Return to Transcripts main page

First of All with Victor Blackwell

CA: Nearly 1,000 Inmate Firefighters Helping Battle Blazes; Coach's Sister Killed in Fire, House And Mother's Home Destroyed; Message For Biden From Son Of Civil Rights Leader Marcus Garvey; At Least 11 Deaths, New Evacuation Orders As Firefighters Battle Six Major Fires In L.A.; Coach's Sister Killed In Fire, House And Mother's Home Destroyed; Business In Puerto Rico Destroyed In New Year's Blaze. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired January 11, 2025 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:00]

AMARA WALKER: CNN ANCHOR: What do you have coming up?

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: PAC show, of course. We're starting with the latest on the fires in Los Angeles and we're highlighting some of the communities and groups impacted and working to stop the fires that you likely have not seen coverage of yet. Like the surprising number of incarcerated firefighters are helping to get these deadly blazes under control.

Plus, I'll speak to a high school football coach who lost his home. His mother and a baby barely made it out alive of their home and his sister was killed in her home. What he says about the loss and what he hopes to see happen when it comes time to rebuild his community.

Also, the son of late civil rights leader black nationalist Marcus Garvey is with us. He wants President Biden to do something for his father before he leaves office in just days that has some backing from lawmakers in Congress. So we'll have that, too.

WALKER: Have a great show, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Thank you very much. Let's start it right now.

Well, first of all, our thoughts are with the people of Los Angeles right now. These fires put into perspective really what community means. Some families who evacuated the area, they're getting their first chance to see what's left of their homes. They're their businesses, where they work, where they went to school, where they went to eat and sometimes to unwind.

A lot of these communities are just gone. You've seen the pictures and so far officials have confirmed the deaths of 11 people and we hope that number does not increase. But sadly, officials expect it will. The stories we're hearing are tragic, but we're also starting to hear how people are coming together to help these victims. That includes how some have turned an area outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena into a donation site.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HECTOR, SISTER LOST HER HOME: My sister lost her home in Altadena and it's very devastating to see. I was there when she got a picture of her home and you couldn't even recognize it. It was basically a parking lot. And it's pretty bad. I mean, her whole blocks of houses destroyed. We had a box of bags, we had some extra clothes, so that's the least we could do.

I feel pretty bad because our apartment made it. So, you know, it's just so many people going through a rough time right now. So, you know, we all got to help each other out. But I know we're going to get through this and, you know, we're going to rebuild and it's going to better. It's going to be stronger than ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Now let's talk about these loCal Firefighters. They're getting a lot of help and this hour we're checking in with the fire crews that you likely have not seen discussed. From firefighters who are working while incarcerated for little pay, to firefighters from California's native tribes offering their unique expertise.

Let's go first to Jason Keeling. He is the fire chief of the Pachanga Band of Indians Fire Department. His crews were called in to help fight the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires. Here's a look at just some of what they've been dealing with this week.

You see, really just trying to hit -- it is a hellscape is what it is. And they are doing their work to take down these fires. Chief Keeling, thank you for your time.

First, give us the latest on what your crews, what your fire teams are facing this morning as there seems to be a bit of a break in the winds.

CHIEF JASON KEELING, PECHANGA FIRE DEPT.: Good morning. Thank you very much for having me this morning. Yes, our crews, I have seen some relief yesterday, so they've been able to make some good headway on the fire front. Currently, you know, what they're seeing is really just the devastation of total communities. The loss of, you know, and life has been very tragic and our hearts go out to those community members in the L.A. fire areas. But yes, they are getting relief and they're able to start making some headway now and start getting some control on these fires.

BLACKWELL: And so then what are we expecting of the day ahead? Because those first two days, and I talked with the Battalion Chief of Cal Fire about an hour ago, those first two days would have been difficult for anyone considering how strong those winds were and the embers moving so quick. But now that it's calming down, what do you think will be able to be accomplished today? A greater containment at least.

