Chaos in LA: Residents Abandon Cars as Wildfire Rages in Pacific Palisades

Sat Jan 03 2026 03:40:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A fast-moving wildfire in Los Angeles prompts mass evacuations and harrowing escape attempts as residents flee on foot, leaving behind their vehicles.

A rapidly spreading wildfire near the Pacific Palisades forced thousands of residents to evacuate, leading to frantic scenes characterized by chaos and fear as many abandoned their cars in a desperate bid to escape the flames.

Residents of Los Angeles found themselves in a terrifying situation as a wildfire approached the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, igniting panic and urgent evacuations. Eyewitness accounts likened the frantic scene to something out of a blockbuster disaster film, prompting locals to abandon their vehicles in a bid for safety.

On Tuesday, a routine brush fire exploded into a massive inferno propelled by powerful winds, escalating from a small area of 10 acres to several thousand within hours. Authorities ordered evacuations affecting up to 30,000 residents as the fire surged towards their homes, leading to gridlock on the Pacific Coast Highway, the primary escape route through the region.

A resident, Marsha Horowitz, detailed the dramatic moment when firefighters advised people to exit their cars as flames neared. “The fire was right up against the cars,” she recounted, highlighting the urgent nature of the evacuation.

Another local echoed her fear, recounting her desperate scramble home from Hollywood to grab her cat. “It's terrifying. It’s like a horror movie. I’m screaming and crying on the street,” she shared, as flaming debris fell around her.

As the fire approached, multiple celebrities, including James Woods and Steve Guttenberg, were among those forced to flee, with Guttenberg urging others to leave their keys in abandoned vehicles, facilitating emergency access for fire crews.

Moving accounts emerged from residents across the region who witnessed the devastating encroachment of flames. Ellen Delosh-Bacher, navigating gridlock on her journey to secure her 95-year-old mother, described an alarming sight as fire erupted behind local businesses.

The combined efforts of bulldozers to clear lanes and the frantic energy of residents attempting to escape painted a chaotic picture of the ongoing crisis. With ash falling several miles away and with reports of people fleeing with children and pets, the sense of urgency and fear was palpable. As chaos unfolded, witnesses reported police urging trapped motorists to “run for your lives,” solidifying the sense of impending disaster gripping the area.