Tragic House Fire in Larchmont Claims Lives of Two Dogs, Family Heartbroken
Community Rallying Behind Pastor After Devastating Fire
A community is uniting to support Pastor Juan Galicia following a fire that destroyed his family’s home in Larchmont, resulting in the tragic loss of two of his dogs over the weekend.
The fire ignited around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday on Saint Andrews Place, as Pastor Galicia delivered a sermon on hope at his church in South Los Angeles. “I was preaching and talking about, in the worst scenario, God always remembers you,” he reflected.
Pastor Galicia, who has lived in the home for over 18 years with nine family members, noted that they were all at church when the fire erupted. Although six of his dogs were inside the home, two did not survive. “It makes me cry because I know my pets were crying and looking for a way to escape and they couldn’t,” he shared, expressing his feelings of guilt over their loss.
The fire is believed to have originated in a vacant house next door, which has been a concern for the family. His niece, Sonia Salinas, mentioned that they had warned the city about safety issues related to squatters there for more than a year. “We feel devastated,” Salinas stated. “We feel sad because we tried to avoid this kind of accident.”
In response to the incident, the office of LA Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez, who represents the district where the fire occurred, acknowledged ongoing issues in the neighborhood. They had reached out to the property owner but reported not receiving a response, noting that their ability to intervene is limited since the vacant property is privately owned.
As Pastor Galicia and his family navigate this challenging time, he emphasized that his faith and the message he shares with his parishioners are providing him with strength to move forward.
