Los Angeles residents told Izvestia about their rescue from the fires

Local residents of Los Angeles told Izvestia on Saturday, January 11, about the fires in California, which have already destroyed more than 12,300 structures.

"We're all facing something we thought and hoped we would never see, and we're really rallying here. We're very lucky that our house was left intact. On the neighboring street, three houses burned down. I think one of the reasons Pasadena and Altadena did so well is because people managed to get out and we didn't have as many fatalities," shared Los Angeles resident Susan York.

According to her, one of Pasadena residents Edgar McGregor wrote in Facebook shortly before the fire (owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) that a strong wind would soon rise, which would create a fire hazard. People took heed and left their homes in advance. York added that before leaving, she took with her an indoor flower that has been growing in her home for 60 years and has become a symbol of her family.

"One young man of 24 years helped save the lives of many people. The key is cohesion," she concluded.

Another local resident named Tia Danji said the decision to leave was made when she smelled smoke in the air early Tuesday morning. A short while later, the evacuation notice came. The family hastily packed their belongings and moved in with friends. Now the neighbors' home was on fire, but their own home was saved in time by firefighters.

"So we're very lucky that it's still standing and we still have stuff left. We're not sure of the structural damage yet, so once the evacuation is lifted, we'll do an assessment and see if we can stay in the house or if we'll have to find a new place while it's being repaired. And that's going to be difficult. Very," she shared.

Tear Factory: what Hollywood lost to the fires

The disaster destroyed the homes of movie stars and paralyzed filming, among others

Multiple wildfires in Los Angeles were reported on January 8. Extinguishing continues, strong winds fuel the fire, rescue crews lack water. Due to the fires, Biden declared a major disaster mode in the state. As predicted by the consulting company AccuWeather, the damage and losses from the disaster will amount to about $52-57 billion. More than 12,300 structures were destroyed.

January 10, one man was detained on suspicion of arson, which could be the cause of the largest fire in Los Angeles. He could face punishment up to life imprisonment. According to the latest data, at least 10 people became victims of the disaster.