Photo courtesy of Sara Larkin’s Facebook profile
Los Angeles County is grappling with multiple wildfires that have swept through the region, fueled by extreme Santa Ana winds and dry conditions exacerbated by climate change. Among those affected are Ian Holding, a 2019 Lincoln High graduate, his girlfriend, Haley, and his parents Sara and Jack, who were forced to flee their home in La Cañada Flintridge.
Los Angeles County is grappling with the aftermath of multiple wildfires that have swept through the region, fueled by extreme Santa Ana winds and dry conditions exacerbated by climate change. Among those affected are Ian Holding, a Lincoln High School graduate from the class of 2019, his girlfriend, Haley, and his parents Sara and Jack, who were forced to flee their homes in La Cañada Flintridge.
The Altadena Fire, one of at least seven fires reported across Los Angeles this week, has destroyed the community of Altadena and threatened neighboring areas, including La Cañada Flintridge. Ian and his family were evacuated early Tuesday morning after receiving an emergency alert at 5 a.m., followed by police orders to leave immediately. Residents described waking up in the dark and scrambling to gather essential belongings.
Courtesy of Sara Larkin’s Facebook Profile
“We got an automatic notice on our phones with that horrible siren noise at 5 a.m. that we needed to evacuate immediately. So we started packing up everything in the pitch black. You know, never try to pack your bag with the light by your phone. I mean, I had one picture of the kids when they were little and a wedding picture of Jack and I in like underwear and socks. That’s about it. And then the police started going up and down the streets with their loudspeaker: ‘Evacuate immediately. Everybody must leave, evacuate now.’ So we didn’t have much…, we didn’t have any time at all. We were woken up out of a dead sleep and told to exit now,” said Holding’s mother, Sara Larkin.
The fires have been driven by winds reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour, snapping trees, downing power lines, and spreading embers with terrifying speed. Reports from Pacific Palisades described flames moving very quickly, leaving residents with little time to escape. Despite full reservoirs, firefighting resources have been stretched thin, as high winds rapidly consumed available water supplies. Neighboring cities, states and even Canada and Mexico have sent fire fighters to Los Angeles County to help battle the blaze and President Biden has promised the US Government’s support in battling the fires.
Holding, Larkin and their group, along with their neighbors, remain displaced and without power. The family is currently staying in a friend’s condominium in Century City, grateful for shelter amid reports of looting and ongoing curfews in affected areas.
The fire’s direction has since shifted east and north, heading toward the Angeles Crest National Forest, which sits at the base of La Cañada Flintridge. While this has provided some relief for residential areas, the blaze continues to grow, threatening natural resources and wildlife.
Photo courtesy of Sara Larkin
“Our big conundrum was exiting La Cañada at five o’clock in the morning, driving down the mountain because we live at the base of the mountain and looking over our left shoulder and seeing a line of fire. You’ll see my Facebook posts. Those are actual pictures from our neighborhood,” said Larkin in a voice memo sent to The Advocate and KLHS.
President Biden was in the area earlier this week, prompting additional road closures as security measures impacted local transportation. Despite these challenges, Holding’s family and other evacuees are focusing on staying safe and hopeful as recovery efforts begin.
This latest string of wildfires underscores the increasing risks posed by climate change in California, where extreme weather conditions have made fire seasons longer and more severe. Residents of Los Angeles County are bracing for further challenges as they navigate the aftermath of this disaster and the threat of high winds returning on Sunday with the possibility of further growth of the blazes.
UPDATE: According to a Facebook update from Sara Larkin, they have now been allowed to return to their homes. According to the Facebook update, “We are so grateful our home is in tact! We are at home and hoping we don’t loose power again like so many local friends. Bags by the door. We could be evacuated again. Exhausted but grateful.”