Announcer Packer Lends a Hand During Fire

Dennis Packer, public address announcer for the Angels, Mighty Ducks, Raiders and USC football and an investigator for the Los Angeles Police Department, came to the rescue of a number of homeowners when fire swept into an Altadena neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Packer helped residents move horses and other animals to safety and aided one elderly couple who were unaware the fire was within 100 yards of their home.

A friend, George Taylorson, woke Packer with a 6 a.m. phone call, asking for Packer’s help in moving his belongings and horses. Packer drove the 3 1/2 miles to Taylorson’s home in the Kinneloa area of Altadena.

He helped Taylorson load sentimental items into his van, then helped guide horses down a hill, away from the approaching flames.

Packer then returned to the neighborhood, knocking on doors and helping people get their belongings loaded into cars.

He returned to his friend’s home, grabbing family photos off a wall. “At one point, I ripped some plaster off the wall,” he said. “I knew if the fire turned and went the other way, I’d have some explaining to do.”

Packer and Taylorson returned one last time, watching the Taylorson home catch fire.

“Fortunately, everybody got everything out on the second trip,” Packer said. “Everybody pretty much had it in their minds to get out. I went up and down a couple of streets just to make sure the stragglers got out.

“I saw a little fire tornado. I said, ‘I’m leaving.’ It was a real firestorm. The smoke was so thick, so black. It had gone from total light to total dark (in roughly 30 minutes).”

Packer estimated his arrival at the Taylorson’s at 7:10 a.m. and that the neighborhood had been evacuated by 7:45.