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AFSCME member loses home to wildfire -- and continues to serve
https://www.afscme.org/blog/afscme-member-loses-home-to-wildfire-and-continues-to-serve
By Daisha Benjamin, AFSCME District Council 36 · Friday, January 31, 2025
LOS ANGELES – Robert Montanez embodies what AFSCME members are all about. After his house burned down, the AFSCME member immediately went to work to help his community recover from the recent wildfires.
On Jan. 7, the Eaton fire began in the hills of Altadena and Pasadena. It destroyed at least 4,600 structures, killed 16 people and displaced thousands of people. Among those displaced was Montanez, secretary of AFSCME Local 858 (District Council 36).
As the fire headed towards his Altadena home, Montanez used a water hose to put out embers that fell from the sky. Realizing that he was not going to save his home, he evacuated. But instead of heading to a nearby evacuation center, he headed into work.
Montanez, a maintenance worker for the City of Pasadena, began his day at 5:15 a.m. as if it was any other workday.
FULL story at link above,
Robert Montanez’ mother’s house goes up in flames. Photo credit: AFSCME District Council 36