KEELING: Exactly. Exactly. You can get more aircraft to help battle these fires. You can get more crews into these areas. You're not having those strong winds that are providing ember casting and starting spot fires in front of the head of fires. So you can really start getting more control on these fires and more control line around them to contain them.

BLACKWELL: There is now this effort to figure out how this could have become so destructive, so severe. We heard from the L.A. Fire Chief that budget cuts are making it hard for their firefighters. We know that there have been some issues with L.A. County and their alert systems with mistakes and proximity problems. Do you see that there is any responsibility, manmade element here that is responsible in part for the severity of this storm in addition to what we've heard?

[08:05:31]

KEELING: You know, that's a great question, you know, I can't answer for the L.A. authorities but when we look back at this, in my many years of experience, this was like a perfect storm, right? I mean you're looking at 60 to 70 mile per hour winds, a dry easterly wind coming out of the desert. You know, we had little rainfall over the last year, so it just lined up to be almost one of those perfect storms that it just, you know, were prepared for this. We were pre- positioning resources throughout all the counties including L.A., Riverside, San Diego, everywhere in anticipation of these winds. But sometimes Mother Nature just is stronger than what we can deal with.

BLACKWELL: Speaking of Mother Nature, there will be the questions about how to prevent this before the fire starts with controlled burns and land management. I know that Indigenous communities have used controlled burns for some time to prevent fires becoming this severe. Is there something that you think L.A. County that Cal Fire can learn from Indigenous community's attempts to prevent fires from like happening like this?

KEELING: You know, I think they're both Cal Fire and L.A. County. I think they're going to evaluate their communities and you know, and they're basically their infrastructures and ensure that these things do not happen again. You know, for us and for Indigenous people, you know, controlled burning as you reference has been used for thousands of years. Usually in landscapes that are in very rural (inaudible) areas, the wild urban interface areas. So not really where we have a lot of development and housing and commercial development. So you know, it's hard to speak in behalf of Cal Fire and L.A. and what they need to do, but indigenous people for many years have used fire as a tool to remove fuels.

And here at Pechanga, we also do some things unique. We have what's called a fuels management crew. That crew is on full time and that crew basically goes and supports multiple facets of Pechanga's needs in clearing fuel around our residents, our commercial buildings, such as the Pechanga Resort Casino, our golf course, all of our business infrastructure. So we try to do that with this fuels crew to either thin up, limit, or remove fuels as needed throughout the year.

BLACKWELL: Pechanga Fire Chief Jason Keeling, thank you for your time and I hope your crews stay safe as they're out fighting the Palisades and the Eaton fires. Thank you so much.

KEELING: Thank you, sir. I do have one thing I'd like to announce is that Pechanga will be making a $500,000 donation to assist the community members that were impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fire. And those funds will be split evenly between the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles region and the Los Angeles Rams Foundation. Thank you very much for having me.

BLACKWELL: Fantastic news. And on behalf of those communities, I thank you for the donation.

All right, now to another aspect of this firefight. And maybe you've not realized that this was even a thing. In Los Angeles right now, many of the firefighters working around the clock are incarcerated. They're inmates.

We checked with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and they confirmed that as Of Friday, nearly 1,000 inmates who are part of its fire camp program have been working to stop these wildfires. Now, this is voluntary, and for some, it's a controversial program. Partly because of their pay, the department explained it to us this way.

Depending on skill, the inmates earned between $5.80 and $10.24 per day. During an emergency, Cal Fire also pays the crew members an additional $1 per hour. They work a 24-hour shift, and the lowest skilled crew member would earn at least $26.90 per day. My next guest knows what it's like to do that work.

Royal Ramey worked as a firefighter while incarcerated. He went on to become co-founder and CEO of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. They helped recruit and train formerly and currently incarcerated firefighters for professional firefighting careers. And Royal was also pardoned by Governor Newsom in 2022.

Royal, hello to you. And first, let's just kind of set the comparison of what we saw. The Pachanga Firefighters, what L.A. Firefighters, Cal Fire, what they're doing, and what these incarcerated firefighters are doing, is it the same work?

