Public Service Announcement—Palisades Fire

[clifffaith]

Currently watching bulldozers smash the heck out of cars to clear the road so firetrucks can access homes in Pacific Palisades during one of our Santa Ana fire and wind events. There was an earlier traffic jam as people tried to evacuate the only available route out and as smoke and fire got too close people panicked and abandoned their cars. LEAVE YOUR KEYS in such a situation. In all my years of watching fire on TV , I’ve never seen them slam cars out of the way.

 

[mountainboy]

Pacific Palisades fire burning out of control as thousands evacuate amid dangerous windstorm

A fast-moving fire in the Pacific Palisades grows to 200 acres Tuesday amid ‘life-threatening and destructive’ winds. Nearby residents have been ordered to evacuate.

www.latimes.com

 

[pedro47]

I can only pray everyone is safe. Land can be restored, homes can be replaced /rebuilt
The human body wants you cross over to the other side; you cannot come back as a human. IMHO

 

[dioxide45]

I suspect the same course of action would have been taken even if the keys were left in the vehicles. They probably didn't have time to move each one individually.

 

[clifffaith]

I suspect the same course of action would have been taken even if the keys were left in the vehicles. They probably didn't have time to move each one individually.

Could be. One of the reporters caught actor Steve Gutenberg (he didn’t recognize him at first, then did) in the street checking if any cars were drivable so he could move them. Presumably other good samaritans were also trying to help.

 

[moonstone]

Such a sad and desperate situation. We can watch/stream the main US TV channels down here in Belize and have had NBC News on for a couple of hours now. So far all of my California family, in Chula Vista and Visalia, are well out of the fire paths.

Thinking of everybody in the fire areas.

~Diane

 

[emeryjre]

Praying everyone gets out
If you have ever seen high wind driven fires, you will never forget it
They will not get this fire truly under control until the wind dies down
There is not enough water or fire suppression chemicals to stop it until the winds stop
All firefighters can do is try to save properties and people lives
They cannot stop the fire from spreading as long as the high winds are present

 

[GrayFal]

I follow a photographer on Instagram @heygraymalin and he drops his two kids at school at 8 am, at 10 am got the call they were evacuating the school, said it was truly scary during the pick up as fire was right above the school.
When they got home they realized how close the fire was and soon got the call to evacuate.
Went to a friends home for safety and just posted pictures of the fire from there, praying for safety of their home and everyone in the palisades.

It’s going to be a long night for the people involved.

 

[clifffaith]

Our whole area has wind today. We are 60 miles away from the Palisades and the wind is just howling here. And we hear sirens, usually a daily occurrence here at the old folks home (10 days ago the siren was for Cliff), but with “fire weather” and the fact that several months ago we could see fire in the distance in Lake Elsinore, sirens tonight make us nervous.

 

[klpca]

I have an acquaintance who live smack dab in the middle of the evacuation zone. I haven't heard from her - just waiting to hear. It is just awful. I can't imagine having to evacuate on foot.

 

[clifffaith]

I have an acquaintance who live smack dab in the middle of the evacuation zone. I haven't heard from her - just waiting to hear. It is just awful. I can't imagine having to evacuate on foot.

And they are actually calling this “the calm before the storm”. The worst winds start in a couple hours!

 

[Ken555]

I have many family and friends in this area, including in the Palisades Highlands. All but one has evacutated safely. The one who stayed is a hero… he and his son are putting out spot fires and undoubtedly saving homes, including their own, and one owned by close family. A fire crew stopped by to tackle some huge trees on fire and then left. Several homes in the immediate area have gone.

Schools my friends and I went to have burned. The community theatre is gone. The Palisades Village is on fire. Parts of the Getty Villa are burning. Many well known and established businesses are also gone - I just heard that The Reel Inn (https://reelinnmalibu.com) in Malibu is no more.

As for the cars left in the road without leaving their keys, I have zero sympathy for those car owners. They were likely scared, but those cars were left in the Highlands, which meant they had a long walk to Sunset Blvd. And the traffic on Palisades Dr was due to fire crews stopping and putting out spot fires. FYI, that area is inherently risky during a fire since there is only ONE ROAD in and out, other than a fire road. The fire road is also located very close to the start of the fire, so that area likely was not passable.

