As fast-moving, out-of-control wildfires scorch thousands of acres in Southern California, a video shared on social media shows two friends in Santa Monica, running as fast as they can to flee their burning home.
"Video of the moment my friend and I abandoned his house after we saved what we could," Tanner Charles, an online content creator and storm chaser, wrote on the post on X, formerly Twitter, accompanying the clip. "Please be praying for him and his family."
Newsweek contacted Charles for comment by email on Wednesday early morning.
Why It Matters
California has always been vulnerable to raging wildfires—but scientists have found that global warming has made them more frequent and more severe than they used to be in pre-industrial times.
Every year, wildfires cause devastating losses to the state. By the end of 2024, a total of 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 We Know About the Fire
The Palisades fire roared through Los Angeles County on Tuesday, scorching the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood and spreading throughout the region spurred by strong winds. In the evening of the same day, Santa Monica officials ordered the evacuation of parts of the city as the Palisades fire approached, warning of an immediate threat to life for anyone in the affected areas.
As of Tuesday night, the fire was estimated to have burnt 2,900 acres and forced at least 30,000 to leave their homes, according to officials. The city of Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency as of Tuesday night.
Another fire, Eaton, started on Tuesday evening near Pasadena in Eaton Canyon, burning an estimated 1,000 by that same night, according to the Angeles National Forest. Several streets in Pasadena and Altadena were evacuated on Tuesday night.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fires.
First-Hand Experience of Devastating Loss
The video shared by Charles on X shows the two men leaving the house after having tried to save what they could.
"Alright dude, let's get out here," one of them can be heard saying. "We tried, we tried, bro, I'm sorry."
By the time they're running out of the house, the property in front of them is engulfed in flames, and the air is dense with smoke and ashes. As they escape, they look at a tree on fire next to the home and wonder if it had already fallen.
The devastation seen in Charles' video is likely to involve many other residents of the area affected by the wildfires. Officials have warned of devastating losses to come, as the out-of-control fire is expected to remain uncontained on Wednesday morning due to the strong winds.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said during an afternoon press conference that "not a few" but "many structures" were destroyed by the fire. It will still take a while for the full extent of the damage caused by the fires to become clear.
What People Are Saying
Sheila Kelliher, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said on Tuesday, as reported by The New York Times: "These embers are blowing everywhere, and I'm just watching it chew up the hillside. As it gets to each new patch of fuel, it's just exploding."
Traci Park, a Los Angeles city councilwoman whose district includes Pacific Palisades, said on Tuesday: "This is going to be devastating, a devastating loss, for all of Los Angeles."
What's Next
The fires are yet to be contained as a dangerous windstorm fan the flames in Southern California.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, winds gust up to 60 mph are expected to continue through Thursday, "potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts."
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