A HILLSIDE home that miraculously survived the destructive Los Angeles flames has split in half from a mudslide triggered by the water runoff from the firefights.
Horrifying images showed the crumbling Pacific Palisades home in two pieces – just one of the 12,300 structures destroyed in the worst wildfire in the city’s history.
The home narrowly survived the Palisades Fire, the largest of the raging blazes in southern California that have killed at least 27 people and left at least 36 more missing.
Aerial footage of the wreckage revealed the house behind the structure burnt down, which caused runoff to spill down the hill where the houses were built.
Firefighters used water in the firefight to keep the Palisades home from burning – but the sliding mud and debris caused the house to break in half due to the pressure.
Bryan Kirkwood, a security guard for some homes in the area that survived the fires, spoke to The CW affiliate KTLA about the destruction.
“This is not good,” Kirkwood told the outlet.
“This is devastating. I didn’t realize it was this bad.”
He said he was shocked to find the home split in two.
“I didn’t see the news, got out here and looked and it didn’t hit me until now. Wow. This is a big deal.”
As of Thursday evening, 22% of the Palisades fire was contained.
Combined, the wildfires have burned through 60 square miles as firefighters fought to get control of the flames.
The cause of the blazes remains unknown.
Over 170,000 were forced to evacuate their homes as the fires ravaged Los Angeles County.
As Los Angeles residents left their houses, some homeowners hired private guards like Kirkwood to protect their property from looters taking advantage of the natural disaster.
On Wednesday, new Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman issued a warning to looters and burglars.
‘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.
“There are people out there who have decided that they are going to take advantage of this tragedy and that they’re going to exploit this crisis for their own personal benefit,” the DA said.
“We have sent this warning, and I’ll say it again: The question is not if, but when you are arrested.
“You will then be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.”
Hochman’s warning comes as a looter allegedly dressed as a fireman was caught breaking into mansions devastated by the flames.
Crime runs rampant on the grief-stricken LA streets as an alleged arsonist admitted he started a fire because he “liked the smell of burning leaves.”
Firefighters are continuing to work around-the-clock to get the blazes under control.
While the strongest Santa Ana winds have weakened, the National Weather Service warned that more dangerous conditions are expected next week.
Resources for the Los Angeles wildfires
As wildfires continue to grow in and around Los Angeles cities, residents can reach out for help with resources and aid offered by organizations throughout the area.
To keep track of the live fire movements, residents can download the Watch Duty app or use its website.
You can register for emergency notifications through Alert LA County.
A comprehensive list of resources is available here.
Available shelters for evacuating residents include:
- Calvary Community Church
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center
- Pan Pacific Recreational Center
- Westwood Recreation Center
- Pasadena Civic Auditorium
- Pomona Fairplex
- Stoner Recreation Center
Available animal shelters include:
- Agoura Animal Care Center
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center
- Carson Animal Care Center
- Downey Animal Care Center
- Lancaster Animal Care Center
- Palmdale Animal Care Center
- Pomona Fairplex
- Industry Hills Expo
- Antelope Valley Fair
Free meals are being distributed to evacuees at restaurants and kitchens including:
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