In the summer of 2024, Elizabeth G. decided to enhance her home security by purchasing an American Security BFX6030 safe. This model has a 120-minute ETL fire rating and a UL RSC Level I security rating.

Living in the area since 1977, she primarily bought the safe for peace of mind whenever she left her house. Plus, the size she chose allowed her to add to her jewelry collection and she often found herself storing more and more items in the safe as time passed. Her valuables consisted mostly of birthstone jewelry pieces for her grandchildren and paper documents. However, once the Southern California fires ignited in January 2025, the safe served another purpose she wasn’t expecting.

Elizabeth contacted American Security to share her story. While the circumstances have been devastating, our team is glad to have helped protect some of her most treasured possessions.

California Wildfires Strike

On January 7th, 2025, Elizabeth had no power for most of the morning and experienced extreme wind in her neighborhood. Since she didn’t have power, she drove to her stepson’s house that evening to charge her batteries/devices. While she was there, they received an alert that a wildfire had ignited in Eaton Canyon, close to her stepson’s home. A short time later, as embers began falling on her stepson’s house, Elizabeth took it as a sign that she needed to head home.

“I looked out the kitchen window of his house and the whole sky was orange and black—and that’s when I realized it was really bad.”
– Elizabeth G.

Once home, she swiftly gathered the essentials and left around 7:30 PM. She initially headed to her granddaughter’s house in Sierra Madre, believing it to be a safe refuge. However, with the fire spreading rapidly, she found herself navigating through intense evacuation traffic. During the chaos, she witnessed emergency responders assisting residents from a convalescent home, evacuating people in wheelchairs and on gurneys. After arriving at her granddaughter’s house, Elizabeth learned her granddaughter was also under evacuation orders. The question became–where was she supposed to go next?

Fortunately, a friend reached out and offered her a place to stay in Pasadena. This location was safely distanced from the fire, allowing her to find refuge in the following days. At this point, all she could do was wait.

Around 1:00 AM, she received smoke alarm notifications on her phone from multiple rooms in her home. By daybreak, the devastating news was confirmed: her house was completely destroyed. The fire had swept through, leaving only two homes standing in her neighborhood. Tragically, one of those homes was later lost as the fire continued burning.

Uncovering The American Security Safe

With the National Guard closing off the area, it wasn’t until a week later that she was allowed to return to where her home once stood. Once she arrived, all that was standing was her American Security safe. A professional technician with over 4,000 safe openings under his belt, was called in to recover its contents. He spent 5 to 6 hours working to access the safe—later reporting it as the most challenging safe he had ever opened. Power tools were required to break through, a testament to the safe’s formidable design.

Upon opening the safe, the resilience of the safe’s contents was nothing short of remarkable. Every piece of jewelry emerged unscathed, retaining its original brilliance. While fragile, paper documents that were stored in manila folders within the safe remained fully intact—clear proof that the safe’s interior never exceeded 350°F (the temperature at which paper begins to char). Even Elizabeth’s safe deposit box key was recovered in perfect condition.
One particularly astonishing discovery was a necklace wrapped in tissue paper. Despite the intense heat, this piece was in the best condition, further proving the safe’s ability to protect even the most delicate valuables.

“I was stunned, I was amazed. And it was a happy moment because I lost everything else.”
– Elizabeth G.

The Vital Role of a Fire-Resistant Safe During Devastating Wildfires

This American Security safe, weighing over 1,000 pounds when empty and securely bolted to the foundation, was originally purchased for the peace of mind it provided during everyday life and travel. However, it ultimately proved invaluable in the face of catastrophe. The safe preserved irreplaceable family heirlooms and crucial documents through one of the most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s history.

For Elizabeth, the safe ended up being more than a security investment—it was a safeguard for valuables meant for her grandchildren, standing strong against the unimaginable.

“What a great safe technician and what a great safe.”
– Elizabeth G.

Our hearts are with Elizabeth and her family as they process and work through this tragedy.

If you’re interested in the same BFX6030 safe that protected Elizabeth’s precious valuables during the wildfire, explore the model today and contact a dealer near you to purchase.