The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have left thousands of people displaced and hundreds of structures destroyed.
A chilling video shared by Tanner Charles, a storm chaser, has captured the terrifying moment when he and his friend Orly Israel were forced to abandon a house in the Pacific Palisades as the inferno closed in.
A Desperate Bid to Save What’s Left
The video shows the two friends sprinting down a street lined with burning homes, the orange glow of the fire illuminating the chaos. Charles shared the clip on social media, writing: “Video of the moment my friend and I abandoned his house after we tried to save what we could.
Please be praying for him and his family @orlylistens.” The house, located north of Rustic Canyon, was one of the many that got caught in the path of the raging wildfire.
Video of the moment my friend and I abandoned his house after we tried to save what we could. Please be praying for him and his family @orlylistens
Location: North of Rustic Canyon#cawx #PalisadesFire #fire #California pic.twitter.com/fie6Ywkmz3
— Tanner Charles (@TannerCharlesMN) January 8, 2025
A Day That Started with Evacuation Orders
According to reports, the day started with a mandatory evacuation order for Israel and his family.
However, he returned to the house that evening with Charles to pack their belongings and try to save the property.
As they saw the fire approaching, they attempted to protect the house, driving through thick and black smoke that limited their visibility to just a few feet.
Fighting a Losing Battle
The two friends tried to salvage what they could, spraying down spot fires and moving flammable furniture inside.
But the intense heat and encroaching flames soon forced them to retreat. “His whole backyard was basically on fire,” Charles recalled.
“I just stood there and was like, it’s over. We can’t fight it.” Despite their efforts, the house was eventually destroyed, as seen in a before-and-after photo shared by Charles.
The Devastating Toll of the Wildfires
The wildfires in Los Angeles have already caused widespread devastation, with five fires still burning and thousands of structures damaged or destroyed.
Nearly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, while another 200,000 residents are under evacuation warnings.
The insured losses from this week’s fires are estimated to exceed $20 billion, with total economic losses potentially reaching $50 billion.