[08:10:12]

ROYAL RAMEY, CO-FOUNDER, THE FORESTRY AND FIRE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM: Yes, it is, but thanks for actually having me, Victor. But first and foremost, I would like to share my, send my thoughts and prayers out to the families that have been impacted by L.A. Fires and a big thank you to our first responders and volunteers who are serving the L.A. community. But yes, pretty much it is the same work. You know, you go on out there, and because I, you know, I pretty much learned to be a firefighter when I was in prison. I was part of California Fire Camp program which they train and employ people who are incarcerated to fight wildfires. And you know, we out there, we in the front lines, we, you know, utilizing tools, we're going out and you know, just, yes, we out there cutting line and doing our thing.

BLACKWELL: Yes. And so what I've learned from reading about this project is that after a fitness test in this fire camp program, they get four days of classroom instruction, four days of field instruction, and then they're to work. Is that enough? RAMEY: You know, honestly, you know, when you become a professional

firefighter, like a start out your career as a, you know, a firefighter to you get a two-week training, but like professionally, like, you know, it takes time to really understand, you know, the level of being able to be a firefighter long term. So it just, yes, it takes time. You know, it definitely takes time, but with an additional training that you receive while you incarcerated, they definitely give you the tools, the knowledge, skills and tools, and abilities to make it happen.

BLACKWELL: Yes. The estimate from the state government is that this saves, this program saves Californians about $100 million a year. So it's a great savings to the people. So let's talk about pay for these men and women who are out fighting. The least skilled makes at least $26.90 per day. Why not more? If they're out doing the same work regardless of being incarcerated, they're out doing the same work as someone who is not.

RAMEY: Yes, you know, look, there's very little pay. You know, we're talking dollars here, but they're getting experience and our job is to try to get them a pathway so they can be able to have a good career once they come home. And that's one of the reasons why my co-founder, Brandon Smith, and I that started the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. We are a training career training program that equips people coming home from prison and others from marginalized communities for careers protecting the environment and serving our community as firefighters. And we do this in four ways, Victor.

We recruit, we train, and we help them get a job. We mentor them throughout their career. And we have graduates out there right now in the field in L.A. right now. And we're so proud of them.

BLACKWELL: Yes. And that is part of the challenge, is that people go out and part of this program, they fight these fires that we're grateful that they and everyone else is doing. But once they are released, it's difficult to get a job with those. Those skills that they. They earned and they learned. Royal Ramey, I thank you for the work you're doing and for the time you spent with us this morning.

We have more coverage coming up about these fires out on the West Coast. I'll speak to a man who lost his sister. He lost his home, his community to the fires. And the principal of a school in Pasadena who opened his gym to shelter families.

Also, President Biden. He's leaving office in a little more than a week. Some want him to issue more pardons before his term runs out. And that includes one for the late black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Garvey's son is here to explain their case and his message to the president.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:15:48]

BLACKWELL: Joe Biden is president for a few more days, so he has a little more than a week to grant pardons and clemency. Recently, as you probably know, he pardoned his son, Hunter, shortened the sentences of nearly 1,500 people in one day, and commuted most federal death row sentences to life in prison. There are still advocates pushing the president to act on more cases, and one of the cases is Marcus Garvey's.

More than 20 members of Congress have now signed on to a letter urging the president to posthumously pardon him. Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester signed the letter. So did Congresswoman Yvette Clark. She's now the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. The letter says, "Exactly 101 years ago, Mr. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in a case that was marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct. The evidence paints an abundantly clear narrative that the charges against Mr. Garvey were not only fabricated but also targeted to criminalize, discredit, and silence him as a civil rights leader." It goes on to say, "Exonerating Mr. Garvey would honor his work for the black community, remove the shadow of an unjust conviction, and further your administration's promise to advance racial justice."

Also pushing for action from the president is his son, Dr. Julius Garvey. He joins us along with Howard Law Professor Justin Hansford. He's the author of Jailing a Rainbow, The Unjust Trial and Conviction of Marcus Garvey.

