As wildfires burn through 40,000 acres, people return home for some belongings as they brace for new danger. When Aaron McNeil moved from Maryland to Los Angeles three years ago, his biggest worry was earthquakes. “I had heard of a fire here and there in this area, but it wasn’t anything to be really concerned about,” McNeil saidon Sunday.
But after being evacuated from his Brentwood home after a fire ripped through the Palisades, his fears changed. “So yeah, it’s definitely beat out the earthquake thing.”. After he was evacuated, McNeil, his wife and two kids fled to a Culver City hotel.
“Because it was just so close, down the street. We could definitely see the smoke. I don’t know if I ever saw the fire but I’m sure people who stayed longer than we did could.”. On Sunday afternoon, he returned to his home for more belongings. “We have no idea when they’re going to lift the evacuation. So just since we’re at least allowed in right now … we just grabbed a few more essential stuff,” he said.
As of Sunday afternoon, fires across Los Angeles had burned through 40,000 acres. The number of people killed from the Palisades and Eaton fires rose to 24, according to the county medical examiner, and 13 were reported as missing. The Palisades fire, according to Cal Fire, was 11% contained. Several exits on the 405 remained closed, and residents in parts of Santa Monica, Malibu and Topanga were still in evacuation zones. Parts of Calabasas, Tarzana and Encino remained under warning on Sunday.
