As the Eaton Fire roared through Altadena on January 7, 2025, a routine shift for Pasadena Transit drivers turned into a life-saving mission.
At a Glance
- 16 Pasadena Transit drivers diverted into the Eaton Fire zone to evacuate 500 health-care patients and staff
- Drivers navigated burning streets, passing flaming banks and melted cars
- All passengers, many elderly and disabled, were safely transported out
- Why it matters: Their split-second decision prevented potential fatalities among vulnerable residents when first responders were stretched thin
When the drivers clocked out that night, no one expected them to head toward the flames. Yet within minutes, they were steering buses into the path of the wildfire after an urgent request to evacuate four local care facilities.
Into the Inferno
Nicole Ambriz remembers the chaos:
> “It’s just crazy. I can’t put in words everything that happened a year ago.”
Garrett Wright, another driver, saw the devastation up close:
> “I continue north. I see a couple of cars melted down. The chassis was all burnt up.”
As they rolled through neighborhoods that minutes earlier looked like any other night, the scene turned apocalyptic:
- A bank fully ablaze on the right
- A small shop burning on the left
- Windows shattering from the heat
Loading the Vulnerable
At the convalescent homes, nearly 500 people-many on stretchers, in beds, or using walkers-waited in fear.
Juan Casillas, safety and training manager, noted:
> “A lot of them had the option to go home and be with their families, but a lot of the operators heeded the call.”
Once aboard, Garrett Wright asked for help:
> “Make sure you guys hold on. Make sure the ladies are good, too, please, for me. I need help.”
Reluctant Heroes
Both drivers shrug off the “hero” label.
Garrett Wright:
> “Man, I feel like a regular guy, man.”
Nicole Ambriz:
> “I did it out of the kindness of my heart. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Key Takeaways
- 16 drivers chose duty over personal safety
- 500 vulnerable patients reached safety
- Pasadena Transit staff coordinated the emergency response within minutes
- Drivers navigated active fire zones with zero injuries aboard
Their quiet professionalism under extreme pressure kept a bad night from becoming an unthinkable tragedy.
