What Was Taken – The New York Times

The New York Times invited individuals who lost their homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires to share their experiences about what they salvaged — the items or pets they managed to grab while evacuating.

Here are the accounts of two young individuals, detailing what they preserved and why it holds significance.

A jar of peanut butter

Alissa McFeat, 12 Altadena

When the power went out, Alissa McFeat hurried around her home in Altadena, packing what she could. Food and cooking had always been central to her family, so after she collected her piggy bank, shoes, and school backpack, it felt instinctive to rush to the kitchen.

Using a flashlight, she searched through the pantry, retrieving a can of artichokes, a can of hearts of palm, a loaf of sourdough, dark chocolate, and a jar of peanut butter. She stuffed them into a tote bag and escaped with her parents and younger sister.

“I was just thinking about food options, since even if our home survived, we’d need food for the next few days,” she explained.

Her father, Ian McFeat, mentioned that he and his wife were initially puzzled when Alissa, their eldest daughter, chose to save items they could easily purchase at any grocery store. Now, he has a different perspective.

“We’re going to find humor in this story for the rest of our lives,” McFeat noted. “Or we’ll find happiness in it. Perhaps we won’t laugh.”

And Alissa had been spot on: Regardless of the situation, her family needed to eat. A few days after the fire consumed their home, she enjoyed the artichokes straight from the can, shared with her mom and 8-year-old sister.

“It felt like I was eating it as I did in my kitchen,” she reflected.

Currently, the jar of peanut butter is stored in the refrigerator at her uncle’s house, where they are staying. Alissa recently added some to her oatmeal for breakfast.

She and her family have discussed finding a way to preserve some of what she salvaged. They are still figuring out how to turn the peanut butter into a treasured keepsake.

Anniah Baynes never intended to gather a collection of over 90 stuffed animals. However, after her mom gifted her a stuffed llama a few years back, more began to arrive — from her mom, friends, and boyfriend. She also added a few herself.

“They were just adorable,” Baynes shared. “I loved having a collection of something.”

On January 7, with the Eaton fire drawing nearer to her family’s residence in Altadena, she evaluated her collection, which was arranged on the floor between her bed and dresser. She considered putting them all into large trash bags, but that would have taken too long. Realizing she had to leave them behind was difficult.

Before leaving home, she snapped one last photo of her collection. Mario and Princess Peach rested beside a tiny mouse with large ears, close to a pineapple and a blue elephant. Ultimately, she chose to take just one stuffed animal with her: a plush Hello Kitty doll, which had the body of a monkey and wore a pink bow, given to her by her boyfriend for Christmas.

The following day, the house — her grandmother’s home, where Baynes had lived since infancy — was completely lost to the flames. Almost everything was gone, save for the Hello Kitty doll. It was the latest addition to her collection, and now, it remains the only piece left.

The doll currently rests on her bed in her mother’s apartment, where she’s temporarily residing. After the fire, the church that her boyfriend and his sisters attend supported her with food, clothing, and prayers. This assistance is what comes to mind when she looks at the doll.

“Someone cared, someone was there for me, during the fire,” Baynes reflected.