THE SOUTHLAND FIRESTORM: A SPECIAL REPORT : EYEWITNESS : ANGELA BARRIOS: Housekeeper : ‘They Are Rich. They Have Worked for Their Money--Like Us’

The bus to Malibu never came Thursday morning, leaving Angela Barrios without a way to get to work for the second day in a row. The fire had closed Pacific Coast Highway, cutting off Barrios and the work force of housekeepers, nannies and handymen who tend to Malibu’s homes. Barrios, who cleans four houses in the area, had started to make her way home as the fires spread Tuesday night. On Thursday--after waiting for more than hour--Barrios, a 45-year-old native of Guatemala, crossed Ocean Boulevard in Santa Monica for the three-hour bus ride home to North Hollywood. *

Yesterday, we could not get in to work for nothing. Today, we returned with the hope that we would be able to go in. But it looks like it will be tomorrow. Maybe Monday.

The (owners of the house she cleans on Wednesday) called me Tuesday night because of the fire. I came home very late because of all the traffic. She asked me if I felt well. I said no. I was very scared. And then my eyes . . . I couldn’t stand them because of all the smoke. She told me that she was going to call again. But she didn’t call. I called but no one answers.

I have my obligations to pay. I don’t think they will pay us. I was hoping the bus could get in today and I could finish yesterday’s job.

I work for a producer. His house is on the ocean. The producer’s bedroom is up high and from there you can see the entire Pacific Ocean. It takes me 6 1/2 hours to clean.

Tomorrow I work on Malibu Road. But I think the woman is away with her family. I’m going to call again today.

I haven’t stopped watching the news because I’m interested in returning to work and (learning) what happened to my employers and how they are. I have compassion for them. They are rich. They have worked for their money--like us. We work for our money. That’s why we came to this country--to better ourselves honorably.

If it was a criminal who did this, let it be on their conscience. The person who performs evil, he will have to account to God for what he has done.