Fighting Fire, Facing Loss: Chien Yu’s Story of Personal Loss and Bravery
The orange glow crept closer as the winds carried embers down the hillside. For many in Altadena, the wildfires felt like a distant threat…until they weren’t. For firefighter Chien Yu, the reality of losing his own home while battling the flames on the front lines was a surreal, heartbreaking experience. We sat down with him to hear his story, about fighting fires for 18 years, raising his family in a town he loves, and navigating the emotional weight of losing everything in an instant.
Becoming a firefighter wasn’t always the plan for Chien. “I had a friend whose brother was one, and he told me, ‘It’s more realistic than I thought.’ So, I just went for it,” he told us. After training at Rio Hondo College, he joined the Pasadena Fire Department, where he’s spent nearly two decades protecting his community. But nothing could have prepared him for the night his own neighborhood went up in flames.
“We were having dinner when the lights went out. I looked outside and saw the glow over Eaton Canyon,” Chien recalled. “My wife said, ‘Let’s gather some stuff.’ We packed a few things, but even then, I didn’t think it would reach us.” Hours later, he was on duty, sent out on a fire engine to battle the flames. “We were evacuating people, making sure they got out. We weren’t even allowed to go inside homes…there were just too many fires at once,” he said. “Then we made it to my street around midnight. My house was still standing.” For a brief moment, there was hope. But by the next day, the fire had torn through. “It was random. Two houses would be gone, three would still be there, then four more would be gone. You just don’t know how it’s going to land.”
Now, he and his family are staying in a friend’s small back studio. “It’d be okay if our youngest wasn’t so little,” he admitted. “There’s a loft bed, which is fun for them, but bedtime is tough. Do we all go to bed at 7 p.m. with him?” The challenges extend beyond their temporary home. His children’s school burned down, forcing families to scramble for alternatives. “They’re using libraries, parks, a church…just trying to make it work.” Through it all, the support from the community has been overwhelming. “Random people ask what we need. A woman from Patagonia reached out, saying, ‘I know this might sound like a scam, but we can take out some gear for you and your kids.’ It’s been little things like that, and just knowing people care.”
Among the ashes, Chien found one thing that survived—his wedding ring. “I don’t really wear it much; I usually leave it in my dresser. I half-joked about trying to find it, and the crew was like, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ We dug through where my dresser should have been, and sure enough, it was there. A little burned, but still intact.” Despite everything, he remains positive. “It’s a roller coaster some days, my wife and I break down, and other days, we remind ourselves, ‘This is just another great adventure we’re going on together.’”
When we asked him how he makes waves in his community, his answer was simple: “I just show up. I volunteer at my kids’ school. I take them on field trips and hiking trips. My parents couldn’t always be there when I was a kid, so I try to be there for mine.” Now, his focus is on rebuilding—not just his home, but the sense of normalcy his family once had. “We still have our jobs. We still have each other. It could be worse.” As he looks ahead, he’s holding onto the support of a community that’s come together in ways he never expected. “It’s just stuff,” he said, looking back at what was lost. “But the people? The people are what matter.”
This post has been created by Making Waves Project to spotlight stories of resilience in the aftermath of the wildfires. Together, we honor the strength of those impacted and amplify voices that inspire recovery and hope.
If you or someone you know has a story to tell, we’d love to hear from you. And if you’re a brand interested in partnering with us to make a greater impact, please email us at hello@makingwavesproject.com
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Photography by Robiee Ziegler
Produced by Katie Caro
