By Chloe Jones
The Tribune
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A San Luis Obispo firefighter got a shoutout in a viral Instagram post after he left a note for the owner of home he was working to protect while battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
Before leaving the house, San Luis Obispo City Fire Department Capt. Alec Flatos apparently left the note sharing an apology and his best wishes that the homeowners would return to find both intact.
“Sorry for the Footprints! Had to close the upstairs bedroom. Hope you have this note and your house. Did all we could. San Luis Obispo Fire. Capt Flatos,” read the note, which was screenshotted and posted by platform9vintage on Instagram.
The owner of the Instagram account, Baz, said he saw it on his Instagram feed and took a screenshot of it.
“Then I reposted and it seems to have gained a lot of attention — rightfully so,” he wrote to The Tribune in a direct message.
Baz added in the caption, “Thank you Capt. Flatos of the San Luis Obispo Fire Dept . What a beautiful thought. What a beautiful gesture.”
San Luis Obispo Fire Department Chief Todd Tuggle confirmed Flatos was dispatched to the Palisades Fire.
“Glad to hear that folks are able to see the good work that our firefighters, and the many others in L.A., are doing each day,” Tuggle told The Tribune.
The Palisades Fire is one of two major blazes in Los Angeles County, burning at least 23,713 acres and was 19% contained as of Wednesday morning. The other, the Eaton Fire, has burned at least 14,117 acres and was 45% contained as of Wednesday morning.
At least 25 people have died in the fires that have destroyed more than 12,000 structures, including outbuildings and RVs, according to Cal Fire.
San Luis Obispo County was put under a red flag warning on Monday, meaning “critical fire weather conditions” could last til at least noon on Wednesday. The forecast called for east winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph and low humidity of 10-20% in the mountains of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as the eastern Santa Ynez Mountains, Lake Casitas and the Ojai Valley.
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