Miles and Preston–Our Heroes

GUEST OPINION

Miles and Preston checking on an evacuee at the Pasadena Convention Center, Jan. 7, 2025 (Photo – John Root)

When writing about our January 7th evacuation, I failed to credit our sons, Miles, 23, and Preston, 22, for their selflessness and care for others. Here’s the rest of the story.

By Felita Kealing

Once Miles arrived home, he and Preston, on their own initiative, informed our neighbors to the east and west of our house about the fire. They asked if our elderly neighbors, in their seventies and eighties, needed assistance in evacuating.

Several days after our homes were destroyed by the Eaton Fire, our neighbor Joe called to thank us. “Hello Mike and Felita, it’s Joe. I wanted to check on you and thank Miles for saving our lives.” He and his wife, Alice, told us they had been without power, like most of our neighbors. After dinner, they planned to retire for the night, but since there was no power, they had turned off their cell phones to conserve battery.

Miles went directly to Joe and Alice’s house, which was east of ours, while Preston went to the neighbor to the west. Joe recalled seeing the fire several miles east and cars traveling westbound on Mendocino as he tried to turn into his driveway. He initially shrugged it off but later realized the danger. Joe and Alice had partially packed, anticipating wind, but they evacuated immediately after Miles knocked on their door and provided more details about the spreading fire. When they left around 7:20 pm, they thought they would return in a few days to gather more belongings.

Preston later told us that our neighbors to the west were also leaving, as there was no power. The husband, who had been recovering from recent health issues, needed extra assistance. Preston helped him into the passenger seat of their car before watching them drive off.

At our evacuation, we left in two cars and made a pit stop at my dad’s, who lives in senior housing south of Colorado Blvd and near the Pasadena Civic Center. When we learned that the Red Cross was at the Civic Center and needed help, Miles and Preston walked there to offer assistance.

It was after midnight when we got back together and left Pasadena to head to my in-laws in the San Fernando Valley. During the drive, I listened to news reports about the Sylmar fire. To avoid it, I took the southern route, heading west on the 134 to the 101. We arrived at my in-laws’ home around 1:00 am, where Chris and Terri greeted us with hugs, pillows, and blankets. We stayed up watching news updates on the Eaton and Palisades fires until about 2:30 am.

At 6:00 am the next morning, I woke to the horrifying news. Looking at my phone, I saw a map showing flames as far west as Lincoln Avenue. I couldn’t believe how the fire had spread three miles west of Lake Avenue. Friends who stayed behind sent text messages, images, and videos reporting the destruction firsthand.

In the days following the loss of our home in the Eaton Fire, we learned that 17 fatalities were primarily senior citizens. It was then that I truly understood the significance of Miles and Preston’s actions.

Our awareness of the Eaton Fire’s destruction and the horrors many Altadena residents faced while fleeing for their lives fills Michael and me with gratitude for our sons’ actions. People often say we’ve taught them well, but we believe we’ve simply lived by example. They have grown into young adults with tremendous character and empathy for others, taking it upon themselves to protect the welfare of those around them.