Over 30,000 residents evacuate amidst swift-moving wildfire threatening celebrity enclave.
Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as LA Residents Flee on Foot
Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as LA Residents Flee on Foot
Residents abandon vehicles as flames rage toward Pacific Palisades, prompting a chaotic escape.
Witnesses reported frantic scenes as Los Angeles residents left their cars behind to escape a fast-advancing wildfire that threatened the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. The blaze, which spread rapidly due to powerful winds, led authorities to issue evacuation orders for 30,000 residents as it engulfed large areas—growing from 10 acres to thousands within hours.
The Pacific Coast Highway, typically a busy route in or out of the area, became heavily congested, causing many to flee on foot near Sunset Boulevard as the flames drew closer. Eyewitness accounts likened the chaos to a disaster film, as residents fled with only their essentials. One evacuee, Marsha Horowitz, recounted firefighters urging people to leave their vehicles due to the imminent danger of the fire. "The fire was right up against the cars," she noted.
Others like a woman from Hollywood reported dashing home to rescue pets only to be met by falling burning debris. "It's terrifying. It's like a horror movie," she described, recounting her struggle against falling flaming palm leaves. A number of celebrities also found themselves in the path of the fire; actor Steve Guttenberg implored those leaving their vehicles to keep their keys inside, ensuring fire trucks could pass through safely.
As bulldozers cleared abandoned cars off roadways, A-listers including Jennifer Aniston and Tom Hanks also faced the threat of the looming danger. Additional reports emerged from surrounding areas like Topanga Canyon, where residents experienced similar peril, unable to escape due to the rapidly encroaching flames.
Venice Beach, just six miles away, was not immune as locals reported seeing ominous smoke and falling ash. Descriptions of chaos rang through the streets, with one resident recounting how people fled their cars with pets and children in a state of panic as flames leapt across roads. "It's like an apocalypse," exclaimed Ellen Delosh-Bacher, who left her keys in her car and sprinted half a mile to safety with her elderly mother and dogs.
The situation remains fluid as firefighting efforts continue, and residents in the Los Angeles area stay alert to ongoing developments in this dire situation.
The Pacific Coast Highway, typically a busy route in or out of the area, became heavily congested, causing many to flee on foot near Sunset Boulevard as the flames drew closer. Eyewitness accounts likened the chaos to a disaster film, as residents fled with only their essentials. One evacuee, Marsha Horowitz, recounted firefighters urging people to leave their vehicles due to the imminent danger of the fire. "The fire was right up against the cars," she noted.
Others like a woman from Hollywood reported dashing home to rescue pets only to be met by falling burning debris. "It's terrifying. It's like a horror movie," she described, recounting her struggle against falling flaming palm leaves. A number of celebrities also found themselves in the path of the fire; actor Steve Guttenberg implored those leaving their vehicles to keep their keys inside, ensuring fire trucks could pass through safely.
As bulldozers cleared abandoned cars off roadways, A-listers including Jennifer Aniston and Tom Hanks also faced the threat of the looming danger. Additional reports emerged from surrounding areas like Topanga Canyon, where residents experienced similar peril, unable to escape due to the rapidly encroaching flames.
Venice Beach, just six miles away, was not immune as locals reported seeing ominous smoke and falling ash. Descriptions of chaos rang through the streets, with one resident recounting how people fled their cars with pets and children in a state of panic as flames leapt across roads. "It's like an apocalypse," exclaimed Ellen Delosh-Bacher, who left her keys in her car and sprinted half a mile to safety with her elderly mother and dogs.
The situation remains fluid as firefighting efforts continue, and residents in the Los Angeles area stay alert to ongoing developments in this dire situation.
