After wildfires tore through Pacific Palisades, Anthony Nesburn returned to his neighborhood, bracing for the worst. Many homes had been reduced to ashes, and he feared his would be among them. But as he pulled into his driveway, he saw something he never expected—his house was still standing.
Then, inside his mailbox, he found something even more surprising: a handwritten letter from the firefighters who had saved his home, according toGood News Network.
Representative Image Source: Pexels | Darya Sannikova
A message from the heroes who saved his home
The note came from four firefighters—Levi, Steve, Matt Goodnough, and Jason—from the El Segundo Fire Department, Engine 31 "C" Platoon. Their message was both humble and emotional.
"We are so sorry for the devastation your neighborhood has endured. It is truly heartbreaking, and we can only imagine the toll it has taken on everyone affected," the letter read.
The firefighters explained that his home had been moments away from catching fire, with flames consuming his neighbor’s house and spreading to his fence.
"The house to the right of you was completely on fire and burning the fence; about to catch your house on fire. We stopped the fire from burning through your side door and kept the fire from your deck and roof," they wrote.
Although the side door was scorched, the rest of his home remained intact—thanks to their efforts.
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More than just a house—memories preserved
For Nesburn, his home wasn’t just a building—it was a place filled with memories of his late wife, Cristina Kenney, who had passed away the year before.
Losing the home meant losing the last traces of her, which made the firefighters’ efforts even more meaningful.
But one part of their letter stood out the most—a simple, quiet moment they shared after saving the house.
A moment of peace after the chaos
After battling intense flames, the firefighters took a brief moment to pause on his deck and take in the ocean view.
"Since then, our amazing team has found solace on your deck, gazing out at the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It has offered a moment of calm amidst the chaos."
Before leaving, they left one final message in their letter:
"The pink ribbon, if it is still there, means the house was a save—and it gave us pride to hang it!"
A heartfelt reunion with the firefighters
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Nesburn and his family reached out to the El Segundo Fire Department to personally thank them. A few days later, they finally met in person during a public ceremony in El Segundo, where the firefighters were honored for their bravery.
That’s when Nesburn learned another unexpected detail—the crew had taken selfies on his deck after saving the house.
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‘One of our proudest moments’
During an interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles, firefighter Matt Goodnough reflected on what saving Nesburn’s home meant to them.
"That was one of our prouder moments being on the incident. There were many houses we saved, but that one, in particular, was just one of those ones that we were proud to…put our—I don’t know if you heard about the pink ribbon, but hanging the pink ribbon was an indication of a save."
A story of loss, survival, and gratitude
For Anthony Nesburn, what could have been a devastating loss became a story of resilience and heroism. Thanks to the firefighters’ dedication, his home—and the memories of his late wife—remained intact.
And in return, the heroes who saved it found a brief moment of peace, standing on the deck they had fought so hard to protect.
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