January 7th, 2025, started like an ordinary day for many residents in California. One particular individual named Kevin was working in his office when news of high winds and fires started to pop up online. At first, this didn’t cause alarm, as Southern California is used to experiencing winds during this time of year. However, wildfires are not as common in January. Once he started seeing videos on social media of flames reaching 20 to 30 feet in the air surrounding people’s homes, he knew this wasn’t a small brush fire, but a disastrous wildfire that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Kevin and his parents live in homes in Santa Monica, and while planning for the future, the family owned another house in Malibu, which was intended to be their retirement retreat. Kevin is also a passionate collector of World War II memorabilia, and the Malibu home housed many of his most treasured, irreplaceable artifacts.

Recognizing their value—not just monetary, but historical—Kevin stored some of his collection in an American Security FV6042 safe (the predecessor to our SF Safe series). It was a decision he made for peace of mind, never imagining just how vital that investment would become.

“The fact that we didn’t have an opportunity to rescue the safe’s contents, but had an assurance that they were contained within an American Security safe, is absolutely remarkable.”

– Kevin

Where it All Started: The Palisades Fire

The fire that Kevin was watching unfold online had originated in the Pacific Palisades, but it wasn’t just an ordinary wildfire—it was a firestorm. Fueled by hurricane-force winds gusting between 40 and 60 mph, the flames spread at an unprecedented rate, quickly merging with other fires and turning the landscape into an inferno.

Southern California was thrown into chaos. Evacuation orders came swiftly, sending families scrambling for safety. Streets became gridlocked with desperate residents trying to flee, and in some cases, people were forced to abandon their cars and evacuate on foot, forcing first responders to bulldoze paths to reach and contain the fire. Wildlife and pets ran frantically alongside humans, all seeking refuge from the relentless blaze.

Back at his office, Kevin remained focused on work, but the growing tension among his colleagues was undeniable as the weather conditions worsened. One by one, they began leaving to check on their families as the wind progressed, rattling the windows of the office throughout the day.

“When I left the office, as I was driving home, I noticed it was looking more and more like a warzone.”
– Kevin

As the reality of the disaster set in, Kevin finally decided to head to his parents’ home in Santa Monica—only to find it empty. His family had already left, and the surrounding area was becoming increasingly dangerous, and panic was beginning to spread, with neighbors evacuating the area as quickly as possible.

“We could see flames on the hillside next to our [Kevin’s family’s] house, hundreds of feet in the air, and realized this was something crazy. This was something big.”
– Kevin

Realizing the situation was dangerous, Kevin gathered any valuable or sentimental items he could from his parents’ house and made his way home. There, he finally reunited with his family, who had managed to stay safe. As they processed the unfolding disaster, their thoughts remained on the immediate crisis—evacuations, safety, and the sheer magnitude of destruction. It wasn’t until several days later that it dawned on them: their remote Malibu home, the future retirement retreat, might be directly in the fire’s path. At the time, they assumed it was far enough from the blaze. But with winds this strong, nothing was certain.

The Fires That Reached Malibu

What seemed impossible became a devastating reality—within just 6 to 8 hours of the Palisades fire, the inferno had traveled an astonishing 20 miles, reaching Malibu. Keep in mind that Southern California had been in the grip of an extreme drought, with no measurable rainfall since May 2024. The bone-dry conditions turned the landscape into a tinderbox, primed for disaster. Unlike a house fire, wildfires often come in two phases, and in this case, it lasted for roughly 12 hours.

Phase 1: Carbon Fire

As the fire tore through Malibu, the intense winds caused carbon particles in the air to ignite, creating massive flames towering over neighborhoods and the ground below. The shifting blaze moved unpredictably, transforming the area to look like Armageddon.

Phase 2: Topographical Fire

The second phase occurred once the fire latched onto the dry terrain, consuming everything in its path. Debris, vegetation, and relentless winds fueled its destruction, turning hillsides and neighborhoods into unrecognizable ash. Homes, businesses, and decades of memories were razed in a matter of hours.

Visiting The Malibu Home & Discovering the Aftermath

For 13 days after the fire, the National Guard kept the area on lockdown, preventing residents from returning to assess the damage. When Kevin and his family were finally allowed back in, they braced themselves for the worst, but nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.

The family’s Malibu home was gone, reduced to little more than ashes and rubble. The once beautiful structure had been completely incinerated, leaving almost no trace of what once stood on the beautiful orchard property. Yet, in the middle of the destruction, one thing remained—the FV6042 American Security safe.

As Kevin navigated through the debris, he saw the remnants of his personal collection scattered around. Ammunition had exploded from the intense heat, including irreplaceable World War II shells that had been part of his prized collection. But the true test came when he opened the safe.

With the help of a locksmith, they finally accessed the safe after 30 to 40 minutes, and what they found inside was nothing short of remarkable. 20-year-old U.S. bonds emerged completely unscathed, despite the extreme heat that far exceeded the 350°F threshold at which paper begins to char. The entirety of his firearms collection remained perfectly intact, including irreplaceable World War II weapons. While ammunition outside the safe had detonated in the fire, the rounds stored inside the safe were in pristine condition. Nearly everything else in his home was destroyed, but the safe had done exactly what it was built to do and protected what mattered most.

“This was a very large safe; my only regret is that I didn’t get an even bigger one and put more valuables in it.”
– Kevin

Kevin reached out to American Security with nothing but praise and was passionate about sharing his story. Plus, he was shocked at the quick response rate and efficient communication that the team here at American Security offered him.

“The customer service at American Security is absolutely fantastic.”
– Kevin

The Importance of Fire-Resistant Safes in the Face of Disaster

Kevin’s experience is a powerful reminder of why investing in a high-quality safe is extremely important, especially for those who live in wildfire-prone regions. Too often, people realize the importance of protection only after they’ve suffered a loss. Kevin’s story serves as a testament to the value of being proactive because when disaster strikes, there are no second chances.

“For my next safe, I’m going to make sure I buy a bigger and better one because that’s what our valuables deserve.”
– Kevin

If you’re looking for a safe like Kevin’s, explore our SF series or any of our other gun safes. Crafted from high-quality steel and fire-resistant materials, these safes meet various UL ratings, providing industry-leading protection for your valuables.