Gardener Loses Home in LA Fires After Saving Neighbor's House

A father and gardener in Altadena sacrificed his own home while saving his friend and employer's house from the devastating Eaton Fire.

Carla Saenz credits her gardener, Santiago Martinez, with saving her home while the rest of the neighborhood, including Martinez' home, burnt to the ground in the Eaton Fire.

On Tuesday Jan. 7, Saenz didn't believe the flames would reach her property, KGTV reported. Martinez, who lived in a house on the back of the property, proactively doused the home with hose water, just in case.

By early Wednesday morning, intensifying flames prompted Saenz to evacuate, and Martinez told her he was leaving too, to stay with his daughter.

Instead, unbeknownst to Saenz, Martinez returned to the property, continuing to spray water on the house for hours. His persistence eventually caught the attention of firefighters, who applied protective foam to the home.

Thanks to Martinez's selfless efforts, Saenz's house remains the only one still standing on the street. Tragically, Martinez's back house and all his gardening tools—essential for his work—were destroyed in the blaze.

"I'm so grateful to him. He's definitely an angel that the Lord put in my path," Saenz said.

Now, Saenz is determined to help Martinez rebuild. A GoFundMe page has been set up to replace his lost tools and support his recovery.