Chaos on the streets of Hollywood as people flee the Sunset Fire
Much of the heart of Hollywood is shrouded in thick smoke. You can barely see the tall palm tree tops that line the streets here.
It’s chaos in the streets around the fire. People use sweatshirts to cover their faces so they can breathe. Many are carrying bags and suitcases looking for a place to go.
Some are wearing pajamas, obviously surprised.
The Sunset fire broke out around 18:00 (14:00 GMT) local time on Wednesday, engulfing much of Hollywood in smoke and forcing evacuations. At midnight local time, the fire covered an area of 60 hectares.
As I drove through Hollywood, I saw many people fleeing their homes with whatever belongings they could carry.
As I left, some of them reacted to me with fear and concern.
“You came to help people? Where did you go?” Anna Waldman asked as I got out of my car.
“Where is it safe?”
Above us, sirens blared and helicopters sounded.
As I helped him to safety, he told me that he was walking his dogs and had planned to pass by the store when he smelled heavy smoke.
He returned home, looked out his windows, and watched the fire move quickly across the Hollywood Hills to within a block of his home.
She packed what she could: food, clothes, blankets, food for her three small dogs.
“I can’t believe this” he said with frustration.
Makayla Jackson, 26, was holding her two-year-old son Ramari on a street corner as they waited for a ride. They had been evacuated from a homeless shelter that was in danger of burning down.
“They just said let’s get out and go,” he said.
He said he was heading to Hollywood High School, where we would be served.
Many roads near the fire, such as the iconic Hollywood Boulevard, which includes the Hollywood Walk of Fame, are closed to traffic.
Some even drive to the side of the road to escape.
The inferno was visible from nearby highways, lighting up the darkness with bright red colors.
However, on the outskirts of the famous city, it is as if nothing is happening. People eat dinner, shop and go out in the evening.
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