Los Angeles Wildfire Forces 30,000 Evacuations; Residents Shocked

Photo : AFP

Two wildfires near Los Angeles have caused serious damage, destroying homes and forcing thousands of people to leave. One fire started in Altadena, northeast of the city, and the other burned through Pacific Palisades near the ocean. Both fires spread quickly, creating panic and chaos.

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In Altadena, the fire began around 6:30 p.m. near a park. The flames moved so fast that workers at an elderly care home had to rush to get residents to safety. Many elderly people were wheeled out in their pajamas and waited in a parking lot for ambulances to take them to safe places.

In Pacific Palisades, a fire that started earlier in the day burned out of control by night. Winds blowing as fast as 97 kilometers per hour made the fire spread rapidly. Many homes were burned, and 30,000 people were told to evacuate.

Firefighters struggled to stop the flames because the strong winds made it impossible to use helicopters or planes. Many people leaving the area got stuck in traffic jams. Some abandoned their cars and ran away on foot, carrying whatever they could. Emergency workers had to use bulldozers to clear abandoned cars from the roads so that fire trucks could get through.

The governor of California visited Pacific Palisades to see the damage. He said many homes had already been destroyed, and the situation could get worse. The fire began during strong Santa Ana winds, which weather experts say are the most powerful in 10 years. These winds are expected to get stronger in the coming days, with gusts as high as 160 kilometers per hour.

The governor declared a state of emergency and warned people to stay alert, saying the danger is not over yet. By Tuesday evening, 28,300 homes were without power because of the winds. Power companies also shut off electricity for 15,000 homes to prevent equipment from starting new fires. If the winds continue, even more people could lose power.

A longtime resident of Pacific Palisades said he had never seen anything like this in 56 years. He described the fire spreading everywhere, with one house safe and the next one burning. He also heard loud bangs, which he believed were electrical transformers exploding. The sky turned from brown to black as the fire grew.

Officials said 13,000 buildings are still in danger. Dry weather and strong winds make the situation very unsafe. People as far as 10 kilometers away in Venice Beach reported seeing flames and smoke. Firefighters are also dealing with other fires in Southern California, and with the dangerous weather expected to continue, the challenges are far from over.