A BRIT man has revealed how he saw the first spark of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires from his bedroom window before the blaze wrought havoc.
David Morrow was interviewed by a news source about a potential wildfire in LA when he suddenly spotted a vivid orange flame emerging from the Pacific Palisades, a mere five miles away from his residence.
It was on the morning of January 6 that Mr. Morrow had been discussing the ideal weather conditions that could potentially ignite a dangerous wildfire capable of devastating the state.
A resident of Belfast known as ‘The Irishman,’ David was situated in his Marina Del Rey apartment, offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Santa Monica and Hollywood Hills on the other.
At around 11.15am – just 45 minutes after the first wildfire was reported – he saw flames rising from the Pacific Palisades hills.
Mr Morrow, who was chatting with News Letter on WhatsApp at the time, said: “This fire could pose a significant threat. It is very close to many homes and built-up areas.”
And within just one hour, there was so much smoke from the flames that he could no longer see the hills from his apartment, he said.
He added: “With winds at 80mph, embers can travel far and wide and start fires all over the place.”
The Brit told the media outlet he was “packing a go bag in case it gets bad tonight”.
A bushfire is said to have started the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades, which had grown to more than 15,000 acres by the next morning.
It is said to be the most destructive wildfire in LA’s history and has burned massive swathes of land along the coast.
Parts of Sunset Boulevard have been torched in that blaze, leaving one of the world’s most iconic streets in rubble and buildings gutted.
Palisades – the largest fire of all seven currently burning – has destroyed more than 5,000 homes and structures in its path.
Kenneth Fire, another raging inferno, has sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
It is being investigated as arson – with one suspect arrested.
Meanwhile, the out-of-control Eaton Fire has now wrecked up to 5,000 houses as the blaze spread to almost 14,000 acres on Thursday.
Other fires in the region include the SunSet Fire, which is ravaging Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said areas of the city “look like a bomb was dropped in them” – branding the fires a “crisis”.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Out-of-control flames have been tearing through neighborhoods for days as fierce winds threaten to fuel the towering infernos.
At least 10,000 homes have been destroyed so far while 10 people have been killed.
More than 180,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes – with a further 200,000 warned they may need to quickly evacuate.
Meanwhile, satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The snaps show before, during, and after the uncontrolled blazes have burned through LA homes and celebrity enclaves and caused thousands to flee.
Neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, with celebrities including John Goodman and Leighton Meester watching their pads burn down.
At least three million homes and businesses across Los Angeles County are without power, according to Southern California Edison, an electrical service company.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
‘War zone’ LA feels ‘broken’ as fires still ravage the city – but we will rebuild
The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Editor for Exclusives Katy Forrester is an LA resident and she witnessed first-hand the horror as flames engulfed the city. She said the city feels like a “war zone
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.
