Brian McShea and Stephanie Raynor are among the many residents of Los Angeles County grappling with the aftermath of the devastating fires that had ravaged the area.
On a somber Friday, they found themselves at the charred remains of their once-cozy home in Altadena, searching for any remnants that might have withstood the ferocious flames of the Eaton Fire. The fire, which scorched over 14,000 acres, was part of the series of wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County, destroying more than 16,000 structures and claiming at least 28 lives.
Having moved into their home just a year before, the couple was unprepared for the chaos that erupted on Jan. 7. Forced to evacuate, McShea told ABC 7, "I'm taking Altadena Drive and heading out, and I see Eaton Canyon at 6:20 or 6:30, and I'm like, 'Oh my God. There's a fire.'" The following day an email from their landlord informed them that their house had been completely leveled.
Amid the devastation, McShea's thoughts turned to an engagement ring he had meticulously hidden in the back of his desk drawer while waiting for the right time to propose. "I was thinking, 'Well, maybe the stone can survive and maybe we'll find the little stone.' I thought the ring was going to completely disintegrate," he admitted.