Samo student stories

Following the most destructive wildfire breakout in the Greater Los Angeles area in history, many Samo students have been forced to evacuate, with some receiving the heartbreaking news that they lost their homes. Residing in the Palisades, Malibu, Sylmar, Altadena and Pasadena, students who lost their valuables—from life-long houses to pets—carry heavy hearts into the new year. Those who have suffered great losses are backed up with full support from the media, first responders and others across the country. Adele Jouffret (’26) was among the unfortunate who lost their home to the Palisades fire and was able to salvage very little. Jouffret is temporarily living in an Airbnb and is still on the lookout for her next home. “I lived in that house all my life, and it was really heartbreaking and also traumatic,” Jouffret said. “I’m still taking things one step at a time.” Samo student Liam Chutuape (’26) shared his experience leaving Santa Monica after receiving an evacuation order within the San Vicente-Montana area. He recalled the evacuation process as a stressful one and was forced to collect his possessions quickly. “I panicked so I only got to pack the essentials: a few pairs of clothes, my book bag (for school to keep myself busy), toiletries, and some personal items like cameras and bookmarks,” Chutuape said. “I tried to stay calm because I knew there wasn’t a lot of time to spare.”

Also among those who received an evacuation order was Samo AP US History teacher Maggie Colburn, who felt that she had more time to prepare than Chutape. Before evacuating to Encinitas, Colburn shared her determination to keep her cat safe, along with her other valuables. “I packed my cat, some toys, food for about a week, his carrier, leash, litter box, and litter genies. He was the best packed,” Colburn said. “I packed some of my grandma’s jewelry that was easily accessible. I regretted that I didn’t grab my photo albums and my great-grandmother’s things once it became mandatory.” Explaining her process in staying informed about the fires, Colburn emphasized the importance of finding credible sources. “I got back on social media to follow SMPD[Santa Monica Police Department] and SMFD [Santa Monica Fire Department], but got really upset with a lot of the misinformation that has been posted, the lack of empathy and all-around lack of critical thinking from people I know,” Colburn said. “Social media is not a news source.” With thousands of people across Los Angeles losing their homes, many families were forced to rely on close friends when finding a place to stay. Among them was Chutuape, who was grateful for the support of his friends in his family’s time of need. “I evacuated to a friend’s house in Culver City, and they were so nice to let us stay,” Chutuape said. “Although they said they were returning a favor for dog sitting, it was a great helping hand.” Many Samo students have assisted in relief efforts to help fellow students in need, organizing food and clothingdrives and offering homes for their friends and family.