The proprietor of a residence overtaken by the Palisades Fire has described the occurrence as a ‘miracle,’ noting how it appeared that ‘nothing could have survived’ the blaze.
Wildfires have been raging across California, affecting Los Angeles and causing widespread devastation, with numerous structures damaged or demolished, impacting hundreds of thousands of residents, and resulting in at least 11 fatalities, according to The Guardian.
Numerous homes and businesses have been devastated, and among those impacted are several notable figures.
An owner of a home that withstood one of these wildfires has shared insights into why he believes his property remained intact.
David Steiner is the owner of a nearly $9 million, three-story mansion in Malibu.
The house was unoccupied when the fires initially broke out, as reported by the 64-year-old retired waste-management executive and father of three from Texas.
However, on Tuesday (January 7), a local contractor, after seeing news coverage, sent Steiner a video of the property and its vicinity, warning him that the neighboring house was ‘going down’ and suggesting that his house appeared to be in danger as well.
Steiner informed the New York Post that from the video, it seemed improbable that anything ‘could have possibly survived’ the inferno, leading him to believe he had ‘lost the house’.
Yet, he later received photos indicating the house had ‘made it through’, with his wife noting it was actually the ‘last house standing’.
Steiner credits the survival to two design features of the property – ‘it’s stucco and stone with a fireproof roof,’ he elaborates.
He also mentioned that the property includes pilings that extend ‘like 50 feet into the bedrock’.
Aarself clarifies: “Piling is a well-known construction technique that involves driving or boring long, slender columns (known as piles) deep into the ground to form a foundation for structures like buildings or bridges.”
Nonetheless, Steiner concedes that these design aspects were intended to offer more protection against earthquakes rather than fires.
“I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go,” he remarked.
Ultimately, Steiner concluded: “I was getting texts from people saying, ‘We’re praying for you. It’s so horrible’. I said, ‘Don’t pray for me – what I lost is material goods.’ […] I lost a property, but others lost their homes.”
You can assist those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
If you have experienced a bereavement and wish to speak with someone confidentially, contact GrieveWell at (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].