Former WSU WR Jamire Calvin is grappling with the loss of his aunt and home due to devastating LA fires
Pasadena: Jamire Calvin’s world turned upside down with a single phone call. He was at the Pasadena Courtyard Inn, seeking refuge from the raging fires that had destroyed his home.
His father, Zaire, delivered the heartbreaking news: Jamire’s aunt, Evelyn, didn’t make it out. She was found in the ashes of her home, which she hadn’t evacuated.
Calvin, who played football at Washington State, lost nearly everything. The fire took the home he shared with his grandmother, Rasheedah, and also destroyed his parents’ house next door.
“It feels unreal,” Calvin said. “Waking up to find everything gone, and losing family too. It’s a lot to process.”
He’s still in the hotel, trying to piece together what’s next. The family is figuring out how to rebuild and what their insurance will cover.
Calvin is overwhelmed, especially thinking about Evelyn. He also mourns the loss of personal items, like his Alamo Bowl memorabilia and jerseys from his college days.
“Just a lot of stuff you can’t get back,” he reflected.
The chaos began last Tuesday when the fire spread. They got evacuation orders around 8 p.m., just as the power went out.
“It was scary,” he said. “But maybe the power going out saved lives. People didn’t think it would reach us.”
Once they evacuated, Calvin thought it would be a quick trip. He packed a bag, including his high school jersey, but soon realized it was more serious than just a night away.
“It felt like a movie,” he described. “People were panicking, grabbing their pets and belongings.”
After a few hours of sleep, he woke up to a nightmare. The streets were ablaze, and everything was dark except for the fire’s glow.
Calvin spent the days after reflecting on Evelyn. When his parents checked her home, they hoped she was safe. But the reality hit hard when they found her car and then her body.
He tries to remember the good times, like watching movies with her and her love for classical music. “It’s just overwhelming,” he said, feeling the weight of his loss.