This fire started in what may be one of the absolute worst places to have a fire in this part of the region. And now its impacting Malibu, Brentwood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Topanga, and Calabasas.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Praying for everyone and keeping a close eye on it all (as we all are). My brother and SIL evacuated last night due to the Eaton fire. I think he left as soon the 'level 2' warning came. And grateful they have somewhere to go!

 

[AnnaS]

Everyone is in my prayers

 

[beejaybee]

DD and DSiL live in Culver City. Praying for safety for all affected by this fire.

 

[pedro47]

I wish it would snow or rain.

 

[gln60]

I wish it would snow or rain.

7 inch snowstorm we had this past weekend doesnt seem so bad now…praying for everyone affected by this disaster.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I have no words, just prayers for people.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

started in what may be one of the absolute worst places to have a fire in this part of the region. And now its impacting Malibu, Brentwood, Bel Air, Santa Monica

Ah. Thanks. Now I get it. I was confusing PP with Palos Verdes. had been wondering why Malibu was "next" if, in my mind, PV was first. realize I have prob been everywhere on that list except PP. (and the photos I saw looked like I remember PV looking too)

Other thing: the daytime high temps don't seem so high given these strong Santa Ana winds. I looked, expecting another 6 - 10 F above normal. When I lived on the Central Coast and we got SA winds, it could get into the 80s F. Is that not how it is in SoCal?

 

[clifffaith]

Ah. Thanks. Now I get it. I was confusing PP with Palos Verdes. had been wondering why Malibu was "next" if, in my mind, PV was first. realize I have prob been everywhere on that list except PP. (and the photos I saw looked like I remember PV looking too)

Other thing: the daytime high temps don't seem so high given these strong Santa Ana winds. I looked, expecting another 6 - 10 F above normal. When I lived on the Central Coast and we got SA winds, it could get into the 80s F. Is that not how it is in SoCal?

We get the high temps during fire weather in the fall. It has been a little warmer than usual for this time of year, mid 70s over the weekend, now more like 70ish, but it is the drought conditions providing fuel that is the issue. They have been predicting this wind event for close to a week.

 

[4TimeAway]

The winds seem like they are reducing and earlier I saw some white smoke on the Pallisades Fire, but there are other smoke plumes now.

Power is down and internet had to switch services.

Everyone heard about the winds, but I think these were much stronger than I imagined.

I hope everyone is safe and gets home soon.

 

[clifffaith]

The three major stations, and another three local, have now been continuously broadcasting for over 24 hours. The fire departments are stretched so thin they are doing reverse triage and letting buildings that are too heavily engulfed burn while they try to protect or extinguish other fires further down the streets. My sister pet sits for a musician/lawyer couple in the Palisades several times a year, most recently at Christmas. These are people used to being paid for their time, and when their vacation dropped from 7 days to two days, they gave her $500 cash on top of whatever her agency paid her. They evacuated early, but we don’t know if their home is still standing.

 

[Sandi Bo]

It's so heartbreaking to watch this. I hope you and Cliff are in a safe place, @clifffaith ? My brother, SIL, and cat evaculated from Pasadena to Redlands. In Redlands they have no power, again due to the winds, but thankfully no fire (and I'm so grateful they left when they did).

Thoughts and prayers for all of CA!

 

[clifffaith]

It's so heartbreaking to watch this. I hope you and Cliff are in a safe place, @clifffaith ? My brother, SIL, and cat evaculated from Pasadena to Redlands. In Redlands they have no power, again due to the winds, but thankfully no fire (and I'm so grateful they left when they did).

Thoughts and prayers for all of CA!

We are 60 miles away, very happy not to be able to see fire from the old folks home like we did at night last September, although the wind is still howling in our courtyard. I have been coughing and snorting all morning; we have no smoke smell like last fall, but it is either psychosomatic from watching so many hours of fire on TV, or maybe there are actually particulates in the air. Took an allergy tab and got out the eye drops. We are pretty used to seeing homes burns, what is strange is watching streets of businesses burn.

 

[SmithOp]

I am seeing pleas for assistance on our local FB groups, looking for pet carriers and trailers to help evacuate pets that have fled the burn area.

Youtube channels for the LA news stations have continuous coverage.