“Fire and Water are good Servants, but they are very bad Masters.“

Jonathan Swift, 1738

The photo was taken in Altadena CA a few weeks after the Eaton and Pacific Pallisades fires caused so much damage. The exact location is the west side of Lake Ave. a few blocks south of Altadena Dr. The undamaged building artistically framed in the background is Montecedro an independent living community with continuous care. It might be our next stop.

Similar quotes have been attributed to George Washington and others. The earliest I could find was this one from Swift.