Amid the destruction caused by the Palisades fire in Los Angeles, one $9 million property remarkably remained untouched. David Steiner, the owner of the house, believes there is a reason his home was spared from the devastating wildfire.
The fires in LA have ravaged over 20,000 acres, with first responders managing to contain three out of eight wildfires so far. Unfortunately, over 5,000 structures, including homes, businesses, and landmarks, have been destroyed. Authorities suspect that the Kenneth fire, which endangers properties near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, was intentionally set by a man who has since been apprehended. Locals detained the suspect, who was reportedly seen with a torch, attempting to ignite garbage cans and old Christmas trees.
Among the many who lost their homes are several celebrities, including Anna Faris, Eugene Levy, Paris Hilton, and Billy Crystal. In contrast, David Steiner, a retired waste-management businessman, was astonished that his property remained standing amid the devastation.
On January 7, a local contractor sent Steiner a video of the fire, showing his neighbor’s house engulfed in flames. Steiner was convinced his three-story home would be next. “[The contractor] was watching the news reports and saw my neighbor’s house going down and told me, ‘It looks like your house is going too,’” Steiner shared with the New York Post.
To his surprise, Steiner soon received calls and photos confirming that his home had survived. “I started getting pictures and realized we had made it through,” he said. “My wife sent me something this morning that said, ‘Last house standing.’ And it brought a pretty big smile to my face at a pretty bad time.”
Steiner credits the house’s survival to its robust construction, which he likened to a cruise ship’s durability. “It has an ‘ultra-sturdy construction’ and was built to withstand earthquakes,” he explained, adding that the house features stucco and stone with a fireproof roof, and is anchored by pilings that extend about 50 feet into the bedrock for stability against strong waves.
“To be totally honest with you, I never in a million years thought a wildfire would jump to the Pacific Coast Highway and start a fire,” Steiner admitted. “I thought, ‘If we ever have an earthquake, this would be the last thing to go.’ I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go. And it was.”
Steiner appreciated the design and resilience of his home, particularly the stucco and fireproof roof. However, he emphasized that for him, the loss of the property would not equate to the loss of a home, as he had not built family memories there. “We need to pray for those who have lost their homes,” Steiner said, recognizing the profound impact on others who have faced such devastating losses.
