Horror Los Angeles wildfires see 30,000 flee for their lives as homes are destroyed
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Some 30,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as wildfires whipped up by extreme winds have swept through an affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood. Many homes have been destroyed across the Pacific Palisades area, a hillside community dotted with celebrity residences, including those of Ben Affleck and Rita Wilson. Shocking pictures show residents scramble for safety as the flames grew fierce throughout Tuesday afternoon, scenes which led to authorities issuing mandatory evacuation orders to more than 30,000 people.
Gavin Newsom, governor of California, said he "saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers" and he added he found "not a few — many structures already destroyed". He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. The National Weather service warned the windstorm - likely to continue for days - could be "life threatening" and the strongest to hit Southern California in more than a decade.
Mr Newsom, serving as governor of California since 2019, added: "By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods," as he explained more than 28,000 households were without power due to the strong winds. It is believed many celebrities are among those who have had to evacuate due to the wildfires. Pacific Palisades is a celebrity enclave, home to Chris Pratt, Reese Witherspoon and Miles Teller among other Hollywood A-listers. Even more celebrities call nearby Calabasas and Pasadena home, including the Kardashians.
But properties have already been reduced to rubble in the area from Malibu to Calabasas in California. Cars are destroyed and, otherwise, stranded - with some people abandoning their vehicles and fleeing the scenes of carnage on foot. Residents have been pictured toting suitcases as they dashed to find safety.