Gentlemen, good morning to you. And, Dr. Garvey, let me start with you. This formal petition for pardon is new. It was submitted during the Obama administration. He ignored it. You've now submitted it again. We don't have a whole lot of time, but just start with make the case for a pardon here for us.

[08:20:32]

DR. JULIUS GARVEY, SON OF MARCUS GARVEY: Well, we're using the pardon process because we've not been able to get a formal exoneration through the Congress. You know, we started back in 1987 with the House Judiciary Committee that was chaired by John Conyers, you know, and we, myself, my brother, several different representatives appear before the House Judiciary Committee subsequent to that, Congressman Rangel had House resolutions to exonerate my dad year after year after year. And also Yvette Clark picked up on that.

So it was a political football, if you will. So it never ended up getting out of the House Judiciary Committee. However, the president has the authority to issue a posthumous pardon just on his say so. So we've gone that route, I think in 2016, the end of the second term of President Obama. So that's where we are at the present time.

You know, President Biden was vice president at that time, so he should be familiar with the case. So we're using it as a means to exonerate and clear my dad's name.

BLACKWELL: Understood.

GARVEY: As you mentioned, there's abundant legal evidence that the trial itself was a part of the political trial. There was no evidence, et cetera. So it's a matter of clearing his name and, you know, restoring, you know, not only his name per se but his activity, because he had an organization that had, you know, more than 6 million members worldwide. This is largest member organization of African people in the diaspora, at least. So he was a significant person in the black community.

BLACKWELL: Yes, sir. Let me get the professor in here. Let me get the professor in here. Because you said, Professor Hansford, this is not just about Marcus Garvey. Explain that.

JUSTIN HANSFORD, AUTHOR, "JAILING A RAINBOW, THE UNJUST TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF MARCUS GARVEY": Yes, well, the case here from the beginning was an effort by J. Edgar Hoover not just to target Marcus Garvey, but to target the movement for racial justice that he was helping to lead, to target the campaign for civil rights and to make people feel like what was being done here was not an effort to uplift people, but was an effort to take advantage of people. So in a situation in 2025 where our history is being challenged. People don't want to teach black history in its fullness in different places around the country. This is a chance for us to reclaim that narrative and to have this inspiring story become something that people know the truth about and to do justice where an injustice was done so many years ago, over 100 years ago.

BLACKWELL: Professor, let me stay with you for this. Because Garvey also believed in preserving racial purity. He opposed interracial marriage. I want to read two quotes here. He said that, quote, "I regard the Klan, the Anglo-Saxon clubs and White American Societies, as far as the Negro is concerned, as better friends of the race than all of the groups of hypocritical whites put together." He also said, quote, "Potentially every white man is a Klansman as far as the Negro competition with whites socially, economically and politically is concerned. There is no use in lying."

Now, those views are not criminal. Those statements are not criminal. But to what extent do you believe they play a role in the decision to pardon or not?

HANSFORD: You know, I think that these individual quotes happened in the 1920s, and I think that was a time when there were members of the Ku Klux Klan who were mayors of towns and we had a resurgence of that type of activity across the country. So you have to understand the context of 100 years ago before you take individual quotes and see that as a representation of the views of someone who spent decades fighting for justice. And, you know, Dr. Martin Luther King talked about his admiration for Marcus Garvey and how, you know, in Dr. King's view, Garvey's legacy was one that was about uplift, was about human rights, and that was about justice for all people. And I agree more so with what Dr. King's judgment was of Marcus Garvey. And I think history has shown that his inspiration has been one of healing, and justice and human rights.

[08:25:10]

BLACKWELL: Yes. Dr. Garvey, let me come back to you because there are only a few days left of the Biden administration. We heard something that surprised a lot of people from close Trump confidant Roger Stone a few years ago. Let me play it for you. And they ask you a question. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were convicted. You think the President would pardon you?

ROGER STONE, POLITICAL ASSISTANT AND LOBBYIST: The only person I have advocated a pardon for is Marcus Garvey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Have you reached out to Mr. Stone? Have you reached out to the Trump administration? Do you think that is a viable path for pardon?

