Amid the devastation caused by wildfires across Greater Los Angeles, a fabricator in Pasadena stayed behind to save his beloved lowriders with the help of friends and neighbors. Despite the Eaton fire destroying over 14,000 acres as of January 15, every classic car escaped the flames. The only sign of damage was one charred bumper.
Instagram user @doublepumphydraulics was among dozens of people who stayed behind to protect their property the best they could. He posted a video of himself dousing his home and cherished classics in water. Moments after saying, “I ain’t going out like that,” he pans the camera to his left to show the burning ruins of the home next door. There was even a fire engine behind him. At that point, I would have gotten out of there.
A faulty Southern California Edison power line in Eaton Canyon allegedly sparked this specific wildfire, the Los Angeles Times reports. With gusts up to 100 miles per hour, the Santa Ana winds caused the blaze to spread rapidly. The Eaton fire burned over 1,000 acres in the first six hours. Evacuation orders for residents were broadcast as soon as the fire was reported.
Miraculously, his house survived the fire unscathed, and the lowriders only suffered a touch of damage. He noted that they were able to save his home and five of his neighbors’ houses. According to Cal Fire, this month’s wildfires have destroyed over 7,000 structures, mostly homes. Cars bring people together, especially us here at Jalopnik. It’s also encouraging to see communities stick together in challenging times.