Bus Drivers Who Saved 500 Lives During the Eaton Fire
Bus Drivers Act Swiftly to Evacuate Elderly Residents Amid Eaton Fire
On the night of January 7, 2025, a group of 16 bus drivers from Pasadena Transit took extraordinary measures to evacuate approximately 500 elderly patients from nearby nursing homes as the Eaton Fire threatened their safety.
The drivers, including Nicole Ambriz and Garrett Wright, were concluding their shifts when they learned of the urgent need for evacuation as the fire intensified. Without hesitation, they returned to their buses and headed directly into the danger zone.
“It’s just crazy. I can’t put into words everything that happened a year ago,” Ambriz recalled, reflecting on the chaos of that night.
With first responders stretched thin managing the widespread blaze in Altadena, Pasadena Transit was called upon to assist with the evacuation. “A lot of them had the option to go home and be with their families, but a lot of the operators heeded the call,” noted Juan Casillas, safety and training manager for Pasadena Transit.
As they approached the nursing homes, the drivers were taken aback by the devastation surrounding them. “One of the streets that we turned on, the bank was on fire to my right. To my left, a small shop was burning. Windows were being shattered,” Ambriz described vividly.
Wright also witnessed the fire’s catastrophic effects. “I continue north. I see a couple of cars melted down. The chassis was all burnt up,” he recalled.
Upon reaching the convalescent homes, the drivers faced a heart-wrenching scene. Many elderly residents, some with disabilities, were in desperate need of help. “They were scared because they were evacuated. They didn’t know what was going on,” Casillas said.
After carefully loading the patients onto the bus, Wright rallied his elderly passengers. “Make sure you guys hold on. Make sure the ladies are good, too, please, for me. I need help,” he urged before navigating the bus out of the fire zone.
While some may label them as heroes, the drivers remained humble about their actions. “Man, I feel like a regular guy, man,” Wright stated. Ambriz echoed this sentiment, asserting that she did it out of compassion rather than for recognition. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she said.
The selfless actions of these bus drivers highlighted not only their bravery, but also the deep sense of community in the face of crisis.
