Who steps in when resources run thin and neighborhoods burn? Latino Immigrants. That’s who.
During the first week of January, the city of Los Angeles faced one of its most devastating wildfires in modern memory. The Eaton Fire alone consumed entire neighborhoods, pushing firefighting resources to their limits. Homes burned to rubble while firefighters worked tirelessly. Yet, amidst this chaos, something extraordinary happened. Latino volunteers, many of them immigrants, became an unexpected but critical force in fighting the flames.
Social media lit up with stories of bravery, including teams of firefighters dispatched from Mexico. But some of the most compelling acts of heroism came from everyday people — undocumented immigrants, gardeners, house cleaners — armed only with buckets and hoses.
A Community United: Latino Immigrants Take Action
Maria Garcia, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, was one of these heroes. Maria doesn’t live in the affluent neighborhoods of Altadena that were hit hardest by the fire. But as a house cleaner who knows the area, she felt compelled to act.
“I couldn’t sleep knowing people’s houses were burning,” Garcia told NPR. At sunrise, she rallied her brothers and friends, armed them with buckets and hoses, and drove into the heart of the fire. Together, they worked to extinguish flames threatening homes.
“Our values and our principles come first, that’s what our parents taught us,” Garcia said. “They always used to say, help others without concern for who they are or why they need help.”
According to NPR, at one destroyed house, Garcia and about 20 other Latino volunteers used hoses, shovels, and even water from a neighbor’s swimming pool to snuff out the embers, stopping the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
International Support and Solidarity
While local volunteers stepped up, so did international allies. Mexico sent 70 firefighters to assist, showcasing the power of cross-border solidarity. As they arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, they were greeted with gratitude, a vivid reminder of the shared responsibility in battling climate disasters.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his appreciation, saying, “This is what friends do.”
Why Do They Do It?
Israel Garcia, another undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, explained his motivation to NPR:
“I don’t know who lives here. I don’t know if they have children. But I think about what those children will feel when they see their house is gone. And I ask myself, how would I feel?”
For Lorenzo Ramos, who immigrated from Guatemala 11 years ago, it was simple: “We saw that people were suffering, so we came to help. If it happens to us someday, we’ll need help too.”
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Phil McConville, a homeowner in Altadena, described how these volunteers saved his house. “I couldn’t see anymore, and I went to wash my eyes out,” McConville said. “When I came back, there’s a whole army of guys working and working. They’ve got a line of buckets and hoses going.”
For many, these volunteers are heroes and their stories need to be told.
“Shoutout to NPR for putting this story out there,” the Mexican TikToker who goes by “Viva Texas,” told his followers. “… this is a story that deserves to be told and spread across like crazy.”
TikToker “Roaming off the Grid” added: “We don’t deserve them. Much love to all of those helping. You deserve the world.”
