In the face of the encroaching flames, desperate residents were left with no choice but to abandon their still-running cars. Roads became clogged in both directions as evacuees streamed down toward the Pacific Coast Highway, while others pleaded for rides back to their homes to rescue their beloved pets. Among the homes ablaze were two nestled within exclusive gated communities.
Long-time Palisades resident Will Adams recounted his frantic experience. “I heard the fire was close by and immediately rushed to pick up my two kids from St. Matthews Parishs school,” he said. “Meanwhile, my wife was trying to evacuate when embers flew into her car.”
“She had to vacate her car and leave it running,” Adams continued. “She and many other residents walked down toward the ocean until it was safe.”
Adams, a witness to 56 years of the community’s history, was visibly shaken. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he lamented. “The sky turned brown and then black as homes started burning. I could hear loud popping and bangs, like small explosions. I’m pretty sure it was the transformers exploding.”
“It’s madness,” he added. “It’s everywhere, in all the nooks and crannies of the Palisades. One home’s safe, the other one’s up in flames.”
