TOn Wednesday, the sun glowed red as it set over the Pacific Ocean, painting the carnage smoldering along the Southern California coast orange. It’s a day that won’t soon be forgotten in Los Angeles, which by evening was devastated by devastating wildfires on nearly every side.
Although it was too early to determine the full extent of the fire’s damage, it was clear that the impact would be severe in areas adjacent to the Palisades fire.
Residents’ cellphones in nearby areas rang alarms throughout the day as the wind-driven fire continued to spread and mandatory evacuation lines were extended. Exhausted residents, including some who had already experienced a desperate flight, scrambled to escape danger once again.
One man taking shelter at an upscale restaurant in Brentwood called the signal “the soundtrack of the week.” He had just learned that his home was lost in the Palisades Fire, which continues to rage in the valley above Santa Monica and Malibu.
Many others will likely receive the same news in the coming days.
Firefighters refueling their trucks and stocking up on snacks Wednesday afternoon took a brief respite from 24 hours of fighting in dangerous conditions, but the damage they suffered lasted for decades. He said it was unlike anything he had seen in his career.
Although they were not allowed to speak on the record, they shared anecdotes from the fierce front lines. One firefighter estimated that only one in five homes survived the charred canyon left by the spreading fire.
The world-famous Pacific Coast Highway, the picturesque coastal road between Santa Monica and Malibu, is in ruins. On Wednesday, blackened palm trees swayed in an unrelenting wind, while smoldering buildings above the sea and along the main road on the slopes facing the sea spewed flames and smoke into the evening sky.
This region has experienced devastating fires before, but not that long ago.
Hundreds of homes were lost in the Mountain Fire in the north in November, followed by dozens more in the Franklin Fire that scorched Malibu last month. For weeks afterward, the expected rain did not fall, leaving the parched landscape dry. The strong winds typical of this time of year only disrupted the fire situation, causing it to spread rapidly.
The Palisades Fire spread deep into the dense, arid foothills, encroaching on communities and homes dotted across a beautiful region overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
As black smoke billowed over the mountains and flames flickered on the ridges Wednesday morning, many residents of Topanga Valley, an artsy, rural enclave accustomed to weathering chaotic fires, had already been evacuated. The road winding through the valley was empty except for a few people who had chosen to stay and those who were leaving. A small group stopped at a lookout and watched the fire spread through the area they had just evacuated.
Among them were Matt and Joseph Brown, who have lived in the area for decades. For the past 24 hours, Joseph had been part of the frantic and chaotic evacuation of the Palisades when the fire first broke out. Matt and his family then helped rush to gather animals, including horses, dogs and mini donkeys, before the flames reached them. Matt said the chickens and rabbits in the coop had to be left behind.
Neighbors, who were staying under the protection of a private fire brigade, informed him shortly afterwards that the hut, its occupants, and the guest house had been destroyed by the fire.
Further down the road, Jane Connelly was still working to save her horse Louis, who had become scared during the chaos and refused to ride in the trailer. She decided to let him leave with a lead instead. “We had to get the dog, cat and kids out first,” she said, breathing heavily as she shuffled along the side of the slope. I’ve lived in this area for 15 years and this was a sad first time.
