As President Joe Biden warns the nation that the death toll from the ensuring Los Angeles fires is expected to rise, more information is being reported about the current victims who have lost their lives in the blazes.
As of this writing, at least 11 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the fires.
One of those victims has been named as 66-year-old Victor Shaw.
It has now been reported that Shaw tragically lost his life while trying to protect his home from the raging Eaton Fire.
KTLA reports that Shaw was found clutching a garden hose, in what loved ones believe to be his final attempt to save his property – that had been in his family for 55 years – as the wildfire swept through his neighborhood.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Shaw died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. His decision to stay behind, despite the approaching flames, ultimately cost him his life.
Shaw’s sister, Shari Shaw, shared the devastating details with KTLA, recalling her efforts to persuade her brother to evacuate on Tuesday night as the fire closed in on their shared home.
Victor had told his sister that he wanted to stay behind and try to fight the fire, she said. As the situation worsened, Shari described being forced to abandon her brother when the encroaching firestorm made it too dangerous to stay.
“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm — I had to save myself,” she said. “And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
Al Tanner – a friend of the family – told KTLA that the next morning, Victor’s body was discovered on the side of the road, with the hose still in his hand. “It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years,” Tanner said.
READ MORE: Family members of a father and son killed in the fires have also paid tribute.
The Fires Rage On
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have already claimed at least 11 lives, with estimates suggesting that more than 10,000 homes and structures have been reduced to ashes, with entire neighborhoods left in ruins, per BBC News.
The evacuation order has been expanded as officials intensify efforts to contain the relentless Palisades Fire, which has been burning since Tuesday. Thousands of residents have fled their homes as firefighters continue to battle the blaze under challenging conditions.
President Joe Biden has described the unfolding disaster in Los Angeles as a “war scene,” cautioning that the death toll is “likely” to rise as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.
Adding to the tragic outlook, forecasts of strong winds threaten to fan the flames further, prompting fears of even more widespread devastation. A red flag warning, signaling critical fire conditions, remains in effect across the region over the weekend.
Currently, at least six fires are raging across the area. The most recent, dubbed the Archer Fire, erupted on Friday and remains uncontrolled, further straining already stretched firefighting resources.
Our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this unfolding tragedy.
