Marianne

How a mother kept her family safe from wildfires

A family of five standing in their kitchen, chatting and holding coffee mugs.
The Bridge Fire in Southern California forced Marianne’s family to evacuate their home.
When Marianne and her family brought a new puppy named Toby to their home in Wrightwood, California, they hardly imagined they’d be evacuating with her the very next day. On Tuesday, September 10, they had a typical morning. Marianne’s daughters—ages 14, 12, and 9—went to school, and she worked from her patio under clear skies.
A woman in a backyard plays with two dogs, with three people standing on a porch in the background.
The day before they evacuated, the family had brought home a new puppy named Toby, short for Toblerone.
By early afternoon, the wind picked up and ash fell from the sky as the Line Fire neared. Although officials assured everyone things were fine, Marianne went ahead and brought the girls home from school. They watched conditions worsen outside. “It looked post-apocalyptic,” Marianne said. “My husband and I said, ‘Girls, pack a bag.’” The evacuation order came soon after.
"It looked post-apocalyptic. My husband and I said, 'Girls, pack a bag.'"
—Marianne, Airbnb.org guest
The view from Marianne's home shows dark orange skies from the fire.
The view from Marianne’s home shows how close the fires came. (Photo by Marianne)
Meanwhile Airbnb.org partnered with local nonprofits in San Bernardino county, Hearts & Lives and Visit Big Bear, to place evacuees in Airbnbs for free. Three Airbnb hosts volunteered to help the partners find guests and spread the word about emergency housing through Airbnb.org. Tara, Katie, and Monique created intake forms, posted on social media, and worked around the clock with the local partners to help house evacuees in their communities. “People were at wit’s end,” Tara said. “The relief in their voice when they heard they might have room for their infant to crawl, do laundry, make a meal—it’s the sound of true gratitude.” With the help of hosts and partners, Airbnb.org housed more than 1,000 San Bernardino residents displaced by the Bridge and Line fires, including hundreds of children and pets.
Two individuals seated closely on a couch in a warm, wooden interior room, showing a sense of unity and relief.
Airbnb Superhosts Tara and Katie helped local nonprofits identify guests in need and house them in Airbnbs.

"The relief in their voice when they heard they might have room for their infant to crawl, do laundry, make a meal—it’s the sound of true gratitude.”

—Tara, Airbnb Superhost in Big Bear, CA
Profile image of Tara, an Airbnb.org host, with a verified checkmark badge.
Marianne’s family, including Toby, were among those who stayed in an Airbnb for free while they remained under evacuation order. “Our whole world was upside down. Finally having a place where we could settle down was a huge relief,” she said. She recalled unpacking a few toiletries for the first time in days. “It was such a small thing, but it meant a lot to have a place where I could put my stuff and finally think.”
Two girls sitting on separate couches in a cozy living room with toys and a kitchen in the background.
After two weeks of tracking the wildfires and worrying about their house, Marianne’s family was able to safely return home.
After two weeks away, the family was able to return home safely, where they were reunited with their animals and the girls returned to school. This was the second time Marianne and her husband have evacuated from wildfires since they moved to Wrightwood in 2015. It might not be the last, but Marianne said she feels lucky to live in a community that’s full of support, especially in emergencies.“There were a lot of unknowns, but Airbnb.org provided the hope and reassurance that we were going to make it through—not just with the clothes on our backs, but that we would be taken care of and have a soft landing.”

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