I don't know what to do but a friend of mine will not evacuate his house in the Palisades Fire area.

[ZonkerHarris]

Several of us have been calling and texting him all day to get out and he's been on top of his roof with a hose.
Now this is a 68 year old guy who had major injuries two years ago after fall off a hiking trail.
He has an adorable little dog and I've appealed to him to go for her if not himself.
I'm so angry at him
and scared for him to.
Fuck!

[Pachamama]

1. Scary

This fire is moving so rapidly and the smoke is thick

Friends in Santa Monica just evacuated their house s it moves rapidly their way.

Have you been able to reach your friend at all?

[ZonkerHarris]

4. been texting and calling him all day. He just refuses to leave. I have begged, gotten angry, tried guilt

nothing worked so far

[Deuxcents]

2. I hope he reconsiders..there are hurricane force winds making it even more dangerous

[ZonkerHarris]

3. He told me and a friend of mine separately on the phone that he was leaving but didn't

I think he just wanted us to stop bugging him.

[Pachamama]

5. I'm so sorry this is his decision

The situation is so dangerous and he will not be able to be rescued.

I pray for him that he will be ok but based on what a few friends down there have told me about how strong the winds are and how fast the fires are moving and the strain on resources - and his age and mobility - it’s not good.

[Journeyman]

6. Can't find the picture, but 30 years ago, a fire raged through Laguna Canyon in South California . . .

It destroyed acres of wilderness area and dozens of homes. One neighborhood, on a bluff overlooking the ocean, was particularly hard hit. On a sweeping street that spanned the bluff, every home on both sides of the street was burnt to the foundation -- with the exception of one. There, a valiant/crazy homeowner made his stand. Pumping water out of his pool, he stood on the roof, fought the flames, and won. His home was left unscathed in a devastated landscape.

It was madness to stay in the face of the onslaught, but he did and he prevailed. It is stories like this which propel some to stay and defend their homes, hoping against hope they'll emerge victorious as well. Too often, they become casualties instead, or are rescued by first responders.

But it's not only brazen bravura which compels some to stay and fight against such odds. In other cases -- and it may be your elderly friend's position -- they've nothing else but their home and all its attendant memories, and they'd rather be destroyed with their love than live with the ashes.

In both cases, the motivation is not hard to see. Difficult, if not impossible, for some to understand. But the clarion call to bravery, and the sweet melodic pull of love, give rise to emotions we cannot fathom in the stillness outside the conflagration. We can only wish them well, then share in their triumph or mourn their passing.

[usonian]

7. I imagine that the sheriff is too damn busy, but might persuade.

I think it's only a misdemeanor to stay.

Where I live, a guy told me that as a volunteer, he moved a bedridden man from a fire area.

Road congestion was made famous in the Oakland Hills fire -- very narrow hillside roads, and the Paradise fire, with only one highway out of town, and many cars burned on the road.

Hopefully, your friend is able to get out. Nobody can deal with fires like the pro's.

[ZonkerHarris]

8. a buddy just texted me that he just left because embers were hitting his roof.

his house will probably be gone tomorrow but at least he and his dog will be alive

[SunSeeker]

12. I'm glad he is no longer endangering himself, his dog and firefighters.

It's going to be a long night for our LA peeps. Hang in there.

[Upthevibe]

9. ZonkerHarris...........

I'm so sorry to hear that he won't listen to you. Maybe wanting to spare his dog will make him decide to leave.

My friends had to evacuate Malibu this afternoon (two adult married guys and their kids: 19 and Autistic and 16 year old twins). It's the second time over the past three weeks they've had to leave. IMHO, they need to sell their house and move someplace safer.

Regardless of what the media would make you believe, there are a lot of places/communities/neighborhoods where they could live. But my friend's husband (who's an a-hole) wants to live in Malibu (because he's a snob and likes to live and say he lives in Malibu). They have an incredible view of the ocean but there are a lot of places in SoCal they could live with a beautiful ocean view and they wouldn't have to worry about fires or the nightmare that PCH is now because of traffic.

I hope they don't lose their house.....

[SunSeeker]

10. It's a horror show in the Palisades right now.

Channel 5 (KTLA) just reported at least 3 burn victims who stayed behind too long ended up coming down from the hills and dragged themselves to Gladstones on Sunset & PCH, where firefighters were flagged. The 3 are now being treated, one is now on a respirator and critical. I dread what we will find in the morning. Power is out from West LA to Calabasas. Eaton Canyon is on fire. I have friends in all those areas. I am just sick to my stomach over this horrific fire storm. I've never seen anything like it in the Los Angeles area since I moved here in the 70s. 2025 just keeps getting worse.

[usonian]

11. All Californians, please be prepared for wildfires. Here's how

https://readyforwildfire.org/

CalFire advises how to prepare, prevent, and minimize the damage of wildfires in California.

Each item is a link at the site.
Prepare yourself

Create a wildfire action plan
Prepare your family
Equipment & vehicle use
After a wildfire

Prepare your property

Create defensible space
Harden your home
Landowners assistance
Build a fire smart landscape

Prepare for evacuation

Create your go bag
Take pre-evacuation steps
Animal evacuation plans
Go evacuation guide

AND IN DETAIL (more links at the bottom of the webpage with detailed information)

[SunSeeker]

13. This is no longer just a wildfire. It's an urban fire.

Multiple neighborhoods have been ordered evacuated, including pretty much all of Pacific Palisades, all of Santa Monica north of San Vicente Boulevard, and most of Altadena.

My friends in West Los Angeles live just south of San Vicente Boulevard and they have their go bags packed and ready to go!

[usonian]

14. I think they meant wildfire generically, and I understand the crazy logistics of an urban fire.

I didn't see info right now about urban fires.
I sure hope that the local sheriffs have that for residents.

I mentioned in a post above the Oakland Hills and Paradise fires. Both in very populated areas.
Traffic was a giant concern. Literally a killer.

Best of luck to everyone affected.
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

[ZonkerHarris]

16. this is the scariest disaster I've ever seen in SoCal, and that includes the Northridge earthquake

[SunSeeker]

19. Now the Hollywood Hills are on fire. Hollywood Blvd is jammed with evacuees.

The fire is only a mile from Hollywood Blvd and heading straight for it. Horrifying.

[KitFox]

15. Terrifying

I so hope your friend and his dog get out. I was evacuated four years ago for over a week and it was one of the scariest experiences of my life. It was raining ash and I had to decide what to hurriedly pack into my car and leave almost everything and my home behind . Those tense days worrying and scared but was relieved I was alive. My home was mercifully spared but I have close friends that lost everything. Holding out hope for your friend. So hard for you not being able to convince him. So devastating watching the coverage.

[ZonkerHarris]

17. He did get out thankfully last night at around 930

[KitFox]

18. Oh thank goodness. Thank you for

the update. Traumatizing for so many.