Los Angeles – Neal Flesner, a long-time resident of Los Angeles, noticed a stark change in the weather on the morning of Jan. 7. Despite his 25 years in the city, he had never encountered such strong, dust-filled winds before. Leaving the gym in Venice Beach around 11 a.m., he witnessed smoke and flames engulfing the hills near his home in Pacific Palisades, California. Flesner’s wife, Carmen, a Los Angeles native, began preparing for evacuation as they had faced multiple wildfire evacuations in their years residing in the Mandeville Canyon area near the Palisades.
Despite past evacuations, Flesner shared that there was always a sense of safety in the Alphabet Streets area where they lived, believing it was far enough from the rural regions prone to wildfires. However, the devastating reality unfolded as the Palisades fire consumed vast areas of land. Determined to witness the aftermath firsthand, Flesner hiked back to his neighborhood with a newfound acquaintance, driven by a deep desire to assess the damage inflicted on their cherished home.
Upon his return, Flesner discovered their neighborhood in ruins, with only their garage left standing, safeguarding a few precious possessions including family photos, wine bottles, and a sentimental fountainhead. The fire had left nothing untouched, leaving residents like Flesner and Carmen to confront a drastically altered reality.
Residents of Palisades and Malibu gathered at intersections along the Pacific Coast Highway, awaiting police escorts to assess the damage in the burn zone. Emotional scenes unfolded as residents like Joel Kleinman grappled with the sight of their destroyed homes. Despite the devastation, Kleinman found solace in the support offered by law enforcement during such tumultuous times.
Flesner, reflecting on the tight-knit community of Palisades, expressed a desire to not only rebuild homes but revive the essence of the neighborhood that once thrived there. He envisioned a collective effort to restore the culture, community, and life they once cherished, emphasizing the unique appeal of the area that residents are eager to reclaim.
As the community begins to contemplate rebuilding, the resilience and unity displayed in the face of adversity signal a shared commitment to restoring what was lost and preserving the spirit of Pacific Palisades.
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