighbors.

Over the past few days, I’ve witnessed Angelenos far and wide coming together in a remarkable way. No one is untouched. And though the devastation is far from over, the fire is burning away divisions, boundaries, and embitterments that we’ve allowed to creep and weed into our lives. It is stripping away differences, grievances, and labels people have hid behind to judge one another, laying bare our commonalities and rubbled bedrock of our community still intact.

Its ironic how celebrations like the Rose Parade and calamities like fires tend to do that. They bring people together in ways other events can’t. Our highs and lows ultimately bring out our true selves, and allow us to see the best in each other.

· Wherever you are from, who is someone you haven’t you spoken to in a long time?

· How can you reach out and connect?

· Who is a loved one that deserves to know how you feel about them?

· How do you want to build your community this week?

To be honest, I’m in the middle of processing. The fires are still gaining ground, and much hangs in the balance. Every hour is filled with anxious updates as I and family members continue to text each other, listen to news reports, and monitor the powerful and unpredictable Santa Ana winds sweeping over the San Gabriel mountains.

(The iconic Pasadena City Hall with Eaton Canyon in the background on better days)

But one day, this too shall pass.

My hope is that as Los Angeles, and my fellow Angelenos push through this turning point in our city’s history, we will come out the other side and hear the stories of heroism, bravery, kindness, and perseverance in the face of tragic loss that ordinary people are doing in these extraordinary times.

At that day, with these stories of endurance, triumph, and caring in our hearts, I hope we will look at our community and each other with new eyes and exclaim, “I can’t believe this happens here. How incredible!”

May you look at your own community with these same eyes, and reach out to others with these same supporting hands, because it’s in the lifting of others we find the success that really matters most.

I guess that makes any city… truly… a City of Angels.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com