Strumming on the only guitar that he was able to grab while evacuating from his Altadena home, Michael Weston's voice sometimes cracks as he tries to come up with words for a new song.

This one, he hopes, will help him understand how he got from his ‘little slice of heaven’ to an American Red Cross shelter. His emotions are hidden behind dark glasses and the wide brim of a cowboy hat.

“The Red Cross has been a blessing," he said. "We have a place to sleep, good meals, Wi-Fi, and resources...in one place. I even got a temporary cellphone after losing mine so I can keep in touch with family and friends.”  

A former rancher and volunteer firefighter, Michael was prepped to flee the Eaton wildfire. His “go bag,” electronic devices uploaded with important documents, a collection of 20 guitars, and other memorabilia were lined up in the living room ready to load onto his truck if an evacuation warning came. 

Coco Flammit, a 19-year-old dog he rescued during the 2009 Angeles National Forest Station Fire, was also ready to roll. Michael had also spent the last few days warning neighbors that the Eaton fire could reach them and that they should be prepared to evacuate.  

When his parents, living several miles away, suddenly called to say they were ordered to evacuate, Michael dropped everything, collected his neighbor Jerry, who drove him to his parents’ home, and then loaded their car and drove them to safety. 

When the two men returned to their homes to finish packing, they found the neighborhood evacuated. Local officials gave them 10 minutes to gather what they could. Michael grabbed Coco, his laptop, “go bag,” and his most valuable guitar before they sped away, looking behind to see fireballs hitting roof-tops of the houses on his block. 

Reflecting on his situation, he’s grateful knowing his parents are far away from the fire. Coco remains by his side. His neighbor Jerry is Michael’s “new BFF, roommate and confidante in the shelter."