A devastating wildfire fueled by strong winds has claimed the lives of at least 24 people, including a father and son, as it burned through more than 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area.

Anthony Mitchell and his son, Justin, tragically lost their lives while trying to evacuate but were overtaken by the fast-moving flames. Their loss has left their family in deep grief.

Anthony’s daughter, Hajime White, shared that her father had been waiting for an ambulance to help evacuate him and Justin from their home in Altadena, California, but it never arrived. According to authorities, Anthony was found next to Justin’s bed. Justin, who was in his early 20s and had cerebral palsy, was likely the reason Anthony stayed behind, as Hajime believes her father was trying to protect him.

“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” said Hajime, a doula from Warren, Arkansas. She described her 67-year-old father as a compassionate man. He was a retired salesman, an amputee, and relied on a wheelchair.

Hajime also recounted their final conversation on the day they were supposed to evacuate. “He told me, ‘Baby, I just want you to know a fire has broken out, and we’re going to need to evacuate.’ Then he said, ‘I have to go—the fire is in the yard,'” Hajime recalled.

Tragically, Anthony and Justin didn’t make it out. Anthony’s other son, Jordan, who is also in his 20s and lived with them, was in the hospital during the incident.

Justin, who used a computer to communicate due to his disability, was Hajime’s half-brother. Both he and Anthony will be greatly missed by their large extended family.

Anthony, a father of four, had 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Known as “FaFa,” short for “far away,” by Hajime’s Arkansas-based family, Anthony had a special bond with his grandchildren, often giving them unique nicknames. “Strawberry Shortcake, Marshmallow, Bug – the list just went on,” Hajime recalled fondly.