During his flight with United Airlines, a passenger witnessed the massive wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area, likening the scene to “Mordor from ‘Lord of the Rings’.”
The passenger, Mark Viniello, shared with Fox News Digital that while en route from Denver to Burbank on Tuesday evening, passengers were informed that the flight would be diverted to Los Angeles International Airport due to severe winds.
“Around 20 minutes before our landing, I glanced out of my window and saw a scene resembling Mordor from ‘Lord of the Rings,’” Viniello recounted, drawing a comparison to the fictional fiery and volcanic landscape associated with the story’s villain, the malevolent lord Sauron.
“Other passengers looked out their windows and there were gasps and a general sense of incredulity,” he said.
Officials said at least two people have been killed and “several” firefighters and civilians have been injured as the blazes engulf southern California. More than 1,000 structures have burned.
Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
About 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures are under threat from the wildfires.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the state’s National Guard on Wednesday. Newsom was quickly criticized by President-elect Trump for resisting a plan to send more water to the state’s agricultural Central Valley because of concerns it would imperil endangered species.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
