> At a Glance
> – Brandon Castro fled on foot after his car caught fire during the Eaton Fire in Altadena
> – Michael Towers spotted Castro while driving home from work and offered a ride
> – Both men lost their homes; Castro now lives in an RV donated by a nonprofit
> – Why it matters: A chance encounter turned rescue highlights community resilience amid disaster
A year after Brandon Castro lost his mother, flames forced him from his Altadena home. In January, the Eaton Fire trapped him overnight, torching his only escape route.
Midnight Escape
Castro woke to embers flying and homes collapsing. His car was already ablaze, so he sprinted down the street.
- No warning: He’d just gone to sleep; minutes later, the neighborhood was engulfed
- No transport: Flames consumed his vehicle before he could flee
- No visibility: Smoke and falling debris obscured the path ahead
A Lifeline Appears
Michael Towers left his overnight shift and drove toward the inferno to check on his house. Winds pummeled his car as he recorded the devastation.
> “I just need to be somewhere,” Castro said in the video.
> “Come in,” Towers replied.
Towers inadvertently filmed the rescue; the footage shows Castro climbing into the car as burning debris showers the street.
Reunion and Recovery
Eleven months later, NBC4 arranged a surprise meeting. Castro recognized Towers instantly, exclaiming, “Wait, you’re the guy that saved me!”
- Towers now has a baby girl named Faith
- Castro received an RV from a father-daughter nonprofit
- Both men lost everything but gained an unbreakable bond
Key Takeaways
- The Eaton Fire struck exactly one year after Castro’s mother died
- A chance drive home turned into a life-saving moment
- Community aid provided Castro a new place to live
Their story underscores how strangers can become lifelines when disaster strikes.
