Man Remembers Last Call with Dad Who Died in Bed amid L.A. Fires: ‘Son, the Wind Is Getting Really Bad’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Eric (left) and Rodney Nickerson.Photo:Erik Nickerson

Erik Nickerson

The son of an 82-year-old grandfather and widowerfound dead in his bedat his Altadena, Calif., home amid thewildfires in the Los Angeles areais recalling the last time he spoke with him — and some of his final words.Houston resident Eric Nickerson, 54, tells PEOPLE that he had called his father, Rodney Nickerson, on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, before the fires began and they had chatted like “normal” until his dad mentioned something concerning about the weather.“Before we got off the phone, he said, ‘Son, the wind is getting really bad out here. It’s getting real bad, real bad.’ I said, ‘Alright, dad, be careful, be safe. I’ll talk to you later,’ ” Eric recalled.He said that his father “thought it was just a normal storm.” However, this time was different.Later on Jan. 7, the first of a series of raging fires began burning around L.A. By that night, a blaze had consumed parts of Altadena, too.“The next morning was Wednesday, I didn’t talk to my dad. I called a couple neighbors that I know that I grew up around. Couldn’t get [any] cell phone signal — went straight to voicemail,” Eric said. “And I keep calling and calling and calling, and it goes [to] a voicemail. And I called a couple people that weren’t in the area. They said, ‘I haven’t heard from him.’ ”Eric eventually got into contact with someone to go check on Rodneys' neighborhood, but the news was not good.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.“He said … All these homes burned up,’ ” Eric said.“I couldn’t believe it. This is 24 hours after I just talked to my dad,” he said.Rodney was one ofat least 28 people believed to have diedin the still-burning fires, according to state officials. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.Rodney’s roots ran deep in L.A., according to his family: He lived in his Altadena home for more than 50 years after purchasing the home for “$35,000 in the early ’70s,” Eric tells PEOPLE.Back then, Eric notes, buying a home in the hills was a sign that you “made it” after a lot of hard work and that it was time to settle down and “have a good life.”“And that’s what we had,” said Eric. “We had a beautiful pool with a view of the Rose Bowl, San Gabriel Valley. And you can see the planes descending. If you look really far, you can see the planes descending on a clear day to LAX.“Eric described his father as someone who “loved church” and Sunday school and was a provider for their family. He said that Rodney created the “perfect household” for him and his sister as they grew up.“I’ll continue on the way my dad raised me — to be respectful to others and raise my kids and my family and those that are close to me that love the Lord,” Eric said, “to continue to look after them and make sure that they’re okay, and let’s try and all make it to the finish line.“Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

The son of an 82-year-old grandfather and widowerfound dead in his bedat his Altadena, Calif., home amid thewildfires in the Los Angeles areais recalling the last time he spoke with him — and some of his final words.

Houston resident Eric Nickerson, 54, tells PEOPLE that he had called his father, Rodney Nickerson, on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, before the fires began and they had chatted like “normal” until his dad mentioned something concerning about the weather.

“Before we got off the phone, he said, ‘Son, the wind is getting really bad out here. It’s getting real bad, real bad.’ I said, ‘Alright, dad, be careful, be safe. I’ll talk to you later,’ ” Eric recalled.

He said that his father “thought it was just a normal storm.” However, this time was different.

Later on Jan. 7, the first of a series of raging fires began burning around L.A. By that night, a blaze had consumed parts of Altadena, too.

“The next morning was Wednesday, I didn’t talk to my dad. I called a couple neighbors that I know that I grew up around. Couldn’t get [any] cell phone signal — went straight to voicemail,” Eric said. “And I keep calling and calling and calling, and it goes [to] a voicemail. And I called a couple people that weren’t in the area. They said, ‘I haven’t heard from him.’ ”

Eric eventually got into contact with someone to go check on Rodneys' neighborhood, but the news was not good.

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.

“He said … All these homes burned up,’ ” Eric said.

“I couldn’t believe it. This is 24 hours after I just talked to my dad,” he said.

Rodney was one ofat least 28 people believed to have diedin the still-burning fires, according to state officials. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.

Rodney’s roots ran deep in L.A., according to his family: He lived in his Altadena home for more than 50 years after purchasing the home for “$35,000 in the early ’70s,” Eric tells PEOPLE.

Back then, Eric notes, buying a home in the hills was a sign that you “made it” after a lot of hard work and that it was time to settle down and “have a good life.”

“And that’s what we had,” said Eric. “We had a beautiful pool with a view of the Rose Bowl, San Gabriel Valley. And you can see the planes descending. If you look really far, you can see the planes descending on a clear day to LAX.”

Eric described his father as someone who “loved church” and Sunday school and was a provider for their family. He said that Rodney created the “perfect household” for him and his sister as they grew up.

“I’ll continue on the way my dad raised me — to be respectful to others and raise my kids and my family and those that are close to me that love the Lord,” Eric said, “to continue to look after them and make sure that they’re okay, and let’s try and all make it to the finish line.”

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

source: people.com