Screams pierced the air as Los Angeles residents fled their vehicles, abandoning them in a desperate bid for safety from a raging wildfire that engulfed the area, resembling scenes from a disaster movie. Witnesses recounted terrifying moments Tuesday as strong winds transformed a manageable brush fire into an out-of-control inferno, rapidly spreading toward the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Approximately 30,000 people were ordered to evacuate as the wildfire, which erupted from 10 acres to several thousand acres in a very short timeframe, encircled their homes. Pacific Palisades, nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains and stretching down to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, became a chaotic scene with the Pacific Coast Highway — the main exit route — quickly jammed with vehicles.
Marsha Horowitz, a local resident, shared that firefighters urged people to get out of their cars as the fire approached, fueled by winds exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h). "The fire was right up against the cars," she recounted, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Another woman, who preferred to remain unnamed, experienced a close call while attempting to rescue her cat. Amid her frantic getaway, pieces of flaming palm tree fell around her, and she vividly described the panic, stating, “It’s like a horror movie. I’m screaming and crying going down the street.”
Many witnessed homes catching fire as they fled. Celebrities such as James Woods and Steve Guttenberg were among those who found themselves scrambling for safety. Guttenberg implored those who abandoned their vehicles to leave their keys behind, so fire trucks could navigate the blocked roads. "This is not a parking lot," he asserted, highlighting the need for clear access for emergency responders.
Bulldozers were later deployed to clear the abandoned cars, making way for firefighting efforts. Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Hanks were among others with properties threatened in Pacific Palisades.
Residents in neighboring areas, including Topanga Canyon and Venice Beach, reported seeing the flames and feeling the chaotic atmosphere. Melanie, a local resident, recounted her thwarted escape. "I would have been driving right into the fire," she expressed, having to make a hasty U-turn due to flames blocking her path.
Kelsey Trainor, another eyewitness, described a scene of chaos as people, including families with pets, rushed away from their cars, crying and screaming as ash filled the air. The road remained gridlocked for an hour, exacerbating the anxiety of those attempting to flee.
Ellen Delosh-Bacher was met with the same chaos as she hurried from downtown Los Angeles to ensure the safety of her elderly mother and dogs. Stuck in gridlock, she watched flames erupt near a Starbucks as police urged motorists to "Run for your lives!" Abandoning her car with the keys left in the ignition, she sprinted down to the beach, remarking, "This is like an apocalypse."
As the situation continues to unfold, the consequences of California's persistent wildfire threats are tragically evident.
