“I just want to save my cats!” The woman in the car at the police checkpoint on the edge of the closed fire area is in tears. Yolanda Marques has tried all the entrances to the Pacific Palisades development, but she won’t be allowed in. There are still fires in several places and new fires could flare up again.
When the evacuation alarm came, Marques was teaching in primary school. First she brought the children to safety. “When I wanted to go back to get my cats, I was sent back.” She is crying.
A pile of rubble and ash
Journalists are allowed into the fire area. It looks like an atomic bomb has struck in a Hollywood film. Some residents managed to get to their homes. Most of the time they are just a pile of rubble and ash. A couple trudges through the charred remains. “We really want to rebuild the house. “As destroyed as it looks here, I know how beautiful it was just 48 hours ago,” says the man.
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Legend:
A man looks through the remains of his house for memorabilia or things that can still be saved. But the chances of finding anything are slim.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Legend:
Yolanda Marques looks out over the neighborhood from her house. All that’s left of her neighbor’s house is the fireplace. Miraculously, her house was spared from the fire.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Legend:
Yolanda Marques walks down the street to her house for the first time – only a few buildings are still standing. The smoke is harmful to health – people try to protect themselves with masks.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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When the fire broke out, many pets were left in the fire area because their owners were no longer allowed into their homes. The fire spread surprisingly quickly. Luckily, Yolanda Marques’ cats survived.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Dave Skowrow lost his house. He looks for his wedding ring in the rubble.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Dave Skowrow receives a bottle of water from a passing resident. The solidarity is great.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Pacific Palisades is famous for its beautiful neighborhoods, ocean views, and high real estate prices. But because of the topography there are strong winds here. The climate is very dry and the risk of fire from bushes and trees is very high.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Legend:
When the evacuation alarm was sounded, many residents tried to escape along the famous Sunset Boulevard, one of the few streets out of the fire area. There was a traffic jam and people had to flee on foot. Bulldozers finally pushed the cars aside to make room for the fire department.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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In the parts of Los Angeles not affected by the fires, everyday life continues almost as normal. But the cloud of smoke over Pacific Palisades and Malibu can be seen from afar.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Exclusive seaside villas also go up in flames. Days after the fire started, it is still burning.
SRF / Viviane Manz
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Film actress Jennifer Garner lives in the area and is helping a charity support emergency responders.
SRF / Viviane Manz
Dave Skowron stands in front of smoking remains on a road with a fantastic view of the Pacific. He kicks into a charred box. «I’m looking for my wedding ring. My wife and I lived here for 27 years.” There are no more houses around. He promised to let the neighbors know what it looks like here.
I’m looking for my wedding ring. We lived here for 27 years.
A car stops and the driver hands him a bottle of water. Fate connects. “My house is gone,” says the driver. “Mine too,” says Skowron. “I’m very sorry,” replies the driver. A laconic exchange of words in view of what they have lost. Many seem to be in shock.
No insurance offers a hand
Emergency services and volunteers are working together, including further down the Pacific Highway. And in Los Angeles you can also meet Hollywood stars among them, like Jennifer Garner, who lives nearby. “We have to stand together in God’s name, support the helpers and find out how we can best rebuild everything,” she says.
My house is gone. – Mine too.
However, it will probably take years or decades until the place is rebuilt and the community returns. In addition, in places like this with a high fire risk, it was already very expensive and often difficult to insure your house. This is likely to be a major hurdle for reconstruction.
Some are now considering moving away. “The insurance companies never pay as much as the reconstruction costs anyway,” says the driver. His insurance recently canceled his insurance – but luckily for him, his house is still covered for this fire.
A little blessing in disguise
Cat owner Yolanda Marques also finally made it to her street. As she walks down towards her house, her eyes get bigger and bigger. “That was my neighbors John and Julie’s house. They lived here all their lives,” she says, pointing to a chimney in a pile of rubble.
Then she turns around: “And this is my house. This is a miracle!” Her house survived the fire unscathed. The fire only reached the garden seating area.
From her house she looks out over an apocalyptic scene. But the cats are fine – they are put in a transport bag and taken away. There are also rays of hope amidst the despair about what has happened to the homeland.
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