Los Angeles newcomers Nicki Montenegro and Amy Hayes share how the January 2025 wildfires transformed their connection to the city.
Sustainability Engineer Nicki Montenegro and Sustainability Consultant Amy Hayes are both new to Los Angeles, working together on the Sustainability Advisory team in AECOM’s downtown LA office. Just when this vibrant city was starting to feel like home, the January 2025 wildfires set their community ablaze.
“I had moved to LA six months prior, and all of a sudden, the city was on fire,” Nicki says. “It was surreal to watch the places I’ve come to love go up in flames.”
Although Nicki was safely evacuated, she couldn’t sit back and do nothing — this was a call to join her neighbors in recovering from this disaster. Nicki asked her AECOM co-workers to donate funds that she would use to purchase food and other supplies for people who lost everything. Her colleagues came through, raising $600 for the effort. Combined with contributions from her friends and family, Nicki donated over $2,000 worth of supplies split between two community centers, the Dream Center in Echo Park and It’s Bigger Than Us in South LA.
“Thanks to the generosity of my teammates and the greater community, the centers were flooded with donations,” Nicki says. “After witnessing such overwhelming support for those impacted by the fires, I have a newfound appreciation for Los Angeles.”
While Amy’s LA neighborhood was not under threat, friends of her family were displaced in the Eaton and Palisades fires. “My brother and I helped by finding places where they could live and offering emotional support.” Amy says.
Amy is also involved with AECOM’s Great Place to Work (GP2W) group, which spends service days volunteering with local causes. After the wildfires, she spent a day volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. These experiences reminded her of growing up in Indiana’s Hoosier Alley where tornadoes would regularly strike.
“You never know when a natural disaster will completely upend your community,” Amy says. “You come to appreciate what you have and are especially grateful to lend a helping hand.”