In the wake of the Eaton fire that ravaged Southern California, destroying over 10,000 acres at an alarming rate, one family’s story highlights the power of community and faith during crisis.

“The week after the fire I cried probably the most of my life,” Chris Fortnall explained, “but I cried more about God’s provision and love and support than I did about my home.” Their modest two-bedroom house became one of many lost to hurricane-force winds fueling the wildfires.

With only minutes to escape as smoke filled their home at 3:00 AM, they grabbed their children and fled, returning later to find “every house for blocks and blocks around is gone.”

The local church immediately mobilized to help dozens of affected families. “The church needs to be present through this chaos,” explained Abiding LA Pastor Trenton Mueller. In just ten days, they served over a hundred families, committing not just to immediate relief but to long-term support.

“Our goal is to do it for a while, not just for a moment,” Mueller emphasized, creating opportunities for both practical assistance and spiritual hope.

For recipients, this response has been transformative: “I can’t stress enough how much they surrounded us and loved on us.” Thanks to Brentwood Baptist Church and others, volunteers have extended support throughout affected neighborhoods.

While homes may be “wood, metal, and plastic,” this community discovered that family, faith, and community remain unscathed by the flames.