Xiaoyong “Shaw” Zhao faced a heartbreaking journey to save his father from the devastating Eaton fire that ravaged the San Gabriel mountains on January 7. Living in Portland, Oregon, Shaw received a call from his father in Altadena around 12:30 p.m., inquiring about the meal preparations for his upcoming visit. Little did Shaw know that this conversation would be their last.
Tragically, Shaw arrived in Altadena one day too late, after the fire had claimed the life of his 84-year-old father and reduced his home to ashes. The retired Chinese immigrant, a widower, was one of the 29 individuals who lost their lives in the fires that swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Shaw, along with other fire victims, filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison last month, alleging negligence, violation of health and safety codes, and failure to maintain vegetation and equipment.
Shaw’s father, Zhi Feng Zhao, had always been a man of strength, intelligence, and resilience. Long before the fires erupted, Shaw had planned a trip to visit his father in Altadena, with a plane ticket booked for January 8. During their last conversation, Shaw reassured his father that he didn’t need anything special to eat and that he would be arriving late. However, as the day progressed, Shaw received a text from a concerned neighbor about the wildfires in the area.
Despite his father’s neighborhood not being under any evacuation order or warning initially, Shaw’s concern grew. Attempting to reach his father by phone, Shaw encountered challenges due to his dad’s limited phone usage and hearing difficulties. With the passing hours, the situation escalated, and an evacuation order was issued for his father’s neighborhood at 3 a.m. on January 8.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Shaw moved up his flight and arrived in Burbank around 7 p.m. Desperate to find his father, he shared his story with a Lyft driver who offered to drive him as close to his father’s street as possible. However, they were stopped at a police barricade, leading Shaw to seek refuge at the Pasadena Convention Center, which was serving as an evacuation shelter.
Despite his tireless efforts to locate his father, Shaw’s search proved futile. The next day, his Lyft driver assisted him in returning to his father’s neighborhood. Walking through the desolate streets of Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road, Shaw finally arrived at his father’s house, only to find it obliterated by the fire. Amidst the charred remains, Shaw discovered his father’s lifeless body, mirroring his peaceful slumber.
Robert Jarchi, Shaw’s attorney, emphasized the preventable nature of this tragedy, shedding light on the historical repercussions of utility infrastructure failures during high wind events in Southern California. In response, Southern California Edison stated that the investigation into the fires was in its early stages, expressing condolences to all affected individuals.
Acknowledging the potential link between their equipment and the fires, Southern California Edison vowed to explore all data and information related to the incidents. As Shaw grappled with the loss of his father, he shared poignant details of his father’s life journey from rural China to Altadena, epitomizing resilience and determination.
Zhao’s legacy as a supportive father, immigrant, and advocate for education lives on through Shaw’s memories, underscoring the profound impact of the Eaton fire on countless lives. Shaw’s quest to find closure amid the ashes serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll of natural disasters, urging us to reflect on the importance of safety, preparedness, and community resilience in the face of adversity.
