Amid the ruins of his house in Pacific Palisades, Kyle Kucharski can’t believe it. Everything was reduced to ashes, with the exception of a box of wine crossed out with a very symbolic name: “Purgatory”.
• Also read: Fires in Los Angeles: died for love of her pets
• Also read: Fires in Los Angeles: the death toll rises to 11
Quite a coincidence for this 38-year-old banker who has experienced more than his share of suffering this week. This upscale neighborhood overlooking the mountains of Los Angeles was virtually wiped off the map by the flames.
“It’s funny: Purgatory. What irony,” he breathes, lowering his head.
Mr. Kucharski had purchased this Colorado wine with his wife, to “celebrate our move” into the new family home.
But “we never drank it,” he says, his eyes fixed on the wooden box.
“We never drank it,” his wife, Nicole Perri, repeats, with a stunned look.
MEGA/IF
When the fire broke out in the neighborhood on Tuesday, the couple fled with their 10-week-old and 18-month-old infants under their arms, into the middle of the glowing mountains, where the fire fell like lava.
They returned for the first time on Friday, accompanied by a police patrol who gave them only a few minutes to assess the extent of the damage.
Getty Images via AFP
“I was expecting to find… I don’t know what, something,” says Mme Perri, searching the rubble armed with yellow gloves. “Something to take with me to remember this place.”
“I am destroyed”
The outskirts of Los Angeles are still ravaged by multiple fires, which were fanned by violent gusts, blowing up to 160 km/h this week. They killed at least 10 people, destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 buildings, and forced more than 150,000 people to flee.
While thousands of firefighters continue their fight against the flames, the victims are only at the beginning of a long ordeal.
Getty Images via AFP
For some, it will be necessary to mourn loved ones. For others, fighting with insurance companies. And for everyone, to mourn their previous lives, to continue moving forward.
“There, that was my wardrobe,” points out Mme Perri, walking on a pile of embers.
“This is my business,” she continues, her eyes misty behind her mask.
“The baby’s room was there. The kitchen was there, our bedroom here. And that’s the garage,” she sighs. “Finally, it was the garage.”
Getty Images via AFP
The stylist burst into tears, hugging her husband.
“I am destroyed, lost, devastated,” she whispers. “I don’t want to have to tell my children their house is gone. It’s so tragic.”
But if the walls are no longer there, the moments of shared happiness remain engraved in his memory.
“I’m happy because I have a lot of memories here, it was my first home,” realizes the American. I was very proud.”
