Residents of Los Angeles have been forced to flee for their lives as wildfires tear through the city’s suburbs, fuelled by fierce winds and dangerously dry conditions. Over 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with firefighters working around the clock to battle the blazes.
Flames Devour Pacific Palisades and Beyond
The coastal Pacific Palisades neighbourhood is among the hardest hit, with fires engulfing hillsides and leaving residents scrambling to escape by car or on foot. To the east, the Eaton fire near Pasadena has scorched over 2,200 acres, while smaller fires in Sylmar and Van Nuys are adding to the chaos.
“Not the kind of heatwave we wanted in January,” quipped one local resident as embers rained down, forcing hurried evacuations.
Winds of Chaos
Strong gusts—reaching speeds of up to 100mph—have made firefighting efforts even more difficult. Dubbed the notorious Santa Ana winds, these dry blasts have fanned the flames and grounded flights, including Air Force One. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, deploying over 1,400 firefighters to tackle what he called “unprecedented” fires.
A Climate-Driven Crisis
Low rainfall and dry vegetation have turned Los Angeles into a tinderbox. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions, calling the situation “about as bad as it gets.” Utility companies, facing backlash over power cuts, blamed the worsening crisis on climate change, saying weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable.
Harrowing Tales of Survival
Evacuees have shared terrifying accounts of their escapes. One woman described fleeing on foot with her cat as flames closed in: “It’s like a horror movie. I’m screaming, crying, and dodging burning palm leaves.”
At a senior living centre in Altadena, staff pushed elderly residents—some as old as 102—down the street in wheelchairs and hospital beds, dodging falling embers until help arrived.
Meanwhile, the Getty Villa art museum narrowly escaped disaster as flames scorched surrounding vegetation, though museum officials confirmed its galleries remain untouched.
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