> At a Glance
> – An off-duty San Diego firefighter joined strangers to defend their Pacific Palisades home
> – Alejandro Silva and the Kedeshain family fought side by side until flames overwhelmed them
> – The house and their business, Kay Bakery, were later confirmed destroyed
> – Why it matters: The story highlights acts of kindness amid devastating LA wildfire losses
When volunteer firefighter Alejandro Silva saw smoke rising from the Palisades Fire while attending EMT training at UCLA, he grabbed his camera-not knowing he was about to meet a family he’d never forget.
A Fight for One Home
Silva, a National Guardsman normally stationed in San Diego, spotted the Kedeshain family trying to save their house and instantly joined their effort.
> “I remember we started doing pretty much the suppression,” Silva said.
They searched for tools to create a firebreak.
> “I asked them if they had a chainsaw to cut the trees… ‘Well, you have a lot of vegetation, so we can cut it off,'” he recalled.
Working together, strangers became teammates, dragging hoses and clearing brush as embers swirled around them.
Water Gone, Hope Lost
Within minutes the neighborhood’s water pressure collapsed.
> “I said to my mom, ‘There’s no more water,'” Kim Kedeshian remembered.
Realizing the fire had grown too fierce, Silva and the family retreated down the hill, each unsure if the home would survive.
Dawn Reveals the Damage
Silva returned at sunrise, hoping for a miracle.
> “Once I made that corner, I saw pretty much everything just flat. That’s when the heartbreak came in,” he said.
The house-and their nearby bakery-were gone.
Rebuilding With Less
Four months later, Kim Kedeshian lives in Playa Vista, downsized but upbeat.
> “I have an electric car now, so I just plug it in. Super easy. I have one set of dishes. Super easy,” she said, laughing.
She credits the kindness of newfound friends, including Silva, for helping her find peace.
> “The people we’ve come in contact with have showered us with kindness, really.”
Key Takeaways
- Off-duty firefighter Alejandro Silva battled flames alongside the Kedeshain family
- Their combined effort couldn’t save the house or Kay Bakery
- Both Silva and the family cite the experience as proof of community strength amid disaster
Silva and the Kedeshains remain in touch, bound by a single, desperate night when strangers stood shoulder-to-shoulder against a wildfire.
