Senior Living Community Evacuates Amid California Wildfires \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ When wildfires threatened the Terraces senior living community in Pasadena, staff and residents faced a harrowing evacuation. As flames engulfed the area, employees worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of all 93 residents, including those in hospice and memory care. The facility was destroyed, but the heroic efforts saved lives in a scene described as a “hurricane with flames.”
Terraces Wildfire Evacuation Quick Looks
- Residents in Danger: A raging wildfire in Pasadena forced a late-night evacuation of the Terraces senior living community.
- Staff Heroics: Employees carried and guided residents through smoke and flames to safety.
- Elderly at Risk: The 93 residents, including hospice patients and those in memory care, faced unique challenges.
- Complete Loss: The Terraces building was reduced to ruins, with only its scorched framework remaining.
- Temporary Shelter: Evacuated residents were relocated to the Pasadena Convention Center and other facilities.
Deep Look
The peaceful routine at the Terraces at Park Marino, a senior living facility in Pasadena, California, was shattered on January 7 when the Eaton fire, driven by ferocious Santa Ana winds, turned a typical evening into a harrowing battle for survival. Residents and staff faced an unrelenting wildfire that threatened lives, forcing a heroic evacuation effort.
From Bingo and Dinner to Disaster
The day at the Terraces started uneventfully, as it had many times before. Residents enjoyed breakfast, participated in chair exercises, and attended a tech support session where staff helped with electronic devices. By evening, the dining hall offered orange chicken with rice or shrimp salad, and movie night featured Scent of a Woman.
However, the serene atmosphere changed when residents Sharon Tanner and Carlene Sutherland noticed the smell of smoke during a discussion about a minor community issue—people leaving laundry in machines. Initially, staff believed the fire was distant and posed no immediate threat. But outside, winds howled, and embers began to fall “like hail,” quickly igniting bushes and a wooden fence.
The Escalating Crisis
By 6:40 p.m., the situation had deteriorated. The power went out, plunging the building into darkness. Staff members worked methodically to prepare for evacuation, placing lanyards on residents that included vital medical information, such as cognitive deficits and “do not resuscitate” orders. Families were contacted, and some arrived to take their loved ones home.
Meanwhile, off-duty staff volunteered to assist, and the entire team faced an enormous challenge: evacuating 93 residents, many with mobility or cognitive issues. Four residents were in hospice care, and some were bedridden.
Yesenia Cervantes, director of the memory care unit, described the terrifying moment when she realized the backyard was on fire. She and another employee extinguished the flames temporarily, but they reignited shortly afterward. It became clear that the situation was spiraling out of control.
A Race Against Time
As smoke filled the facility, staff began the monumental task of evacuating residents. Some residents, like Tanner, struggled to move quickly due to physical limitations. Cervantes and her team carried residents down the stairs, strapped to emergency chairs or cradled on their backs. Others were wheeled out in wheelchairs or guided through the chaos.
The wind made evacuation even more dangerous. Embers swirled in the air, igniting new fires as first responders shouted directions to evacuate. Residents were led to a 7-Eleven parking lot roughly 1,000 feet from the facility. The trek was grueling, described by Executive Director Maria Quizon as “the longest, scariest walk of my life.”
Heroic Efforts Amid Chaos
During the evacuation, Tanner was helped by a man who emerged from the smoke and guided her across the street, ensuring her safety before vanishing back into the chaos to assist others.
The nursing facility next door, Pasadena Park Healthcare & Wellness Center, also evacuated its residents. Staff from both facilities worked together to move patients and residents to safety. As Quizon pushed a wheelchair, she zigzagged through the gale-force winds, ensuring the resident behind her stayed close.
Temporary Shelter and Rebuilding Lives
By 10:25 p.m., most residents had been transported to the Pasadena Convention Center, where temporary accommodations were set up. Others were taken to local facilities or the homes of family members. At the convention center, staff worked tirelessly to ensure residents had food, water, and medical care.
Among the evacuees was Louise Miller, who had lost all her possessions, including cherished papier-mâché sculptures made by her mother. Despite the loss, she remained optimistic, grateful for the staff who had saved her life.
Sam Baum, the community relations director, ensured everyone was safe before retrieving personal items from his nearby condominium. His wife’s ashes, photographs, medications, and cats were among the few things he salvaged. Baum later rejoined staff at a makeshift command center established in a nearby hotel to coordinate further assistance for residents.
The Aftermath: Resilience Amid Destruction
When the fire was finally extinguished, the Terraces was a total loss. The building’s charred remains stood as a stark reminder of the disaster. Yet, thanks to the quick actions of staff and first responders, no lives were lost.
The staff’s efforts drew widespread praise. James Dyer, the son of a resident, described the scene as “a hurricane with flames” and commended the team’s dedication under extreme circumstances.
Efforts are underway to rebuild the Terraces, a place many residents considered their true home. For Sharon Tanner, who is currently staying with family in San Jose, returning to the Terraces remains her ultimate goal. “Wherever I go is going to be just temporary,” she said. “Because as soon as it’s built, I’m back to the Terraces.”
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