A Quebecer in Los Angeles worries about her firefighter husband at the front

A Quebec woman working in Hollywood has been worried for a week about her firefighter husband who is risking his life to fight the fires in Los Angeles.

“It’s very dangerous. You don’t have to think too much about it,” says Maxine Gervais, a renowned colorist who has worked on many major Hollywood productions, including Harry Potter et Black Panther.

Living in the Los Angeles area since 2006, she is married to Daniel Patton, captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

“He thought he was dead”

When the fires began to threaten the city earlier this week, Maxine Gervais watched her husband leave and work for 48 straight hours on Tuesday to try as best he could to contain the blaze that was advancing at breakneck speed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. .

“It was apocalyptic. They ran out of water very quickly. They went into swimming pools with pumps. They filled their truck with water,” says the 48-year-old woman from Quebec.

“We were driving around and trying to save the houses. But with the low water pressure from the hydrants, it was almost impossible,” testified her husband, Daniel Patton, who was “frustrated” by the situation.

The firefighter says he almost passed through it while trying to save a citizen’s house which suddenly exploded due to the extreme heat of the fire surrounding it.

“I was facing away from the house when there was a big explosion and a big ball of fire. I was thrown 6 or 7 ft and fell on my face. I was scared.”

While Mr. Patton took advantage of a break on Sunday, authorities anticipated an increase in fires due to strong winds. The disaster had so far destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

No big breaks

Maxine Gervais says her husband was high on adrenaline when he returned Thursday, so he had difficulty sleeping.

“He’s been going into big fires for years. We’re getting used to it, but it’s still a bit worrying. I try to stay positive. I know he is a good captain and wants to keep his whole team safe,” continued M^me Gervais.

The Quebecer reflects frustration among firefighters, who believe they do not have all the tools on hand to respond to the disaster due to budget cuts of $17.6 million to the LAFD announced by the City for the year 2025.

LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, said Friday that the cuts were undermining efforts to combat the wildfires, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. The day before, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass assured that these cuts had no impact.

“We know that there are climate changes. In a place like California where there are fires and high winds, if there is a place where you should not cut, it is the first responders,” laments M^me Gervais.