GARVEY: Well, I think the Trump administration comes into play, shall we say, January 20th. At that time, we'll cross the Rubicon. I think now we're dealing with the Biden administration, and that's our focus. You know, there's a couple of weeks left, and it's in Biden's capacity to deliver the posthumous pardon. So that's our focus. And, you know, I agree with what Justin just said. You can't take individual courts without taking into account the context in which the quotes was made.

There was a time when the Klan, and many historians will say this pretty much-ruled rule the country, certainly ruled the South. And we're talking about a time in the 1920s and 17s, et cetera when, you know, people were being lynched up, you know, one human being after a week.

And, you know, this was the time of 2017, you know, 1917, I should say East St. Louis, you know, when blacks were burnt out in terms of the town being made Lily White. The same thing with, you know, 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black Wall Street. So, you know, all of this racism going on and the statement relates to the fact that the solution for quotes, the Negro problem, was not intermarriage. That's what the statement related to.

The solution to the Negro problem was, not intermarriage. It was about independence. It was about equity and was about justice and was about fairness within American society.

BLACKWELL: All right. Dr. Julius Garvey and Professor Justin Hansford will continue to follow this, not only for the next week or so, but if you indeed reach out to the Trump administration or reach out to Roger Stone, who has the President-Elect's ear, let us know. We'll continue to follow it. Thank you so much for your time this morning.

Entire communities and their history are gone after the fires in Los Angeles. At least the tangible elements of history. I'll speak with the one man who lost his sister and his home in Altadena, where he has lived all his life. His message about that incredible loss and rebuilding next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:32:28] BLACKWELL: Live pictures out of Los Angeles County here in California. This is from our affiliate KABC live pictures of the Palisades fire. You can see that it is still burning largely out of control. The latest we got from Cal Fire was that it's 8 percent contained.

There some slower winds, weaker winds today although they're still blowing. But we've learned from our meteorologists that later today those winds are going to pick up more or so. The firefighters there on the west coast are fighting lots of elements.

Listen, fire does not discriminate though, when it comes to who suffers from its aftermath. And it's fair to note that if you're watching television in the coverage, a lot of families in Los Angeles who happen to be household names are getting a lot of news attention. But the reality is, and you know this, not all Angelenos are affluent. For many, talk of rebuilding is daunting. And in places like Altadena, families had been living close together as neighbors, and their communities are just gone now.

My next guest is a lifelong resident of Altadena. He lost his home. His mother lost her home. It was right next to his. She and a baby were able to get out safely at the last minute, but his sister, Evelyn McClendon, did not make it out of her home and she lived right behind their mother. Zaire Calvin is now with us.

Zaire, I am and we all here are sorry for your loss. I want to start with talking about your sister. When is the last time you spoke with her? Was it right before the evacuation orders? Tell us about it.

ZAIRE CALVIN, SISTER EVELYN MCCLENDON KILLED ON FIRE: Yes, it was earlier during the evacuation orders. Just let her know that, you know, we had to get out of there. And she was collecting her stuff and presumably I felt that she was on her way out.

BLACKWELL: And you thought that she was safe, that she was out. When did you learn that she didn't make it out.

CALVIN: So my mother's disabled. She's in her 80s and she has steps in front of her home. So when were, it was a chaotic scene about the time that we were leaving and I knew we had to take time to get my mother down the steps, me and my cousin P.J. He was the only person to help. And I had my wife, my one-year-old baby. And as we were leaving, I glanced and I remember seeing her car still parked out in front of the house.

[08:35:15]

BLACKWELL: And did you go over to the house?

CALVIN: Yeah, well, I just made a yell like went to the house. We got to get out, we got to get out. We got to go now. Came back, raced up the back down the driveway, went and grabbed my mother. It looked like the scene out of a volcano movie with the winds gushing and the fire everywhere. It was rough.

BLACKWELL: And how did you ultimately learn that your sister did not make it out of the house?

