> At a Glance
> – Ted Koerner rebuilt his Altadena home in just over 4 months after the Eaton Fire destroyed it
> – He liquidated most of his retirement savings to speed up construction for his 12-year-old golden retriever, Daisy Mae
> – The Heritage Oak in his backyard survived, becoming a symbol of resilience
> – Why it matters: A race against time shows how wildfire survivors prioritize family-including pets-amid recovery chaos
A year after the wind-driven Eaton Fire leveled thousands of homes and claimed 31 lives, Ted Koerner is back where he started-sitting on his porch with Daisy Mae, the 75-pound snow-white golden retriever who has shared his life for 12 years.
Escape and Devastation
Koerner fled with Daisy Mae as flames reached the end of his street, grabbing only sweats, long-sleeved shirts, a pillow, and two pictures of the dog. They spent weeks in a hotel with hundreds of evacuees, walking through hardened ash that crunched underfoot.
> “Those first few weeks were beyond devastating,” Koerner said.
Rebuilding Against the Clock
Fearing Daisy Mae might not live long enough to see a new home, Koerner emptied his retirement accounts to pay contractors up front while waiting for his insurance payout.
- Goal: Finish before Daisy Mae‘s health declined
- Method: Cash up front for record-speed construction
- Result: Four-month build-among the first rebuilt after the fires
> “I need to get home with my dog before she passes,” Koerner recalled telling his mortgage servicer. “If she passes, I don’t want to come here.”
A Dog’s Homecoming
On an early visit to the framed-in house, Daisy Mae trotted through the future front door, circled the rooms, and sat by the master-bedroom slider, tail wagging.
> “She went, ‘OK, the house is still here,'” Koerner said.
Key Takeaways
- Ted Koerner rebuilt in 4 months by self-funding to protect his aging golden retriever
- The 175-year-old Heritage Oak and Daisy Mae both survived, anchoring his sense of home
- Altadena wildfires destroyed thousands of homes; Koerner’s is one of the first completed rebuilds
He moved in shortly before Thanksgiving, 2025, and the moment still overwhelms him.
> “I’m actually home with my dog,” Koerner said.
