Navy Veteran Loses Home, Community, but Finds Hope in Family and Community Support

A Family's Story

The California wildfires have left a trail of destruction, tearing apart homes and communities. Among those affected is Sara Trepanier, a Navy veteran, single mother of four, and emergency room doctor. Her home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, was reduced to ashes, along with the beloved community she called home.

On Tuesday, Sara and her family evacuated their home on Swarthmore Avenue as the flames rapidly approached. With tears in their eyes, Sara and her 14-year-old daughter, Remy, recounted their harrowing escape to Fox News Digital.

"I decided to walk my dog one block over," Sara said. "As I turned the corner, I saw a plume of smoke on the hill to the left."

Within minutes, the flames engulfed the hill, moving with alarming speed. "The winds were so strong," Sara explained. "It was climbing over the hill at a ridiculous pace."

As the fire approached, the family evacuated their home, following the lead of their neighbors. Originally from North Carolina, Sara was familiar with hurricanes and relied on her neighbors' guidance.

"The one thing we've heard is there have not been fatalities in the Palisades," Sara said. "The community knows how to do this. They know to let the people in the direct line go first."

With only one suitcase of clothes each, the family, along with their dog, fled to a hotel in Venice. As they watched the news, their hearts sank.

"We just see videos of my high school burning down and then the homes of all our friends catching on fire," Remy said. "One after the other, they are losing their houses."

Only two homes on their block survived the fire. Sara is now searching for a rental property for her family.

Through tear-filled eyes, Remy expressed her admiration for her mother's resilience and calm leadership during the crisis. "She doesn't give herself enough credit," Remy said, noting her mother's service in the Navy.

For Sara, the loss of the community is the hardest part to accept. "I don't think anyone ever conceived that the fire would wipe out the whole town," she said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Trepanier family as they rebuild their lives. The page, titled "Sara's home was completely lost in the CA fires," has raised over $100,000 as of this writing.