When devastating wildfires ripped through Los Angeles, leaving dozens of firefighters displaced and their communities in ruins, two Boston-bred brothers knew they had to act. Matthew and Martin Mullen, LA Fire Department veterans with deep roots in South Boston, rallied their hometown to support their fellow firefighters on the West Coast.
Just a month after the fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and claimed 29 lives, the Mullen twins organized a major fundraiser in Dorchester.
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"It's a reunion, homecoming, all that wrapped in one," LA Fire Inspector Matthew Mullen said. "You know, we're giving back to LA, but we're also from South Boston, so we're hoping we can bring hope and a smile to people that lost their homes."
With a goal of raising $100,000, the event proved that the bond between South Boston and its own, even across thousands of miles, remains unbreakable. The funds raised will provide vital assistance to the 26 firefighter families still displaced, helping them rebuild their lives.
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"They're decimated down to the ground. There is no more city in the Palisades, Altadena so we want to come together to help them repopulate back in," LA Fire Battalion Chief Martin Mullen said. "We want to help give back to them… If we can raise a few dollars to help out, we're all in."
The twins' journey from South Boston to California 31 years ago, decided by a simple coin flip, has come full circle. The fundraiser, featuring over 80 raffle prizes, aimed to provide crucial support to the firefighters and their families who faced unimaginable hardship. For the entire month of January, the LA Fire Department battled tirelessly, even as some of their own homes fell victim to the flames.
"They're fighting fire and then their homes are burning down in another area, and it's something you can't imagine," Martin Mullen said.
Chris Stine, president of the LA Firemen's Relief Association, painted a stark picture of the crisis.
"We had a couple firefighters working the night fires broke out and had to rush home to rescue their loved ones," Stine said. "These families are going to need help for a couple years. This is going to be an effort for quite some time to get them back in their homes."
The event served as a powerful reminder of the community’s unwavering support.
"Having two of our own living in LA bravely fighting alongside their coworkers," organizer Brian Yanovitch said, resonated deeply.
The Mullen twins' father, Martin Mullen Sr., expressed immense pride in his sons' efforts, adding that, "their mother would be extremely proud of them."
Friends and family, feeling helpless during the disaster, jumped at the chance to contribute.
"I was in contact with Martin and Matthew every day during it, and just listening to them talk while they were going through stuff, it was heartbreaking," said Eric Castagna, a close friend and organizer.
"To see the neighborhoods that were just wiped out, I mean it was really nail-biting," added Alease Higgins, the twins' sister.
Josh Kraft emphasized the significance of the firefighters' dedication: "When other people are running away, they're running in."
LA Fire Battalion Chief Brian Wall noted that the community's support has a profound impact.
"Now they can not think about how do they get back on their feet, how do they recover, they can actually come back to work," Wall said.