CALVIN: So when we got everyone in the car and we got out, barely got out when I left, I just noticed the car. And then the very next day I had to go back to check because her car was still there. And I wasn't even sure she was even in the back as we were leaving. But I know she's a bit of a recluse and doesn't really talk to people.

Notice her car sitting in front of the home, asked for a wellness check. When I went back with the police, they walked up, looked over, said they couldn't see anything and then they left. Talked to my cousin E.J., spoke with him, came back, asked him bring a shovel. He brought a shovel. He asked me where. I told him where her bedroom was located. And he took the shovel and he started moving debris around. And in that he ended up finding her remains.

BLACKWELL: He found her remains. I am so sorry that you have lost your home, your sister. The things obviously can be replaced, but the loss of your sister and to find her in that way. I know that there's one thing that you wanted to be sure to say about the rebuild and uniqueness of Altadena, that when you came on today about when this community comes back, what you want to see and what is that?

CALVIN: Yes, the most important part is because I don't understand. I don't think people understand the richness of Altadena or even the history of Altadena. Altadena. The reason that we ended up with so many African Americans in Altadena was because Pasadena would not allow black people to live or dwell Pasadena. So the servants in Pasadena, all the African American servants, they bought them houses in Altadena to live separately because there was no redlining for black people to live in Altadena during that time.

So for that reason is why we have so many African Americans in Altadena. And when it comes to this housing and me, us losing so much as a community because we're a very tight-knit community, diverse community but strong African American community.

And when these taxes come, I'm so worried about the taxes being reassessed because now these are complete wipeout demolition to all these different homes. So people being able to afford the taxes, we need to be grandfathered in to make sure that we're not blackballed out the system and gentrified out of the, you know, out of our homes and our wealth.

BLACKWELL: And, and Zaire, we will certainly follow that as the rebuilding continues. Obviously, right now the urgent need is to stop the fire and offer and protect and support people like you and your mother and your family. I thank you for your time, Zaire, Calvin, and again, we are sorry for your loss. Thank you for being with me.

We'll take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:44:32]

BLACKWELL: A small beach town in Puerto Rico is a the center of a federal arson investigation. Authority say, several businesses including a hotel, restaurant, and souvenir shop were destroyed in a fire just after the New Year.

Now guests staying at the hotel had to evacuate. Investigators have not named the suspect. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms did confirmed to see an end that they executed a federal search warrant in St. Peters, Missouri. And that lines up with what residents in Cabo Rojo are saying, which is that an American tourist did this.

[08:45:04]

The ATF says no arrests have been made and referred us to the U.S. Attorney's office in Puerto Rico. No response yet from them to questions on where the investigation stands. Donation drives on GoFundMe have been set up to help with rebuilding the hotel and restaurant.

Angel Luis Marrero Negron owns the property where this happened, including Luichy's seaside hotel. He joins us now from Puerto Rico.

Good morning to you. I am sorry for your loss. You initially thought this was maybe a circuit issue or electrical. When you learned of what it possibly could be that this was, the local people say that this was an American tourist. What went through your mind?

ANGEL LUIS MARRERO NEGRON, OWNS PROPERTIES DESTROYED IN ALLEGED ARSON ATTACK: Well, thank you, Victor, for the opportunity. At the beginning when we got the call because I was -- I left my hotel to the metro area. We thought it was a short secret because the day before we have a major power outage in Puerto Rico. So actually welcome the new year without electricity using our emergency plan. So it was so many things going through my mind. That's what we thought. We all, you know, at 3:00 o'clock in the morning when we arrived there after the fire, you know, department control the fire. We thought it was a short circuit. I mean, would not even imagine that the person can do that.

BLACKWELL: Yeah. You wrote online that quote, "In this country you have to live in fear. Letting these types of situations pass as if nothing had happened." Talk about that if you would. After this episode, are you afraid?

