Local News
66-year-old Victor Shaw dies in Eaton Fire
One of the five confirmed fatalities from the devastating Eaton Fire was identified on Wednesday morning as 66-year-old Victor Shaw, whose body was discovered by his family near their home.
In a poignant detail, Victor was found with a garden hose still in his hand, a testament to his efforts to defend the home that had been in his family for nearly 55 years.
Victor’s body remains on the property in the 3000 block of Monterose Avenue, as conditions in the area were still too hazardous by Wednesday night for the coronerโs office to retrieve him.
Victor shared the family home with his younger sister, Shari Shaw, who recalled her attempts to persuade him to evacuate with her on Tuesday night as the fire approached. Unfortunately, Victor, who struggled with health issues that limited his mobility, chose to stay behind, determined to protect their cherished home.
The Eaton Fire is one of four large, active wildfires currently impacting the Los Angeles area. Collectively, these fires have wrought widespread destruction:
- The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes, has consumed 17,234 acres, destroying an estimated 1,000 structures.
- The Hurst Fire, burning in the Sylmar neighborhood, has scorched 855 acres.
- The Lidia Fire, a fast-moving blaze in the Antelope Valley, has burned 348 acres and prompted evacuations.
- Crews are making progress on the Sunset Fire, a 43-acre fire in the Hollywood Hills that forced rapid evacuations.
Friends and family described Victor as a determined and kind-hearted individual who deeply valued his familyโs legacy.
His tragic death serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers posed by these unprecedented wildfires.
Authorities continue to battle these destructive wildfires, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain the blazes and protect affected communities. Local officials are urging residents in vulnerable areas to prioritize their safety and evacuate when instructed.
Victor Shawโs bravery and love for his familyโs home will not be forgotten. His story is a testament to the human spirit in the face of adversity.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. โ Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.