You’ve seen the images and video on social media and television.
At least three separate wild fires in southern California are wreaking havoc in the Los Angeles area.
But, what’s it really like out there?
Native Pittsburgher and founder of Bouqs Flower Co. John Tabis has been living in the Los Angeles area for 20 years and he says he’s never seen anything like it.
There are almost two kinds of existences going on in L.A. right now, those directly impacted by the fires and those not.
“It’s a really weird existence right now in Los Angeles,” said Tabis. “You have, miles away, just huge plumbs of smoke that have covered the entire sky, there’s really no sunlight. I live miles and miles away from these fires and my home and my yard were covered in ash this morning.”
He adds there is an odd dichotomy taking place.
“A few miles north, it really is Armageddon, people are losing their homes, they’re fleeing for their lives and then, a few miles south, you have people in LAX (Airport) having lunch,” said Tabis. “It’s a very somber mood and a very somber tone for everyone living, but other than some gray skies and low air quality, it’s kind of an oddly quite but somewhat normal day.”
Tabis says he has five friends that have lost their home, so far.
The Fox Chapel graduate says the Santa Ana winds cause wildfires in Southern California every year but “this is a next level that has really shocked the city to its core.”
So, what’s it like being near the wild fires?
Tabis says a co-worker of his heard about a small fire in her neighborhood, about the size of a backyard.
An hour later it had grown to 200-acres and an hour after that she couldn’t get to her home and traffic was so bad, people started abandoning their cars and walking down the hills.
He says bulldozers then came to move the cars so fire crews could try to save the homes.
“Those homes were not saved,” said Tabis.
Allison Rainer, a Pittsburgher now living in L.A. tells Marty Griffin she’s never seen anything like it.
“I have friends and family that have lived out here for 30 year that have never seen anything like this, I mean, L.A. is on fire.”
Rainer adds it’s like being a large bonfire and the back drop looks like an apocalyptic movie.
She says even those not in danger are “living on edge” right now and are remaining vigilant as the fires continue to burn.