NEGRON: Oh, definitely. I mean, we, the Puerto Rico are good people. We don't do harm to no one. And we work on other tourists. But now we are -- I couldn't sleep. We have been sleeping in many days. We just wake up in the middle of the night, completely despair. I mean, it has been very difficult. And I want to make sure that we love tourists, but they need to show some kind of respect to us.

We have family who depends on this business and it happens in other areas. I don't understand why that their behavior. We are good people. We don't do damage to no one. And we work very hard to run our businesses.

BLACKWELL: What do you want to happen now?

NEGRON: Oh my God. I want to see that lady my face, you know, I want to -- she faced the justice and I want to know exactly why. What went through her mind? I mean, that lady, she have no soul. She have no lack of shame. I mean, she does not mediate her actions. And the destructions and consequences. Therefore, I mean, we are destroyed many families in the middle of the beginning of New Hope.

I mean, we celebrate a few hours ago with smiling and dancing. Welcome the New Year. And then this lady convert Cabo Rojo, which is a paradise and into a hell town.

BLACKWELL: Angel Luis Marrero Negron, again, we are sorry for your loss. We'll continue to follow the investigation and thank you for your time this morning. We'll be right back.

NEGRON: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:52:28]

BLACKWELL: Now the fires in Los Angeles county, they move so fast that a lot of people didn't have time to pack clothing or belongings, much less find a shelter. The schools, whose campuses have not been damaged or destroyed, have opened their doors to people who need somewhere to stay or a place to pick up supplies. My next guest is the principal of one of those campuses welcoming people in distress.

Principal Jae Kim leads St. Andrews School in Pasadena. Mr. Kim, thank you for being with me. In these disasters, people always ask, well, what can I do? How can I help? Just explain for us what you've been able to do there at St. Andrews.

JAE KIM, PRINCIPAL, ST. ANDREW'S SCHOOL: So, as you mentioned, since we're out of the evacuation area, we opened up our school. We have good air filtration system, so we have food, refreshments. As you can see behind me, supplies, clothing, and other rooms. And the first day we had a handful. On Wednesday, we had more. And yesterday we had hundreds of people come by donating gifts and picking up gifts as well. So people are still in massive shock. And when they come, we try to hold their hand, take them to places, talk with them, pray with them, and engage with them as much as possible.

So that's what we've been able to offer. And it's been well received. Among the families who completely lost their homes and those who've been evacuated and displaced as well.

BLACKWELL: What do you hear from them?

KIM: It's been really sad and heartbreaking, but I can tell you a few stories. Some I've spoken to, some I got text messages, others I've met in person. But there are homes that are literally raised to the ground. The only thing that's left is a stone or brick chimney.

And for me, I didn't know the fires could do this, but refrigerators, washers, dryers, they all melted as well. There's nothing left there except ashes. And we've had multiple families that had the same experiences. Some had to wait a day or two to find out. We had one family that had to walk, you know, a mile or two to their

home to take a look because the cars were not allowed inside and they had lost everything. And in the end, with the child said, is -- so this is my understanding. The child said, mom, I have no more toys. So it's been like that.

We had another family that was evacuated early morning Wednesday, and as they left their house, they were enveloped in smoke. They held their breath to get into the cars and they couldn't even see the stop sign in the local area. But the mom was able to stop there, but she knew where it was.

So it's been pretty drastic. Their home is completely gone as well. And the mom was sharing with me, what are we going to do at school when we come back? Because my kid only has crocs and I'm like, that is no longer a concern for us.

[08:55:25]

BLACKWELL: Yeah, you know, I wanted to take this moment out. Typically, this is where we do a segment called I see you. And we acknowledge people who do great things. And there's so many stories, so many people like you who are just finding whatever they can, whatever space they have, and offering it to those who have nowhere else to go, who have no resources.

So, Principal Kim, I see you and I thank you for what you're doing and all the people are helping you do it there at the school. Thank you for joining us this morning. And for more information --

KIM: Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Certainly. And for more information about how you at home can help Los Angeles area wildfire victims, go to CNN.com/impact or text WILDFIRES to 707070 to donate.

Thank you for joining me today. I'll see you back here next Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Smerconish is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)