Bruce and Mindy Silverstein fled their Malibu home as the wind-driven Franklin Fire encroached on their neighborhood and watched in fear from a nearby hotel as the fire threatened to destroy their home in the foothills of the Santa Mountains Monica.
The couple moved to California from the East Coast 13 years ago to be closer to their children and came to love their slice of paradise. They knew the dangers of wildfires and were not deterred after the devastating Woolsey Fire ravaged the community in 2018, burning nearly 97,000 acres in the region and destroying more than 1,600 structures.
Instead, Bruce, an attorney, was motivated after the fire to get involved in local government affairs to advocate for more community resources. In 2020, he was elected to the city council and was re-elected last month. He was sworn in on Dec. 9, the same evening the Franklin Fire broke out, eventually spreading to 4,000 acres and destroying eight homes and many other structures.
As of Sunday evening, the fire was 49% contained, authorities said.
Malibu City Councilman Bruce Silverstein and his wife, Mindy, stand in the living room of their fire-damaged home, Dec. 15, 2024.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Silversteins learned this week that their home had caught fire but firefighters were able to save the two-story structure off Malibu Canyon Road. Still, the couple lost most of their family heirlooms and belongings to smoke and water damage.
“We’re lucky because we weren’t there initially and we were safe,” Mindy said. “We still have our memories, our family heirlooms and anything damaged by the smoke, but we will have the opportunity to choose what we want to keep.”
After evacuating their home, the Silversteins and their German shepherd, Rain Bu, spent the night at a friend’s house and in hotels while waiting to learn the condition of their home.
The fire-damaged fireplace in the living room of Malibu City Councilman Bruce Silverstein’s home.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
After a fire broke out in one of the walls of the home early Tuesday, the family was certain the place was “fried,” Bruce said. Security cameras showed bushes and grounds burning around their home.
After the fire ravaged the area, they learned that firefighters had managed to break in and put out the fire.
“They gave us a tour of the house and showed us what happened. They are very proud of the work they have done,” Bruce said. “They saved the house.”
The couple is still trying to figure out what they can salvage from what’s left. They were moved by the outpouring of support from friends and family, including a woman who gave them a bag of dog toys for Rain Bu and friends who offered them a place to stay.
“I think people are largely grateful right now,” said Bruce, who has received calls and emails from constituents about the fire. “That’s how it was, and it couldn’t have been any different. But I think for the most part, I feel like the community sentiment is, “Thank God for the firefighters. » They saved everything. They saved lives. They saved properties. We had few houses destroyed.
After the Woolsey Fire, he helped organize an effort to reduce legal fees charged by law firms to residents who suffered losses in the fire. He also worked with a charity to bring in psychologists to help residents deal with the trauma of the fire and offer free therapy sessions.
He said the experience prepared him to help residents and the city overcome the aftermath of the Franklin Fire.
Malibu City Councilman Bruce Silverstein and his wife, Mindy, walk past debris after their home was damaged by the Franklin Fire. They have no plans to move.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
In an email to residents, Bruce warned that contractors, lawyers, private insurance adjusters and other fire-related service providers were “flocking to Malibu.” [like] vultures to take advantage of our vulnerable position.
“They claim to offer help, but they are looking for work and have their own interests first,” he writes. “We need to take our time, come together and get the best service from the best service providers at the best prices for everyone. »
When asked if they planned to leave Malibu, the Silversteins said they had no plans to leave. Other longtime residents who lost their homes to wildfires chose to stay and rebuild, Bruce said.
“I don’t think twice about it,” he said. “As long as we can afford to live there after we repair our house, I have no desire to go anywhere else. »
Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.
