Corina Knoll
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So we knew that there was going to be really high winds in our area. It's something that we're a little bit used to down here, and it's not something that I think we get too worried about, but we were hearing from forecasters that it was going to be pretty extreme. So Tuesday morning, I was just trying to prep a story about the wind and working with
So we knew that there was going to be really high winds in our area. It's something that we're a little bit used to down here, and it's not something that I think we get too worried about, but we were hearing from forecasters that it was going to be pretty extreme. So Tuesday morning, I was just trying to prep a story about the wind and working with
reporters in the field who were kind of telling me that, oh, okay, people are at hardware stores prepping, buying candles, generators in case the power goes out. Then everything changed at about 10.30 a.m. That's when a fire broke out in this neighborhood called the Pacific Palisades. It just suddenly became a fire story.
reporters in the field who were kind of telling me that, oh, okay, people are at hardware stores prepping, buying candles, generators in case the power goes out. Then everything changed at about 10.30 a.m. That's when a fire broke out in this neighborhood called the Pacific Palisades. It just suddenly became a fire story.
So the Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood that's out on the west side. It's partially coastal. It's very hilly. It's in the Santa Monica Mountains, has about 24,000 residents. It's considered more affluent.
So the Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood that's out on the west side. It's partially coastal. It's very hilly. It's in the Santa Monica Mountains, has about 24,000 residents. It's considered more affluent.
And I think what sort of struck us is that, of course, we're used to wildfires here in Southern California, but it breaking out in the Pacific Palisades because it's such a heavily populated area, that's when we get really nervous about fires here.
And I think what sort of struck us is that, of course, we're used to wildfires here in Southern California, but it breaking out in the Pacific Palisades because it's such a heavily populated area, that's when we get really nervous about fires here.
Yeah. When we started hearing about the evacuation orders, I pulled up a map and looked at the neighborhood. And it's a hillside neighborhood. And you have all of these winding roads. And a lot of them are cul-de-sacs or dead ends. And I remember just thinking, you know, it's going to be really terrible for there to be a mass evacuation right now.
Yeah. When we started hearing about the evacuation orders, I pulled up a map and looked at the neighborhood. And it's a hillside neighborhood. And you have all of these winding roads. And a lot of them are cul-de-sacs or dead ends. And I remember just thinking, you know, it's going to be really terrible for there to be a mass evacuation right now.
People were getting in their cars but getting trapped on certain streets.
People were getting in their cars but getting trapped on certain streets.
And they were trying to make their way down to what's called Pacific Coast Highway or PCH.
And they were trying to make their way down to what's called Pacific Coast Highway or PCH.
So there was only a small section of it that people could get to, and that was really clogged. So people had just abandoned their cars. Yeah, what happened? Why did you have to get out and go?
So there was only a small section of it that people could get to, and that was really clogged. So people had just abandoned their cars. Yeah, what happened? Why did you have to get out and go?
There's even this moment when a local news anchor is interviewing somebody in the Pacific Palisades.
There's even this moment when a local news anchor is interviewing somebody in the Pacific Palisades.
And he's sort of pleading with viewers and residents, hey, leave your keys in your car if you do abandon it, because then he and others could help move the cars out of the way for the fire department. And then I think at one point a reporter asks him his name.
And he's sort of pleading with viewers and residents, hey, leave your keys in your car if you do abandon it, because then he and others could help move the cars out of the way for the fire department. And then I think at one point a reporter asks him his name.
I live in the area. I live right up the hill. He replies, Steve Guttenberg, which is a famous actor.
I live in the area. I live right up the hill. He replies, Steve Guttenberg, which is a famous actor.
It's this very L.A. moment where you have a Hollywood actor trying to help clear the roads.
It's this very L.A. moment where you have a Hollywood actor trying to help clear the roads.
People are trying to save their homes before they're completely engulfed. And then moments later, the flames have taken it over.
People are trying to save their homes before they're completely engulfed. And then moments later, the flames have taken it over.
Near the fire, the sky is a very deep orange. There are burned out carcasses of cars that have just been left behind.
