Grandfather Who Didn't Want to Leave His Home of 50 Years amid L.A. Fires Found Dead in His Bed, Daughter Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Justin Sullivan/Getty

An Altadena grandfather who was found dead in his bed is among those who have died in theongoing fires throughout the Los Angeles area, according to his daughter.As of Thursday, Jan. 9, there have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in the Los Angeles area, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examinersaid in a statementshared with PEOPLE.One of them has been identified as Rodney Nickerson who was discovered after the Eaton Fire spread through the Altadena neighborhood where he lived for more than 50 years,CBS affiliate KCALandSky Newsreported.According to his daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, Rodney “was asleep in his bed, where he still is right now,” she told Sky News.She added that her father “just didn’t want to evacuate,” revealing that he had been living in her childhood home. “He’s been in Altadena my whole life,” she said, while KCAL reported that Rodney lived in the house since it was first purchased for $5 in 1968.Kimiko added that he “didn’t think it was going to be this devastating” and thought the blaze would not reach his home.A firefighter battling the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025.David McNew/Getty ImagesAccording to KCAL, Rodney worked as a project engineer at Lockheed Martin for 45 years. His wife was also an employee of the defense and aerospace contractor.His family has deep roots in the L.A. area, with Kimiko telling the outlet that her great-grandfather, William Nickerson, founded the Watts public housing development Nickerson Gardens.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kimiko remembered her father as an “ambitious,” “healthy” and “smart” person, who “read the LA Times from cover to cover and walked around the Rose Bowl every day,” she told Sky News.She added, “But he went to sleep and died in his bed.“Rodney is one of several individuals identified as victims of the L.A. fires.67-year-old retiree Anthony Mitchell, an amputee who used a wheelchair, and his son, Justin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,died after being unable to evacuate their Altadena homein time.Another victim includesVictor Shaw, 66, whose body was found still clutching a garden hose outside of his family’s home near the Eaton Fire.Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

An Altadena grandfather who was found dead in his bed is among those who have died in theongoing fires throughout the Los Angeles area, according to his daughter.

As of Thursday, Jan. 9, there have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in the Los Angeles area, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examinersaid in a statementshared with PEOPLE.

One of them has been identified as Rodney Nickerson who was discovered after the Eaton Fire spread through the Altadena neighborhood where he lived for more than 50 years,CBS affiliate KCALandSky Newsreported.

According to his daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, Rodney “was asleep in his bed, where he still is right now,” she told Sky News.

She added that her father “just didn’t want to evacuate,” revealing that he had been living in her childhood home. “He’s been in Altadena my whole life,” she said, while KCAL reported that Rodney lived in the house since it was first purchased for $5 in 1968.

Kimiko added that he “didn’t think it was going to be this devastating” and thought the blaze would not reach his home.

A firefighter battling the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025.David McNew/Getty Images

David McNew/Getty Images

According to KCAL, Rodney worked as a project engineer at Lockheed Martin for 45 years. His wife was also an employee of the defense and aerospace contractor.

His family has deep roots in the L.A. area, with Kimiko telling the outlet that her great-grandfather, William Nickerson, founded the Watts public housing development Nickerson Gardens.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kimiko remembered her father as an “ambitious,” “healthy” and “smart” person, who “read the LA Times from cover to cover and walked around the Rose Bowl every day,” she told Sky News.

She added, “But he went to sleep and died in his bed.”

Rodney is one of several individuals identified as victims of the L.A. fires.

67-year-old retiree Anthony Mitchell, an amputee who used a wheelchair, and his son, Justin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,died after being unable to evacuate their Altadena homein time.

Another victim includesVictor Shaw, 66, whose body was found still clutching a garden hose outside of his family’s home near the Eaton Fire.

Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

source: people.com