Sympathies and condolences are arising for residents in Los Angeles County in the wake of major wildfires due to weather and wind discrepancies. On Jan. 7, Santa Ana winds gusting at up to 99 mph and bone dry conditions fueled the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires.
The Palisades Fire, the largest of these Californian disasters, has burned over 23,000 acres of land, destroying nearly 6,900 structures including homes, schools, small businesses and places of worship. Over 88,000 residents of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica and neighboring communities evacuated during the incident. Bella Solaka, a student at Oaks Christian School of Westlake Village, recalled how residents rushed to flee her Brentwood neighborhood as the fire broke out.
“[People] were piling kids they didn’t even know into cars and… driving in the opposite direction of the fire, while others ditched their cars completely and were running on foot,” Bella said.
Some students who attended her sister’s elementary school had their parents’ phone numbers written on their arms in case they were separated in the chaos. Bella and her family evacuated to Newport Beach where they found refuge from the fires and poor air quality. The Solakas’ home didn’t burn down but needed a deep clean for “severe smoke damage.” They recently returned to their house after temporarily staying near Bella’s school.
On the other side of Los Angeles, the Eaton fire also caused severe devastation to surrounding communities such as Altadena. Thirty-year Altadena resident Kate Beyda lost her two-story Mediterranean home to the Eaton Fire. Beyda explained how she and her husband had about an hour to pack up their things and evacuate as a police car drove up and down the streets ordering residents to flee the area.
“I regret things I didn’t take. The thing that is the hardest is that my daughter has no relics of her childhood,” Beyda said. “As we left I said ‘thank you’ to the house, because I knew we’d never see it again.”
Beyda’s street that once had about 44 homes, only has 11 homes that remain, leaving many of her neighbors scattered across Southern California.
Communities in the affected areas of this natural disaster have come together to support each other and the firefighters as a way to contribute to battling the fires. Residents have encouraged others to donate to firefighters and severely affected families with needs such as air purifiers, water, food, and clothing. Residents have put together GoFundMe campaigns for families in need, and local businesses have set up clothing boutiques for those who lost basic attire due to the Eaton Canyon Fire.
During the January Sage Center Day, students in the Families Forward service learning group helped organize for the donation drive at Mariners Church, and financial donations have been encouraged by established organizations in the LA area, as an immediate way to assist residents and families that have had loss due to the tragic fires. To contribute direct relief to the California Fire Foundation, visit cafirefoundation.org.
