From California emerges a tale of bravery amidst the devastation of a recent wildfire. According to the American Red Cross, Malibu resident Johnny Constantine initially prioritized his own safety but soon dashed toward the flames threatening his friend’s home, determined to help them escape.
As smoke and embers from the Franklin Fire filled the air, a red glow illuminated his friends’ backyard. “I noticed their lights were off, but the doorbell was functional. I kept pressing it and shouting from their gate to wake them up,” Constantine recalled. “The fire was alarmingly close—the smoke, the red glow, and the embers made it seem like it would soon engulf their property.”
After a nerve-wracking 15-20 minutes of honking, shouting, and ringing the doorbell, his friends finally awakened and managed to flee just as the fire approached their residence. “I stayed until they were safe,” Constantine stated.
Fortunately, a combination of rain, cooler temperatures, and calm winds helped slow the Franklin Fire’s advance across the Malibu hills. Shortly after Constantine’s successful evacuation, containment efforts had brought the fire to approximately 30% control.
By mid-December, state officials reported minimal fire activity with no significant growth. The latest updates indicated that only 13 structures had been destroyed, in stark contrast to the over 1,200 lost during the Dixie Fire.
Following his heroic efforts, Constantine was able to find refuge at an American Red Cross evacuation shelter in Palisades, one of several facilities established by the organization for those fleeing wildfires.