Thousands of families are homeless after neighborhoods have been reduced to ash from LA wildfires.
Fast-moving wildfires have ravaged Los Angeles since Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and destroying large swaths of California’s prized coastline while leveling entire neighborhoods.
“The whole block burned down. It’s a like war zone up there. It’s like someone dropped some fire bombs,” said George Jenkins, Sr.
Jenkins said the wildfires destroyed his home, including his 10 family members’ homes, in a matter of minutes.
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The father was sleeping when his son called him Tuesday at 3:30 a.m., warning him to leave the house.
“I open the door and the fireballs are coming out the sky and house next to me was burning,” he shared.
The father and his brother rushed outside, but they suddenly stopped when they noticed their neighbor’s vehicle was still in their driveway, he said.
Jenkins ran over to wake his neighbor up. Clouds of smoke overshadowed the neighborhood, and homes were quickly burning, he said.
“The debris, fire was like spaghetti in the air,” he shared. “I’m a God-fearing man. God saved me for a reason, not just to save myself. So I have to do what I’m trained to do and how I live. People are important.”
“I still can’t believe the whole city burned down,” he added.
Devin Howard, Sr. spoke with KIRO 7 News after his family’s homes were leveled and four vehicles were destroyed.
“Just miles and miles of no homes anywhere. You just see fireplaces, burned up homes and everything is flat,” he shared. “My junior high burned down. My high school caught fire.”
During a video chat, Howard showed KIRO 7 News the critical items that he and his friends were donating to survivors at a community event on Friday afternoon in Pasadena.
“Everybody from Pasadena, we’re not related blood red, but we’re family so this is what we got to do to help people feel a little bit of hope, a little bit of ease, a little bit of love so that’s what we’re doing,” he explained.
A GoFundMe was created to help Jenkins and his family. If you would like to help, please click here.
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