California authorities are sharing a frightening wildfire video on social media to emphasize the importance of obeying evacuation orders.
“This very graphic video shows the dangers of a fast-moving fire and how important it is to leave affected areas after fire officials declare an evacuation order,” the tweet reads. Hackett later said, “The fire came so quickly. One minute it was calm and then suddenly they were on top of us,” according to the tweet.
In the video, Hackett can be heard crying, “Oh my god,” as she drives through the windy roads of Malibu and desperately begs God to keep her safe and make it out alive. Within a minute, the flames — which are first seen from a distance — quickly engulf the road ahead of her.
The screen then changes from a normal dark road to nothing but blazing orange, as Hackett records the disastrous scene of flaming debris and sparks aggressively hitting her windshield.
Thankfully, Hackett made it out alive but it wasn’t something she expected. “I thought I was going to die,”she said.
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As of Wednesday morning, the Woolsey Fire, which is affecting residents in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and has decimated homes of many Southern California residents, had burned 97,620 acres and was 47 percent contained, according toCal Fire.
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Miley Cyrus,Gerard Butler,Neil Young, andRobin Thickewere amongseveral starsin Southern California who lost their homes from the blaze.
Together, the three massive wildfires in Northern and Southern California haveclaimed at least 44 livesso far, making it the deadliest wildland fire in the state’s history, the Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced on Monday night.
“This is truly a tragedy that all Californians can understand and respond to,” Gov. Jerry Brown said during a press briefing on Monday. “It’s a time to pull together and work through these tragedies.”
To help victims of the California wildfires, visit theAmerican Red Cross, theLos Angeles Fire Department Foundationand theCalifornia Fire Foundationfor more information.
source: people.com
