An Australian fashion editor has described the “incredible pain” of discovering her new family home was destroyed in the Los Angeles fires.
Sacha Strebe, her husband Troy and their son Neon lost everything when their home in Altadena, in the city’s northwest, was reduced to rubble on Thursday morning.
All of their belongings were consumed in the fire, including clothing and furniture.
Strebe, originally from Cairns in far north Queensland, uploaded a heartbreaking post to Instagram on Thursday following the destruction of her home.
“We woke up to the devastating news that our beloved home had burned down, along with our entire street and all of Altadena,” he wrote.
‘This has been the most debilitating day of my life. I’m in shock, the crying comes in waves, grief, deep despair and incredible pain.’
Strebe, editorial director of lifestyle brand EyeSwoon, founded by interior designer Athena Calderone, said her family is safe.
She explained that she drove to Arizona with her husband and son to stay with her husband’s family before they returned home the next day.
Ms Strebe and her husband Troy spent two years building their dream home before moving into the property in June 2023.
The family lost everything when their home in Altadena, in the city’s northwest, was reduced to rubble on Thursday morning.
Strebe uploaded a video on Friday to show the extent of the destruction.
The clip showed the structure completely burned and crushed to the ground with parts of the damaged property scattered across the charred ground.
Small flames were seen burning beneath the remains of the property.
‘Our house. It’s gone. “I still have memories of our memories in this place,” wrote Mrs. Strebe.
‘They feel as clear as crystal, like I’m in a nightmare and I’m going to wake up soon in my bed.
“But I will never wake up in this beautiful house again.” I have moments of clarity and focus, then I cry uncontrollably with heartache and unbearable pain for what we have lost but also for the collective loss of our Altadena community.
‘All the businesses have disappeared. So many houses destroyed.
The family didn’t move into their dream home until June 2023, after two years of construction.
Ms. Strebe is the editorial director of the lifestyle brand EyeSwoon, founded by interior designer Athena Calderone.
Before that, they spent eight years renting a place in Silver Lake. Strebe has lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.
A close friend, Elizabeth Cruz Trujillo, created a GoFundeMe page in an effort to provide much-needed financial support to the family and help them find temporary accommodation.
“They have put their heart and soul into building this new family home over the past two years,” Mrs. Trujillo wrote.
‘Moving to this house in the mountains brought his family tranquility and a deep sense of peace. It was his sanctuary and safe space.
“We humbly ask that you join us in supporting the Strebe family during this difficult time as they rebuild their lives in their beloved city.”
At least 11 people have died, including Australian Rory Callum Sykes, as catastrophic fires rage in Los Angeles in their fifth day and police carry out a series of looting and arson attacks.
As of Saturday, more than 10,000 structures have been burned, with a total of 29,053 acres of land burned in one of Los Angeles’ most horrific disasters to date.