When the Altadena wildfire roared through Captain Jerry Puga’s neighborhood in January 2025, flames and embers rained down on every street. As he returned to smoldering ruins, he found something stronger than fire: a wave of community care led by the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. From late-night phone calls checking on his family to gift cards and relief supplies delivered at his doorstep, each act of support sparked a path forward. That spark became the flame that drove Jerry and Kelly to turn ashes into renewal and rebuild a future grounded in hope. Watch below!
“I never felt like I wouldn’t have a place to sleep at night because there was just an outpour of help that was thrown at me,” he recalled. From the people at our LA fire charity to union brothers and sisters, calls came in by the hundreds. Each ring signaled someone checking in, asking what could make the next day easier for Jerry’s family. That steady rhythm of concern offered more comfort than any single donation could provide.
Strength Found in the Aftermath
In those first days after the fire, department liaisons coordinated house searches to see if any belongings could be recovered. Meanwhile, Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund volunteers dropped off gift cards for groceries and essentials. “They reached out, basically to the department, to see who could help us in the house search process,” Jerry explains. Those simple acts of service spared him the burden of logistics and let him focus on supporting his wife Kelly and their children through shock and grief of losing their beloved home.
Courtesy of the Puga Family
Amid the devastation, one phrase kept echoing in Jerry’s mind, “the goal is to go back and rebuild.” He envisioned a home where laughter could replace the crackle of flames and family photos could line the walls once more. The Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund’s Wildfire Relief Fund bridged the gap between loss and recovery. Assistance covered temporary housing, replaced clothing and stocked pantries, all while Jerry applied his firefighting ethos to the task of putting his life back together.
When the Last Ember Cools, Community Still Burns Bright
Every ember that fell that night carried its own fear, but it also ignited an unwavering sense of community. “This was a rain of embers, winds,” Jerry notes, and when embers threatened a neighbor’s yard days later, he and volunteers cleared brush until the fire engine arrived. That hands-on moment illustrated how firefighter families protect each other long after the initial threat has passed.
Constant support from the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund transformed an overwhelming experience into a deeply humbling one. “Having that support that constant, somebody checking on you—it’s humbling and definitely an overwhelming experience in itself,” Jerry says. He and Kelly now talk about family in a broader sense, one that includes every firefighter spouse, child and retiree who stands ready to answer a call for help.
Captain Puga’s story is one of many. Since its founding, the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund has been rallying behind firefighter families in crisis, ensuring no one faces the aftermath of tragedy alone. If Jerry’s journey inspires you, please consider supporting with a donation or participation in the Boot Brigade volunteer program and support families rebuilding after disaster.
When the last ember cools, it is the strength of community that lights the way forward as a beacon for our heroes.
By Camdon T. Presley
Courtesy of the Puga Family