The Daily Star Ireland
The wildfires in Los Angeles have been described as “worse than being in a movie” by Andrew Duggan, a man originally from Co Cork, who now resides in Altadena. He and his partner, Renata, have lost everything in the devastating blaze that consumed their home and design studio within just five hours.
Andrew has lived in Altadena for several years, where he and Renata shared a house and operated a design studio. The fires, which have claimed at least ten lives and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, have been fueled by dry desert winds that continue to intensify. With five major fires burning into their third night, the destruction has been widespread.
Andrew explained that they evacuated their home an hour after receiving a final evacuation notice around 2 a.m. By the time they returned five hours later, they found their property completely destroyed. The once-standing house and studio had been reduced to rubble. All that remained were some hedges, a few fruit trees, broken walls, and the chimney stack. “Everything else was unrecognizable,” he said, describing the design studio as “non-existent.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Andrew described the experience as surreal, highlighting how everything “just disintegrates to dust.” He said the devastation stretched “from the foot of the hills all the way into downtown,” with their entire neighborhood and community completely wiped out.
Returning to their neighborhood after the blaze was a profoundly emotional experience for Andrew, who described it as “sad” and noted the “total devastation” they saw along the way. He estimated that it would take “at least a year or two” before they could even begin rebuilding their home and studio in the area.
In the meantime, Andrew and Renata are relying on the support of family, friends, and their broader community to move forward. People have offered them temporary studio spaces to continue working, which Andrew said has been crucial in helping them navigate the challenging times ahead.
Despite the loss, Andrew remains optimistic. He expressed gratitude that they, along with their dogs and neighbors, all made it out safely. “We’re alive, we’re healthy, and we can work from there,” he said, emphasizing their determination to rebuild their lives.
