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Expedition survival in the Palisades
Gennifer Gardiner Avatar
Gennifer Gardiner
27.02.25

The Palisades Fire Destroyed My Town. My Beloved SUV Somehow Survived

My life’s been a ride, and right there at the heart of it has been my trusty red 2001 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer edition.

Ford vehicles have always been my thing. I started with a white Bronco when I was 16, then a Mustang convertible — that's the one I drove my first child, Kyra, home from the hospital in. But the Expedition? That's a whole other story.

I bought her in 2000, and a year later, she became my escape vehicle from a bad marriage. I packed up my two kids, loaded up the dogs, and we drove away.

That red SUV became my independence, my rock. I towed my horses. I shuttled my kids around and was grateful for the built-in VHS player (vintage) to keep them occupied. It was my mobile office, hauling me to countless film sets. People knew me as “Gennifer in the red Expedition.”

My red Expedition and me.
“People knew me as 'Gennifer in the red Expedition.'”
Gennifer Gardiner, Ford Expedition owner

Over 20 years, she’s had her quirks — leaks, a bit of rust, the occasional mechanical grumble. But she never let me down.

She went from family hauler to the dog car, carrying five furry friends over the years. My current two pups adore her; morning rides and walks around Palisades Village are the morning ritual.

She became the “dog car.” Over the years, many of my dogs went for morning rides and walks around Palisades Village.
She became the “dog car.” Over the years, many of my dogs went for morning rides and walks around Palisades Village.
She became the “dog car.” Over the years, many of my dogs went for morning rides and walks around Palisades Village.

Then came Jan. 7, 2025, the day of the Palisades Fire.

It was trash day, which always made parking a nightmare on our street. The Expedition was parked further down than usual.

The evacuation was chaotic, absolute pandemonium. We grabbed the dogs, threw them in the car with a few belongings, and just went; it was pure survival mode.

Later, as I looked back, it hit me. I'd left my beloved Expedition behind. I kept telling myself, she's there, she’s there, but doubt gnawed at me. The next day, my husband went back. He found her nearly untouched — the taillights were warped, and the keys were melted since they were inside the house, but overall, the fire completely missed the vehicle. She sat there for three weeks, a survivor amidst the ash.

My red Expedition was a staple on our street. I was sure if I looked on maps services that you’d see it. Sure enough it was there.

She's more than just an SUV; she's a symbol of my strength, my toughness, and refusal to be broken. Her survival mirrors my own journey — perseverance, grit, and that unyielding spirit. She's hope, a new beginning, a reminder that even when everything seems lost, some things endure.

“Getting her back will feel like a homecoming.”
Gennifer Gardiner, Ford Expedition owner
After over a month without her, we were finally reunited.

Getting her back will feel like a homecoming — a celebration of survival, a new chapter in our shared story. My trusty Ford and I have been through a lot together, and I can’t wait to hit the road again with her.

Gennifer Gardiner is a Ford customer and reality TV producer in Los Angeles.