In January, Los Angeles faced devastating wildfires. The Palisades fire, which began on January 7, burned over 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,300 structures. That same day, the Eaton fire also broke out, burning approximately 14,000 acres, destroying over 7,000 structures and resulting in 17 fatalities. Overall, the fires led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and caused at least 29 deaths.
LAPD reserve police officers played a crucial role, augmenting full-time officers by performing patrol duties at their assigned divisions and working on the front lines.
Reserve Officer Wes Nichols, who continued his duties despite his own family being impacted by the fires, shared the following recollection on Facebook:
“Someone just sent me this candid shot of me after we just helped put out the fire at a family’s home whose wife had died of pancreatic cancer, leaving young children and a bereft husband who I knew.
“I tried to fight the fire on the corner of their home, but the garden hose had partially melted from the heat and the water pressure was almost nonexistent.
“I raced up to Sunset Boulevard to find a fire truck. The captain returned with me and we entered a side door and took the dog blankets from the sofa and, [through] the choking smoke, ran around gathering family photos, computers, mementos, etc., and ran them out to my truck, as he didn’t think we could save the house.
“The hydrant was right out front but was dry.
“We flagged down a truck on Sunset and he pulled in and had [a] 500-gallon tank of water. They were able to attack the fire and save the house, thankfully.
“I met the owner that night at a hotel in Brentwood to deliver the Santa-like bags of family belongings. I’ve never been hugged that hard or that long before. We both had a good cry together.”
Reserve Officer Wes Nichols: “I’ve never been hugged that hard or that long before.”
Working the Wildfires
The Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation posted a Facebook Reel highlighting many of the photos featured in this article. The video quickly went viral. Check it out at facebook.com/reel/625034480216947. LAPRF thanks all the officers who submitted photos.
