LAFD captain who misplaced dwelling to fireside is given $200K to rebuild – NBC Los Angeles

A Los Angeles Hearth Division captain who misplaced his dwelling to the devastating Eaton Hearth final 12 months was stunned with further assist within the type of a $200,000 grant to assist him rebuild.

Al Hugo and his spouse, Carmen, known as Altadena their dwelling for 20 years. They reminisced in regards to the instances they’d collect close to their hearth pit and benefit from the surroundings from their yard. Now, that house is now not standing since January’s brush hearth destroyed it.

Al mentioned he by no means thought the flames on the foothills of Altadena final 12 months would attain his dwelling.

“It was northeast of right here,” he mentioned. “I’m effectively over two miles away. I didn’t count on it, the hearth to do what it did.”

The flames inched nearer to the Hugos’ group, ultimately reaching their property. The couple was compelled to flee from the world with their 4 canine.

“It was surreal,” Al mentioned. “I can’t consider it’s nearly been a 12 months. It actually flew by.”

Even because the 12 months handed, the couple has been experiencing difficulties with insurance coverage points. Their struggles have even put a damper on the vacation season.

“It simply felt vacancy and simply not the identical,” Carmen Hugo mentioned. “This was the guts of the household, the place everyone gathered and it’s simply not the identical.”

As flames ripped by properties in Pacific Palisades a 12 months in the past, firefighters acted on a second of kindness amid the chaos. Karma Dickerson experiences for the NBC4 Information at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Amid their struggles, nevertheless, got here a serving to hand from the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighters Fund. The nonprofit group, which helps households of firefighters dealing with disaster, gave the couple a examine for $200,000 to assist them rebuild.

Upon receiving the grant, the couple was shocked. The type gesture introduced Carmen to tears.

“I used to be speechless,” she mentioned. “I couldn’t consider it. It simply makes us really feel extra nearer that we’re going to be dwelling.”

The Hugos had been one among 5 firefighting households who misplaced their properties within the Eaton Hearth. The opposite households who had been affected by the blaze additionally obtained the identical donation.

“It is a large, large assist and increase, and hopefully down the street, that is going to push us over to have the ability to rebuild,” Al Hugo mentioned.