Lucy Sheriff
in Santa Monica
This morning at 10:45am I was watching small flames in the Santa Monica mountains, and within an hour Sunset Boulevard was gridlocked. Two hours later, there was mass panic as everyone tried to evacuate at once. I can’t get over how quickly it all unfolded.
I saw a father and his 10 year old daughter, in her school uniform, run down the street trying to get to safety. The girl was hysterical – she could see her house on the mountain being engulfed by flames, and repeatedly said her mother was in there and was going to die. I heard an elderly woman try to get a ride up to her house so she could get in her car and leave, but no-one would – or could – help her.
I never received a message about any evacuations or fire warnings – nor did my partner. I was informed by neighbours. The evacuation process was extremely hectic – everyone trying to get out at once on the same road – and it was disconcerting having so little information available. I’m lucky I have a press pass and I could approach emergency services to find out what news I could.
