He Was Supposed To Outlive Us

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Everyone in the neighborhood knew Ed. He was 100 pounds and was supposed to outlive us all.

When the Eaton Fire hit Altadena at 3:25 AM, we had minutes to evacuate. We opened the coop for our 31 chickens and opened the gate for Ed, hoping they would survive on their own. We had to make the impossible choice between saving our son or saving our animals.

Returning to the ashes of "The Turtle House," we had to face the reality of that decision. This is not just a story about a fire—it is a story about the guilt, the loss, and the heartbreaking reality of leaving your pets behind in a wildfire.

In this video:

The history of Ed, the beloved neighborhood tortoise who lived here for decades.

The chaotic 3:25 AM evacuation of our home in Altadena.

The heartbreaking return to finding what remained in the ashes.

#wildfire #altadena #petloss #wildfirerecovery #eatonfire #tortoise #sulcata

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes as we uncover the full story of the fire, its aftermath, and what it takes to rebuild.

Credits
Executive Producers: Ben DeNoble, Dave Szamet
Editor: Elizabeth Ayiku
Re-Recording Mixer: Tom Carter

Interviewees:
• Sofia Vidal

Additional Photography & Special Thanks:
• Dan Johnstone
• Jeff Naumann
• Lisa Stewart

📩 If you have a story or want to connect, email: [email protected]