Devastated LA residents see outpouring of support: ‘One of the more beautiful things I’ve seen’

Overwhelmed by loss but buoyed by friends and strangers alike, Angelenos who lost their homes prepare to rebuild their lives

Until last Tuesday, Ryan and Endea Marrone lived with their two young sons in Altadena, California, in a picturesque two-bedroom home tucked into the base of the San Gabriel mountains. Behind the house, Ryan, a music producer, had created a mini recording studio, where he adorned the walls with pictures that his kids drew for him. Their wooded neighborhood was tight-knit: it was a community that wasn't populated by the ultra-wealthy, where many homeowners had lived for decades and still exchanged holiday presents and housewarming gifts.

Now, a week later, the Marrones' home - and their surrounding neighborhood - are all ash. The only thing that remains of their house is the chimney, singed black from flames and smoke. The front steps lead to a huge, leveled expanse of charred debris. Everything, from their sons' Legos, to a school art project, to a photo from Ryan and Endea's first date, was completely incinerated.