Everything was orange, it was scary: California resident describes raging wildfire

Thousands of residents have evacuated their homes as wildfires rage across Los Angeles (LA), destroying neighbourhoods and disrupting daily life. The fires, fuelled by strong winds, have burned over 29,000 acres and left at least five people dead, according to local officials.

Soukhya Inamdar, a resident of West Hollywood, described her experience during an interview with India Today TV. “It’s been crazy for the past few days. I have friends who have lost houses. LA is crazy right now, and I have evacuated,” she said.

The Palisades fire, which began earlier this week, spread rapidly, prompting evacuation orders across the region. “I was at work when my supervisor told us to leave early because the fire had started in the Palisades. I’m grateful for that decision,” Inamdar said. She added that she used a mobile app to track the fires.

The fires intensified overnight, creating hazardous conditions. “When I woke up this morning, the outside of my apartment was orange. There was smoke and strong winds. It was scary,” she said. By mid-morning, the fire started spreading rapidly, prompting her to leave with her roommate.

“It’s devastating to see friends losing their homes. The traffic was chaotic, and people were panicking. I’m glad we left when we did,” she said.

As of Thursday, nearly 180,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders. Robert Luna, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, said, “Some areas look like a bomb was dropped in them. I think the death toll will rise,” the New York Times reported.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin M Crowley called the Palisades fire “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.” The fire has destroyed thousands of structures and scorched over 17,200 acres.

Firefighters are battling the blazes with support from aerial water drops. Officials hope that a brief reduction in wind speeds on Thursday will allow crews to gain control, though forecasters warn of a return to dangerous gusts later in the day.