AGS NEWS – An 83-year-old grandfather, Rodney Nickerson, was found dead amid the rubble and ash of his home after the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, Los Angeles.

Nickerson was one of at least 10 victims of the fire. His daughter, Kimiko, recalled that the last words her father said to her on the phone were, “I’ll be here tomorrow,” before the blaze consumed their home.

Nickerson, a retired Lockheed Martin engineer, had lived in the house since 1968 and insisted on staying despite pleas from his family to leave.

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Other victims include 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who was found holding a hose, likely attempting to fight the fire, and 67-year-old amputee Anthony Mitchell, who died with his son, Justin, in the fire.

Over 10,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires, which were fueled by strong winds.

Many residents have shared stories of harrowing escapes, while images show the extent of the devastation in the area.