Home that survived LA fires destroyed by landslide
A Pacific Palisades house that stood strong amid the fires in Los Angeles was split into two by a landslide.
Local media outlet KTLA reported that the family home that measuring 1,000 square feet was damaged by a landslide this week.
“This is devastating. I didn’t realize it was this bad,” said Bryan Kirkwood, who works for the security of properties that survived the wildfire in the area.
“I didn’t see the news. Got out here and looked and it didn’t hit me until now. Wow, this is a big deal,” he continued.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the landslide took place along Castellammare Drive. They recalled seeing the home destroyed and slid onto the road when they checked the area.
“Upon inspection, it appears that the home above it, which had been destroyed in the fire, had collapsed onto it,” they explained.
Mark Pestrella, the director of Los Angeles County Public Works, said they are now developing plans with the California Department of Transformation to make improvements in areas “where the fires burned and the soil is fragile.”
Los Angeles was besieged by out-of-control blazes burning on multiple fronts, with Hollywood events including a glitzy awards show and a Pamela Anderson film premiere canceled as firefighters battled nearby flames whipped up by hurricane-force winds.
Hundreds of homes were destroyed in the swanky Pacific Palisades area, a favorite spot for celebrities where multimillion-dollar houses nestle on beautiful hillsides, while another inferno devastated parts of Altadena, to the east.
A-list actors, musicians, and other celebrities were among the tens of thousands affected.
Several major Hollywood events were abruptly called off due to the disaster, including the annual Critics Choice Awards gala, which honors the year's best in film and television and is attended by dozens. It was moved from Jan. 12 to Jan. 26.
Filming of Los Angeles shows like Grey's Anatomy, Hacks, and Jimmy Kimmel Live were paused, while the Universal Studios theme park was closed for the day due to the extreme winds and fire conditions.
The United States Geological Survey said landslides "can be initiated in slopes already on the verge of movement by rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water level, stream erosion, changes in ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity, disturbance by human activities, or any combination of these factors."
The Los Angeles Times reported that in this case, it may have been due to "water from the lengthy firefight." (with reports from AFP)
