A woman in Altadena named Fran told NewsNation on Thursday that wildfires decimated her home in California some 26 years after her family moved into the beloved residence.
"We did the floors, and we put in windows and doors and painted," Fran told Brian Entin. "My grandchildren loved it, my son, my daughter-in-law. My family, we hosted Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here and everybody was here, my little house that I loved."
Why It Matters
The wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have claimed at least 10 lives and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The Palisades fire, which have been determined to be the most destructive in Los Angeles city history, erupted on Tuesday and has scorched more than 20,438 acres.
As of the latest update from CAL FIRE at the time of writing, the Palisades fire is only 6 percent contained. According to preliminary figures from CAL FIRE, the Palisades fire, which has destroyed over 5,300 structures, is now the third-most destructive in state history.
Additional blazes that started later Tuesday are nearby, including the Eaton fire near Pasadena and the Hurst fire in Sylmar. The Eaton fire is zero percent contained, while the Hurst fire remains at 37 percent containment, according to CAL FIRE officials early Friday.
California has always been vulnerable to raging wildfires, but scientists have said that climate change has made them more frequent and severe. By the end of 2024, 8,024 wildfires had burned 1,050,012 acres of land across the state and killed one person, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
What To Know
Fran stood with Entin in a video he posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, in front of her house. Her husband and nephew were nearby. From the glimpses of the house in the video, random sections of walls are still standing, as the sides are charred. Trees around the structure are now fully barren and burnt.
"I don't even know what I'm doing," Fran said. "We haven't slept. We're staying at a hotel. We have nowhere to go. We don't know what we're doing."
Vice President-elect JD Vance shared Entin's video with Fran.
"This is an extremely vivid and heartbreaking example of what people in California have lost," he posted. "Please say a prayer for our fellow Americans, many of whom lost everything."
Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department's No. 37 station, based in Westwood, were battling the fire on Lachman Lane when they were seen saving items from the residential neighborhood.
Ben Jacobs posted to X his own story, about how his "home and all of my family's belongs were burned to the ground in the Palisades fire." His family lived in Venice Beach for four and a half years. Ten months ago, Jacobs and his wife Taylor welcomed their first child Theodora and they decided to move to a home in the Palisades, settling in just a few days before the fires' onset.
On January 7, the Jacobs' nanny arrived to watch Theodora as Taylor and Jacobs left for work. At 10:45 a.m., the nanny sent a photo "showing a cloud of smoke emerging not far from our backyard." The nanny had to drive Theodora for the first time, while also setting up a car seat, in order to get to safety.
"Waiting for our nanny and baby to escape the Palisades amid the flames and bellowing smoke clouds was the most terrifying 20 minutes of our lives. It felt apocalyptic, like a fever dream," he posted. "Thankfully, our family was united and we gave our nanny a huge hug for saving the day."
The family drove to San Diego once reconnected.
"Yesterday morning we saw a video on Next Door that showed that our house had been burned to a crisp," Jacobs wrote. "My mind is racing between shock, sadness, optimism for fresh beginnings, and fear about the to-dos ahead. I keep daydreaming about family heirlooms, stupid tchotchkes, photos, and random sentimental items that I'll never see again."
What People Are Saying
Townsend Bell, ten-time Indianapolis 500 entrant and IndyCar analyst, on social media: "Quick thoughts. Last 48 hours have been surreal. Fire, smoke, joy, tears, adventure, coughing, depression, little sleep, wildest motocross ride of my life. . We lost 2 houses. We tried everything to save them. Everyone is safe.... Lot of work in front of us. This is not the makeover photo i wanted to share ... time to grind."
California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice on CNN: "No one is set up to deal with Mother Nature in the way we have just seen."
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter previously told Newsweek: "The devastation left behind is heartbreaking and the economic toll is staggering."
What's Next
Fire crews are working tirelessly to combat the blaze, with high winds and dry conditions complicating their efforts. California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice estimated that first responders will work another 48 hours straight in the wake of the current blaze.
Questions remain as to how the fires were ignited. President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration regarding the fires on Thursday.
Follow Newsweek's live blog for real-time updates on the fire crisis in California. Stay informed with the latest news, analysis and official statements as events unfold.
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