A fire broke out in Los Angeles
In early January a writer and a circle of friends visited a Korean bathhouse in downtown Los Angeles. There they learned that a wildfire had erupted along the coastal area near Pacific Palisades, destroying several homes including those of well known residents, and that many people began fleeing on foot after abandoning vehicles. One friend left his car on the roadside as the flames closed in; eyewitness accounts later said bulldozers pushed abandoned cars off the road, and that friend’s vehicle ended up catching fire. Two other friends living in Pasadena were evacuated as flames advanced.
The writer hoped the fire would spare Burbank, where the home stood. Winds of exceptional strength threatened to drive the blaze faster than anticipated. They turned toward home, but police closed the highway after a tree collapsed onto the road. Along the route, broken branches and stalled cars littered the pavement. A map later showed the strongest gusts concentrated in the area.
News reports suggested that dry, sunny weather helped the fire spread, but many locals understood that high winds moved the flames swiftly through the landscape. Los Angeles is typically dry, with rainfall being rare, and meteorologists emphasized wind driven spread as a key factor in the rapid advance of multiple active fires. According to local authorities, gusty winds combined with dry vegetation propelled the fire quickly into more densely populated areas.
Evacuation
Two children aged seven and nine added urgency to the preparations. In the evening, the couple advised their partner to pack belongings in case evacuation became mandatory. Soon after, schools announced cancellations for January 8, and friends from Hollywood faced power outages and loss of internet connectivity, leaving them without electricity for a day.
At 9:00 a.m. on January 8, relatives living in the same complex reported that the situation was worsening. A photo from a balcony showed a glow from the flames with smoke enveloping the sun. Realizing the car was nearly empty, the writer went to a nearby gas station to refuel, preparing for departure if needed. The station was crowded, but the writer managed to top off the tank and spoke with fellow motorists. They learned that neighboring areas had already evacuated while their own area had not yet.
While waiting, conversations indicated Las Vegas as the likely escape route. The writer filmed a video for a blog; the sun appeared faint through the smoke, and fierce winds persisted. A large tree branch crashed onto the writer’s car as the vehicle left the station. Neighbors with suitcases moved through an underground parking area as many prepared to leave. The family returned home to tell their partner it was time to depart. They gathered documents and essentials, loading them into the car for a drive toward Las Vegas.
The highway offered two escape routes toward Pasadena, where the fires were concentrated, and toward San Fernando, where separate fires burned. They chose the second option. A long traffic jam stretched for about forty minutes, making those two kilometers feel perilous. A strong smoke odor filled the air, prompting the driver to turn off the air conditioner and roll up the windows. Later, reports confirmed that the Hollywood Hills were ablaze, and a new fire started elsewhere, far from the initial outbreaks. The decision to leave proved wise. The family arrived in Las Vegas, and the stay looked uncertain and costly.
In Burbank, no mandatory evacuations had been announced yet, but residents in nearby Glendale began leaving as a precaution. The family decided to depart early to avoid a worst case where roads would clog and hotels in neighboring towns would fill. The city faced a string of accidents; traffic lights were out due to a power outage, and urban traffic grew hazardous.
How do people react to fire?
Reactions varied. Some residents panicked, crying and rushing away, while many stayed calm and followed official guidance. Russian speaking neighbors chose to remain at home and planned to evacuate only if ordered. The writer and their spouse avoided panic, though packing moments caused tension.
Friends working downtown described a strong smoke odor and vehicles coated with ash. A colleague in West Hollywood sent a clip showing flames on a hill opposite Sunset Boulevard. Another contact in Pasadena shared videos of burning palm trees. Dozens of posts circulated online claiming the Hollywood sign was burning, but verification showed those claims were false.
Payments to victims and rescue services efforts
Some residents wondered whether insurance would cover losses from burned homes. The writer noted that in the United States homeowners insurance often includes fire coverage, though terms vary and some cases may qualify for state aid. Those without coverage could face greater hardship. Regarding rescue efforts, aircraft and helicopters were seen assisting crews, but officials acknowledged that multiple fires stretched resources. By the morning of January 9, several major outbreak sites were active across the region. Volunteers helped, including a Russian-speaking friend who works as a tennis coach and loaded pallets of water into a vehicle to distribute to residents in need.