A Scots graduate fled LA wildfires, losing all his belongings as flames devastated his neighborhood
Los Angeles: A Scots grad had to make a quick escape from his home in LA due to some serious wildfires. Gavin Donohue, who just finished his degree in astrophysics at Edinburgh University, found himself in a real pickle when the flames started tearing through his neighborhood.
It all kicked off on January 10, around 10:30 AM. At first, Gavin thought it was just another typical brush fire, but it quickly turned into a raging wildfire. He saw smoke billowing and realized things were getting out of hand when he spotted a house going up in flames.
When the evacuation alert came through, Gavin and his family jumped into action. They packed up their car and headed to a hotel in Manhattan Beach. He described the scene as chaotic, with fire trucks racing around and planes flying low overhead. It was a wild ride, and they barely had time to think.
The weather was a nightmare too, with dry conditions and crazy winds making the fire spread like crazy. Over 1,000 firefighters were on the scene, but the flames were just too much. Sadly, more than 5,300 homes were lost, and thousands of people had to evacuate.
He felt a mix of relief and sadness. While they still had their house, it was hard to see so many friends and neighbors lose everything. The images from his neighborhood were shocking, with homes reduced to ashes and cars melted in the street.
Now, Gavin and his family are left wondering what to do next. They’re considering whether to stay in LA or find a new place to live. Even though their house is still standing, it might be months before they can return. It’s a tough situation, and they’re all feeling pretty shaken up.
