To the question of what he loved and lost to the raging Los Angeles wildfires, 83-year-old Walt Butler had one response: “Everything.” He is only one of many city residents who were left displaced by the damage of the roaring flames but his story will bring to perspective just how devastating the situation is.
Butler, a known and respected community member, couldn’t hold back the tears as he detailed his life dedicated to giving, all for everything to be engulfed in flames. According to NBC News, he ran a shoe store and helped support young athletes in the area having retired from his own athletic stardom as a track and field star back in the day. He told @makebigtalk in a video that he was always one to give what he had to those who needed it, whether it was giving the former high school student a jacket or the kids who came by his store without money, a pair of shoes.
He knew what struggle felt like, recalling having holes in his shoes and praying it wouldn’t rain as he walked. Well, the LA region hasn’t seen rain in a while.
As a result, the dry winds blew the flames of the Pacific Palisades area into the larger Los Angeles neighborhood causing a catastrophic wildfire. One of the people forced to evacuate was none other than this beloved community service member. In a heartbreaking scene turn of events, Butler’s Altadena home of 60 years and dazzling Corvette Stingray were turned to ash.
In the video with @makebigtalk, he detailed through tearful eyes the loss of the things he’d worked so hard to obtain and maintain.
“I lost everything. From a guy with everything… to nothing,” he said, struggling to speak through tears. “I spent my whole life helping people. I didn’t think it would happen to me but it did.”
However, despite losing the material things, Butler said he still has something to be grateful for keeping: his health and his life.
“I’ve been knocked down before but not like this. Times are tough but I’m not giving up,” he said in the video. In the same spirit, to NBC, he said, “The Big Guy has been looking out for me. It’s easy to die and living wasn’t meant to be easy.”
Since his heartfelt testimony went viral, his children organized a GoFundMe to help Butler secure temporary housing and rebuild his home which has surpassed its goal of $250,000 reaching over $880,000 donations.
“Thank you for helping us restore hope for a man who has given so much to so many. Together, we can help Walt rebuild his life and continue his incredible legacy in our community,” the donation post said.
As of now, over 36,000 acres worth of homes and businesses have been destroyed by the fires, per Los Angeles Daily News.