As wildfires devastate Los Angeles, residents are left in fear, waiting for the flames to reach their homes and wondering if they will be next.
Los Angeles: It’s 2am, and I’m sitting here with just a flashlight, feeling the smoke in the air. I’ve been without power for over 30 hours now. The winds have been wild, sparking some of the worst wildfires this city has ever seen. It’s tense, and the ash is falling like snow.
Every hour, I hear from friends who’ve lost their homes. It’s heartbreaking.
Take David, for instance. He spent two years building a stunning ocean-view home in Pacific Palisades after a tough divorce. Now? It’s gone.
Then there’s Shannon. She poured four years into her £16 million dream home, and just like that, it’s vanished. She barely escaped with her kids, leaving everything behind.
And Lisa, who found love and built a cozy life in Altadena, is now left with nothing. It’s just so sad.
So many homes have been lost. The skies are dark from the fires, and embers are flying everywhere, starting new fires. It feels like nowhere is safe.
Everyone knows someone who’s lost a home, and it’s a constant worry that they could be next.
Just hours ago, my daughter Natasha was fleeing from a wildfire in Runyon Canyon. I thought it was my turn when a new fire broke out close to my home.
I watched as helicopters dropped water on the flames. Friends were calling, giving me updates as I saw a house collapse on live TV. It was terrifying.
My wife and I scrambled to pack our car with what we could save: clothes, family photos, important documents, and our little dog, Roxy.
The night sky was glowing red, and neighbors were rushing to load their cars too. If the fire spread to our hillside, we’d lose everything in minutes. Luckily, the winds were calm for once, and firefighters managed to control the blaze. After a tense 90 minutes, we all started unloading our cars, trying to settle in for a sleepless night.
The city is in shock. It’s too early to tell if Mayor Karen Bass will face backlash for being away when this happened or if budget cuts to firefighting will stir up trouble later. For now, we just wait and watch. Strong winds are expected again soon, which could bring more fires.
Los Angeles will bounce back eventually, but the peace of mind for its residents? That feels lost for good.
