Father & Son in His Early 20s Among Eaton Fire Victims – Daughter Speaks Out

Anthony Mitchell and his son, Justin, were attempting to evacuate but became trapped by the advancing flames. Their tragic deaths have left their family heartbroken.

Anthony’s daughter, Hajime White, revealed that her father had been waiting for an ambulance to evacuate him and Justin from their home in Altadena, California, but it never arrived. Authorities informed Hajime that Anthony was found beside Justin’s bed. Justin, who was in his early 20s, had cerebral palsy, and Hajime believes her father was trying to save him.

“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” said Hajime, who is a Doula in Warren, Arkansas. Her father, whom she described as a bighearted man, was aged 67. He was a retired salesman and an amputee who used a wheelchair.

Hajime also recalled the conversation she had with her dad the day they were meant to evacuate. “He said, ‘Baby, I’m just letting you know the fire’s broke out, and we’re going to have to evacuate. Then he said, ‘I’ve got to go — the fire’s in the yard,’” narrated Hajime.

Sadly, Anthony and Justin never made it out. Anthony’s other son, Jordan, who is also in his 20s and lived with the family, was in the hospital at the time of the tragedy.

Justin, who read and communicated through a computer due to his disability, was Hajime’s half-brother. Both Justin and Anthony will be deeply missed by their extended family.

Anthony was a father to four kids and had 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Hajime’s family, who are based in Arkansas, referred to Anthony as “FaFa,” short for far away. Anthony also treasured his grandkids and gave them nicknames to remember them by. “Strawberry Shortcake, Marshmallow, Bug, he just went on and on,” shared Hajime.

This loss has struck Hajime hard. She noted, “It’s like a ton of bricks just fell on me.” For now, she is waiting to hear from the rest of her family in Los Angeles on when it will be safe for her to fly and make funeral arrangements for Justin and Anthony.

According to California’s official government page, the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst wildfires have burned through 40,300 acres and left several structures and homes destroyed. The devastation continues to impact countless families and communities.

The Palisades wildfire is currently only 13 percent contained, while the Eaton and Hurst fires have reached 27 and 89 percent containment, respectively. Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the number of lives lost has increased to 24 over the weekend, with eight fatalities linked to the Palisades fire and 16 to the Eaton one.

Officials anticipate the death toll may rise as teams, aided by cadaver dogs, conduct thorough grid searches in neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 12 people are missing in the Eaton zone, while four are unaccounted for in the Palisades area.

The National Weather Service has also issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through January 15, with sustained winds of 50 mph and mountain gusts reaching up to 70 mph.

January 14 is expected to be the most hazardous day for the California wildfires, especially as winds threaten to intensify the spread of the flames. In preparation, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone reported that 70 additional water trucks have arrived to assist firefighters in combating the flames.

Another family in Altadena, California is dealing with heartbreak and loss after the California wildfire tore through a quiet neighborhood, claiming the life of a beloved grandfather. 83-year-old Rodney Nickerson was found dead in his bed. His daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, discovered his body amid the charred remains of their family home, which had stood since the late 1960s.

The devastating wildfire broke out on Tuesday night (January 7, 2025), spreading rapidly near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, about three miles from the Nickerson home. Despite repeated pleas from his family and neighbors to evacuate, Rodney insisted on staying in the home he had lived in for over five decades.

Kimiko shared that the last conversation she had with her father was around 9:30 p.m. on the night of the fire. He had assured her, saying, “I’ll be here tomorrow.”

Kimikso’s son and neighbors also tried to persuade Rodney to leave, but he remained firm in his decision to stay. “He said he’ll be fine,” Kimiko recounted. She believes he was preparing to go to bed after their call, sticking to his lifelong habit of waking up at 4 a.m., even in retirement.

Rodney had deep ties to the Los Angeles community, having purchased their Altadena family home in 1968 for just $5. His legacy in the area extended beyond his lifetime — his great-grandfather, William Nickerson, founded Nickerson Gardens, the largest public housing development in Los Angeles.

Rodney spent 45 years working as a project engineer for Lockheed Martin, a major aerospace and defense company. His wife, who also worked at Lockheed, shared in building the family’s life in Altadena, raising their children in the same home that Rodney refused to abandon.

The rapid spread of the Eaton Fire took residents by surprise. According to Sky News, Kimiko described her father’s confidence that the blaze would not reach his property. Tragically, he misjudged the fire’s erratic and devastating path.

“He just didn’t want to evacuate,” Kimiko said, reflecting on her father’s decision. “He’s been living here since 1968, and he’s been in Altadena my whole life.”

The fire cut through the quiet suburban neighborhood at an alarming rate, jumping across streets and causing significant destruction. “Like all of us on this block, in four blocks, he didn’t think it was going to be this devastating,” Kimiko shared. “It jumped whole streets, and it hit this community, but it didn’t touch the mountainside at all.”

In the aftermath, Kimiko expressed the overwhelming grief and disbelief that she and her family are facing. “I have no words to explain my feelings at this point in time,” she said. “I’m just silent and numb and just mentally trying to go through the process.”

The Nickerson family is not alone in their grief. The Eaton Fire continues to leave a trail of heartbreak across Altadena and neighboring areas. On January 9, 2025, KTLA 5 reported on the death of a 66-year-old man named Victor Shaw, who was identified on Wednesday morning (January 8) as one of the five victims claimed by the Eaton Fire.

Tragically, Victor’s family found him lying on the side of the road by their home, with a garden hose in his hand. The fire victim’s loved ones also confirmed that Victor lost his life attempting to defend their home against the flames.

Adding another layer of sorrow is the fact that Victor’s sister, Shari Shaw, who he had been living with, had tried to get her brother to evacuate with her on the evening of January 7, as the fire got closer to their location.

Reportedly, Victor, whose loved ones say he had health issues impacting his mobility, had told Shari he wanted to stay behind to try to combat the fire when she was running out the door.

Providing a first-person account of the moment to the news outlet, Shari divulged, “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. And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”

Al Tanner, a family friend, said they found Victor’s charred body the following morning. According to Al, “It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years.”

Expressing her devastation to KTLA 5, Shari said she “fell to the ground” upon learning of her brother’s death, and noted how she was even unable to look at him. “They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace,” added the bereaved sister.

Victor’s body was still left on his family’s property in the 3000 block of Montrose Avenue on Wednesday evening due to unsafe conditions prohibiting the coroner’s office from retrieving him.

The cause of the 10,600-acre Eaton Fire that claimed Victor’s life has remained under investigation since Thursday morning (January 9), and is one of many active and large wildfires to erupt in the Los Angeles area.

According to KTLA 5, the Palisades Fire is the largest of the lot, spanning a whopping 17,234 acres and having destroyed approximately 1,000 structures.