California Resident Forced to Use Cups of Pool Water to Save His Home: 'There Wasn't a Fireman Until Friday'

As wildfires continue to wreak havoc on Southern California, an Altadena resident was left to fight the flames alone, relying on cups of water from his pool to save his home.

The unidentified homeowner, whose property sat in the path of the rapidly advancing fire, took matters into his own hands when no emergency responders arrived.

"I poured water by cup," the man recounted. "There wasn't a fireman until Friday."

With a 35,000-gallon swimming pool as his only resource, he scooped and poured water in a desperate effort to extinguish the encroaching flames.

The fire, fueled by dry conditions and high winds, tore through the foothills of Altadena, overwhelming local fire services. The fires, now burning for seven days, have strained emergency resources as firefighters struggle to respond to the widespread destruction.

The homeowner's experience—fortunate compared to surrounding residents, many of whose homes burnt to the ground—highlights ongoing conversations concerning California's emergency response.