PACIFIC PALISADES – When the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles went up in smoke, Alexander Swedelson lost his apartment, but also a bit of his identity: the flames ravaged the businesses he loved, the trails he ran, and even the place he fished.
“It’s just been the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Man, it’s just like a war zone,” the 39-year-old photographer told AFP, standing in the ruins of what was once one of the most desirable bits of real estate in the country.
The awful sight of a place where familiar landmarks have been erased has re-opened old wounds for Swedelson.
“I’m probably gonna restart therapy,” sighed the recovering alcoholic, who has been sober for six years.
For the past week, the former volunteer firefighter has been doing his part to help his community.
Armed with a water pump and a chainsaw, he first tried — in vain — to save his parents’ house, before fighting the spread of embers in the neighborhood.
Then, he delivered food and air filters to the elderly who had not evacuated.
Sleep has been a rarity.
“I think I hit my limit,” he said, his eyes misty, sitting in a pickup truck covered in pink retardant dropped by the firefighting planes.
As a one-time drug rehab counselor who has seen first responders grapple with trauma in the aftermath of a tragedy, he knows enough to see that he is at risk now.