Near the fire, the sky is a very deep orange. There are burned out carcasses of cars that have just been left behind.
It all feels like dramatic, cinematic scene pieces, but they're real. Wow.
It all feels like dramatic, cinematic scene pieces, but they're real. Wow.
And from everything we've heard, the Pacific Palisades has just been ravaged and iconic businesses, places that have been around for decades had just burned to the ground. And it's still spreading. All of these other wildfires keep cropping up. And some of them are very manageable and, you know, not a big deal. But there are two that also start to threaten areas around the city and in the city.
And from everything we've heard, the Pacific Palisades has just been ravaged and iconic businesses, places that have been around for decades had just burned to the ground. And it's still spreading. All of these other wildfires keep cropping up. And some of them are very manageable and, you know, not a big deal. But there are two that also start to threaten areas around the city and in the city.
One is in Eaton Canyon. It's called Eaton Fire, which I think it's already up to more than 10,000 acres. And then there's one called the Hearst Fire, which is in Sylmar, which is still in the city of Los Angeles, but it's in the San Fernando Valley, so it's more up north.
One is in Eaton Canyon. It's called Eaton Fire, which I think it's already up to more than 10,000 acres. And then there's one called the Hearst Fire, which is in Sylmar, which is still in the city of Los Angeles, but it's in the San Fernando Valley, so it's more up north.
It's surreal. You look at a map of the fires and you see them kind of dotting all around our city. It feels a bit like a ring of fire, which is kind of terrifying. And the fact that they are sort of encroaching more on the city of Los Angeles makes it feel like this is one of the most major events that people here have ever experienced before.
It's surreal. You look at a map of the fires and you see them kind of dotting all around our city. It feels a bit like a ring of fire, which is kind of terrifying. And the fact that they are sort of encroaching more on the city of Los Angeles makes it feel like this is one of the most major events that people here have ever experienced before.
The fires are far from being contained, and it's sort of a precarious situation right now. Firefighters are really just facing these terrible conditions, and they need more manpower. They have a lack of water supply, apparently, from hydrants.
The fires are far from being contained, and it's sort of a precarious situation right now. Firefighters are really just facing these terrible conditions, and they need more manpower. They have a lack of water supply, apparently, from hydrants.
The federal government is also sending helicopters, but because of the winds, those helicopters that are meant to sort of drop water on the flames from above, they've been grounded. They haven't been able to fly because it's unsafe. So these extreme conditions are just going to continue, and I think overall it just means... a huge devastating loss for the city of Los Angeles.
The federal government is also sending helicopters, but because of the winds, those helicopters that are meant to sort of drop water on the flames from above, they've been grounded. They haven't been able to fly because it's unsafe. So these extreme conditions are just going to continue, and I think overall it just means... a huge devastating loss for the city of Los Angeles.
Yeah, I think this is a kind of a weird wake-up call for us. You know, we do get wildfires in Southern California, even ones that are in our county. But I think ones that really encroach upon our city or even devastate portions of our city, that's something new that we're feeling today. And what's unique about Los Angeles is how sprawling it is.
Yeah, I think this is a kind of a weird wake-up call for us. You know, we do get wildfires in Southern California, even ones that are in our county. But I think ones that really encroach upon our city or even devastate portions of our city, that's something new that we're feeling today. And what's unique about Los Angeles is how sprawling it is.
It's a huge, huge spread out city and we have four million people. So I think in a city like L.A., which, you know, we're very disconnected from other neighborhoods. Usually we live a really localized life and it's really about just kind of your area. But this is something that I feel like the entire city is feeling something about.
It's a huge, huge spread out city and we have four million people. So I think in a city like L.A., which, you know, we're very disconnected from other neighborhoods. Usually we live a really localized life and it's really about just kind of your area. But this is something that I feel like the entire city is feeling something about.
I mean, this event is really historic for Los Angeles. It's something you can't ignore here, no matter where you live, no matter where your neighborhood is.
I mean, this event is really historic for Los Angeles. It's something you can't ignore here, no matter where you live, no matter where your neighborhood is.