A Southern California woman was overwhelmed after firefighters discovered her wedding ring amid the rubble of her home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
Victoria DeSantis, her husband, Marko DeSantis, and their two children, have lived in their Altadena home on the 3200 block of Olive Avenue for 18 years.
They recalled the fear they felt as the fast-moving fire threatened thousands of homes, forcing many to flee for their safety.
-
Victoria DeSantis and the firefighters who found her wedding band after the Eaton Fire destroyed her home. (DeSantis Family) -
Victoria DeSantis cries tears of joy after firefighters found her wedding band after the Eaton Fire destroyed her home. (DeSantis Family) -
The DeSantis’ family home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. (DeSantis Family) -
Victoria and Marko DeSantis share their story with KTLA on Jan. 14, 2025. (KTLA) -
Victoria and Marko DeSantis pictured with their two children. (GoFundMe) -
The DeSantis’ family home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. (KTLA) -
The DeSantis’ family home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. (KTLA) -
The DeSantis’ family home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. (KTLA)
It was around 3 a.m. when they were alerted and began quickly packing up, grabbing any important items they could think of.
Victoria had removed her wedding rings that day because her hands were dry and the lotion she was using kept making the rings slide off. So she placed her wedding ring and band, along with her mother’s wedding ring, by the front door, making a mental note to grab them before heading out.
Amid the chaos and scramble, they left their home and shortly after, Victoria realized she had forgotten the rings. However, she wasn’t too concerned at first, believing her home would be safe.
“You hold out hope that you’re going to be that one little house that made it,” she said. “You don’t want the neighborhood to be gone.”
The next day, however, she walked back to the property and her heart dropped as she saw only rubble and charred remains where her home once stood.
She began searching the debris, hoping to find the rings. She found her engagement ring, which had melted in the fire. She then asked nearby firefighters for help finding her wedding band.
“One of the guys, he said, ‘I found a ring, but it isn’t gold,’ and it was my wedding band,” she said of the incredible discovery. “I thought it had melted into a blob of metal, but he found my wedding band intact.”
Photos of the find showed Victoria crying tears of joy as she held up the silver wedding band.
“Shout out to CAL FIRE Riverside,” Marko said. “Thanks for saving our marriage.”
While the couple lost everything else in their home, they’re grateful no one was injured and said they will take it one day at a time as they rebuild their lives. They’re also grateful for the outpouring of support from the community.
“There’s that old quote, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going,’ and I think that’s where we are right now,” Marko said. “We’re going through hell, but we have this wedding ring and we’re going to keep going.”
The CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department posted the lucky find on their Instagram page, saying, “It’s these small moments that bring hope to devastation, and we’re proud of our firefighters for all they are doing to help in LA County.”
A GoFundMe page to help the DeSantis family can be found here.
