High winds and a dry winter have ignited a wildfire in the Santa Monica Mountains. Like many Californians, residents of Pacific Palisades received evacuation orders. The evacuation chaos included:
- Gridlocked roads due to cars left by evacuating residents.
- Up to 200 cars bulldozed off roads to clear paths for emergency vehicles, as shown in dramatic video footage.
Firefighters urged residents to clear streets by parking cars aside or leaving them with keys. Despite these requests, many cars were abandoned improperly, complicating emergency efforts.
- News images reveal a Caterpillar bulldozer moving cars like Audi and Nissan to clear roads.
- Local efforts to spread the word included actor Steve Guttenberg.
KTLA reporter Gene Kang noted the dilemma: "Yes, it is causing damage, as you can hear from the screeching noises." However, prioritizing lives and homes over vehicles remains essential for firefighters facing a long, challenging night.
In Los Angeles, escalating wildfires have forced emergency crews to bulldoze abandoned cars off blocked roads, emphasizing the need for effective evacuation protocols to save lives and homes.
