Categories: US News

Bulldozers remove cars as fleeing residence abandoned vehicles

California’s wealthiest residents are under siege as a devastating wildfire tears through Pacific Palisades, a posh Los Angeles enclave known for its celebrity homes and luxury lifestyles.

Chaos reigns as gridlocked traffic leaves residents abandoning their high-end cars, prompting authorities to bulldoze abandoned Teslas, Mercedes, and BMWs to clear pathways for emergency responders.

Bike riders make their way along the coast as large dark plume of smoke passes over the beach from a wildfire from Pacific Palisades, from Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Mandatory evacuation orders now cover nearly 20,000 residents, with officials issuing a dire warning: “Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW.”

Fire Spreads at Alarming Speed

The fast-moving fire, which has grown to over 1,200 acres, is consuming land at a staggering rate of three football fields per minute. Fanned by winds reaching 55 mph, the flames are torching multi-million-dollar homes, choking the area with thick smoke, and shutting down vital routes.

Firefighters protect structures from the advancing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Meteorologist Judson Jones described the situation as “near worst case scenario,” while Governor Gavin Newsom urged residents to heed evacuation orders without delay.

Celebrity Enclave Under Threat

Pacific Palisades, home to stars like Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and Miles Teller, has become a flashpoint for the disaster. Former residents include Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, adding to the area’s reputation as a celebrity haven.

People flee from the advancing Palisades Fire, by car and on foot, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Schools and Power Disrupted

Local schools, including Palisades Charter Elementary, have been relocated, and over 27,000 residents statewide are without power as Southern California Edison shut down lines to prevent further fire risks.

Abandoned Cars and Emergency Bulldozers

In scenes of utter desperation, residents have abandoned vehicles on clogged streets, leaving emergency crews no choice but to use bulldozers to clear access for firetrucks. Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg pleaded with neighbors to leave keys in abandoned cars to assist responders.

Firefighters Battle Relentless Blaze

More than 200 acres burned in just hours, with firefighters working tirelessly to save structures and contain the inferno. Dramatic footage shows homes engulfed in flames as the blaze edges closer to densely populated neighborhoods.

Evacuation Centers Open

An evacuation center has been set up at Westwood Recreation Center for displaced residents, while officials monitor wind patterns to predict the fire’s next move.

As the situation intensifies, Californians brace for another night of uncertainty, their hopes pinned on the heroic efforts of firefighters and emergency crews battling the relentless inferno.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.

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