The Los Angeles fire has destroyed many buildings and cars. On Jan. 7, destructive fires took over California, with 5,000 firefighters working hard to put out the flames. These fires covered areas including the Palisades and other neighborhoods in the southern area of the state. Not only did they destroy approximately 12,000 buildings, according to NBC News, but 29 people also lost their lives. In addition to the fire’s damage, smoke is continuing to cause trouble for people in California.
The Los Angeles, California, area is known for having enormous, vicious and frequent wildfires. Droughts and climate change can contribute to the fires, and in early January, high winds caused the flames to spread more quickly than what firefighters could handle.
Mr. George Jefferson is the counselor practitioner for University Academy Upper School. He was last in Los Angeles on Jan. 4. He lived in Moreno Valley from 1991-2010, and from 2010-2013, he lived in Santa Barbara where he went to school. He moved to Kansas City in 2013 and has worked at UA ever since.
Mr. Jefferson has college friends who lost their homes due to the fire, and some of his other friends in California have been working from home because of the thick heavy smoke impacting the air quality.
He said, “I have friends who live in different parts of LA that are ‘safe’ from fires, but the smoke is a whole different obstacle they have to endure.”
Authorities reported that approximately 88,000 people in Los Angeles were under evacuation orders at one point, according to CBS News. These evacuations forced people to leave behind high valued possessions and their belongings.
Crystal Scott grew up in the San Gabriel Mountains, but her home at the base of the mountains was destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
“I’m very devastated. Our families worked hard to put us here and to establish us,” Scott told CBS News.
There are many emotions that are taking a toll on individuals who were in the fire and others who had family in the area.
Mr. Jefferson said he knows California has had previous fires, but he simply didn’t believe this fire would become so large and horrific. The situation has been devastating for countless individuals who had to abandon their homes and the hard-earned treasures they’d collected.
Victims have started GoFundMe campaigns to try to start recovering from their losses. People who were not directly affected are helping by supplying materials for those who have suffered.
KeAuna Schiele, a 2013 graduate of UA, is someone who has also lost her home due to a fire. On a Thursday shortly before Christmas this past December, a fire started at her fourplex in the 2000 block of Southwest 8th St. Schiele and her dog, Kyro, were at home when their neighbor banged on her door warning her of the fire. It took some time for Schiele to try and get out since she was on crutches, but thankfully her neighbor came back to help her, and they made it out safely. While she was able to escape the fire, she lost nearly everything. Fortunately, everyone involved in this traumatic incident made it out safe and sound.
“I often find myself looking for something I previously owned, only to realize I no longer have it,” Schiele said, “Staying positive with constant reminders that you have nothing can be tough.”
Just like all kinds of people are helping Californians get back on their feet, Schiele has been relying on help from other people, as well.
“The positive energy and motivation that others bring gives a sense of hope,” Schiele said, “As someone who has recently lost everything in a similar situation, I don’t know how I could get through it without the people who weren’t directly affected.”
Schiele feels that spreading more awareness about wildfires and house fires in general could give outsiders a gist of the norms during these tragic times.
Hopefully fires like Schiele’s and the Los Angeles, California, wildfires help people take the time to get prepared in case they ever face a similar situation.
Schiele said, “Condition yourself to live everyday as if you know the unexpected is coming tomorrow.”
