This past December marked the one-year anniversary of the Franklin Fire, which wreaked havoc in and around the Malibu area. As communities have continued to heal and rebuild, stories of heroism have risen to the surface, highlighting residents who looked out for one another in the face of danger
Among those is The Agency Malibu’s Cody Garcia, who fled his home in Malibu Canyon on the night the Franklin Fire broke out and soon found himself helping battle brush fires through the night with little more than a pair of fire hoses and water drawn from nearby neighbors’ pools.
In a new docuseries titled “Showing Up: Into the Fire,” Zillow spotlights real estate agents and their dedication to their communities, featuring Cody’s story in the first episode, which aired January 7th on YouTube and Instagram. Having grown up in Malibu, Cody has always been passionate about the place he calls home, which initially propelled him into a successful career in real estate.
On the night of the fires, Cody chose to return to the area to help friends who were unable to reach their animals. While navigating Malibu Canyon, he came upon an elderly man who had fallen and needed help getting to safety—only later realizing the man was none other than Dick Van Dyke.
Reflecting on the experience, Cody speaks to the remarkable resilience of the Malibu community, recalling how neighbors banded together to support one another through profound loss and devastation. Watch the full episode below.
“I am so grateful to have Cody as a member of The Agency family,” says Mauricio Umansky, Founder and CEO of The Agency. “Cody is known for being so naturally helpful, friendly, and is just a wonderful human being. He is a true ‘people person’ in every sense of the word, and his approach to helping others is an inspiration to me.”
“Those who know me understand how deeply I love the people around me, and this community,” Cody says. “It has been a year since these fires, and this is a story I have mostly kept to myself. By chance, I shared it with one friend who saw my car covered in ash — and now that story made its way to Zillow. It was one of the scariest nights of my life, but I would put myself in that position again in a heartbeat to help. I am endlessly grateful for our community and for everyone who showed up when it mattered most.”
To see more episodes in Zillow’s “Showing Up” series, visit the “Collaborations” section of ZillowForAgents on YouTube.
