Rodney Nickerson, aged 82, passed away in a fire that swept through Altadena where he lived for 57 years. Despite previous knowledge of the area's winds and pleas from family to evacuate, he chose to stay. His neighborhood did not receive evacuation alerts until hours after the fire began, leading to 17 casualties in this incident alone. A lifelong resident, Nickerson had cherished his retirement years in his home, where he enjoyed simple pleasures like reading and listening to music. His story underscores the impact of communication failures during emergencies and the deadly consequences that can ensue.
Rodney lived in an area of western Altadena that received no evacuation orders until 3:25 a.m. the day after the Eaton fire ignited.
"Altadena's seen these winds before," he told his grandson, who pleaded with him to evacuate. "I'll be here when you guys get back."
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