PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Amir Simon was born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, but moved to Los Angeles about a year ago to take a job as a social worker.
He works with the unhoused in downtown L.A. and in other parts of Southern California.
That work has expanded and taken on a new gravity amid dueling wildfires threatening different parts of the city. So far, five people have been killed by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires and more than 130,000 are under warnings of evacuation. Thousands of structures have been destroyed.
“Currently we're working on just placing folks who need to relocate and those who have evacuated,” the 33-year-old said. “So that's the priority.”
Simon said in addition to the influx of people needing new housing accommodations, there’s also been a number of animals fleeing the flames in their natural habitats and wandering in the city. He said those animals include foxes, coyotes and a host of other fauna.
Simon said fortunately, his home isn’t in the direct line of the wildfires, but the desolation they’ve caused reminds him of snow days back in Philadelphia.
“The roads and highways are completely empty, which is bizarre for LA,” he said. “Everyone's indoors and trying to maintain shelter and maintain safety from smoke inhalation, and avoiding the ash.”
Simon said his mother Sharon in Philadelphia has been checking in frequently and he tells her all is good and not to worry.