- Title: Sisters retrieve their grandmother's teacups from fire-wrecked home
- Date: 29th January 2025
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITES STATES (JANUARY 28, 2025) (REUTERS) ONE OF SISTERS WALKING TOWARDS BURNT HOME WEARING HAZMAT SUIT SISTERS ENTERING HOME HOMEOWNER REBECCA LOMBINO WALKING ON RUBBLE VARIOUS OF SISTERS SORTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRAYNE PFLUKE (Pron: FLUKE), FIRE VICTIM’S SISTER, SAYING: “It was an overwhelming feeling of seeing the devastation. And I had seen a picture of the house, but that did nothing to give me any forewarning of what I was going to feel when I got here. And it just overtook me. And I just it's unfathomable how this all happened and the devastation that that came.” PFLUKE'S FEET WALKING INTO THE RUBBLE SISTERS TAKING PHOTOS OF THE RUBBLE LOMBINO LOOKING DOWN AT THE RUBBLE VARIOUS OF SISTERS STANDING INSIDE THE RUBBLE SISTERS SORTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE BROKEN GLASS WITH SISTERS IN THE BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) REBECCA LOMBINO, FIRE VICTIM/HOMEOWNER, SAYING: “There's things in this house that were my grandmothers' on both sides, which is some of the stuff that actually survived more than some of the things that were mine and purchased. And so it's warming to my heart to be able to, like, I think I explained before, some of these teacups that were my grandmother's that are beautiful bone china. So it's nice to have those. They might be slightly altered, but that'll be the uniqueness of them.” RING CAMERA ON DOOR WITH SISTERS SORTING THROUGH RUBBLE IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF SISTERS DUSTING OFF ITEMS IN THE RUBBLE EXTERIOR OF BURNED HOME WITH SISTERS INSIDE THE RUBBLE SISTERS WALKING ON RUBBLE VIEW THROUGH FENCE GATE BURNED METAL BASKET (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRAYNE PFLUKE, FIRE VICTIM’S SISTER, SAYING: “I was hopeful to come and find something -- something that you can hang on to from your past that may have been lost but perhaps found again. And even with the damage, it kind of brings it that uniqueness, that of remembering something that maybe it was horrible, but you look back on it and look that you survived, you walked away from it, and you have your life.” VARIOUS OF SISTERS SORTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE VIEW FROM THE DOORWAY SISTERS SORTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRAYNE PFLUKE, FIRE VICTIM’S SISTER, SAYING: “You know, I give all my support to her and offer my help anyway I can. I can't give her a new home, but I could be here to help her through building a new home. And I'll be here every step of the way with her.” (LOMBINO): “And I appreciate the support from my sister and my friends. And, you know, everybody around me has been wonderful.” VARIOUS OF DEBRIS WITH SISTERS
- Embargoed: 12th February 2025 23:36
- Keywords: CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES PACIFIC PALISADES RESIDENTS WILDFIRES
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,North America,Wildfires/Forest Fires
- Reuters ID: LVA001696128012025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:After 20 years living in Pacific Palisades, Rebecca Lombino came back home with her sister on Tuesday (January 28) for the first time since the Palisades fire swept through her Pacific Palisades community three weeks ago.
Almost everything on her property was destroyed.
In hazmat suits, goggles and respirators, Lombino and her sister Crayne Pfluke sifted through the rubble and ash, lifting charred objects to see if any of them held sentimental value.
They left with only two pieces: a Japanese statue that once stood in the garden and some teacups from their grandmother's fine china set, a family heirloom.
“Some of these teacups that were my grandmother's that are beautiful bone china. So it's nice to have those. They might be slightly altered, but that'll be the uniqueness of them. So that's heartwarming,” Lombardo said.
The statue was given to Lombardo by a close friend who passed away six years ago.
The sisters spent nearly two and a half hours sorting, dusting, and collecting the last few memories left in the debris. With nearly everything turned to twisted metal, Lombino recovered a unique stone figurine
Pfluke said the event has been heartbreaking for both of them, but she has no doubt the community and her sister will recover and rebuild stronger than ever.
“I can't give her a new home, but I could be here to help her through building a new home. And I'll be here every step of the way with her,” Pfluke said.
Residents who had not been permitted to enter burned areas since the fires were allowed from Monday (January 27) to visit their homes during daylight hours to retrieve any items they could find.
(Production: Jorge Garcia) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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