Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wisconsin native details California wildfire evacuation and destruction
WTMJ News 4 ^ | January 8, 2025 | WTMJ Staff

Posted on 01/09/2025 7:08:19 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

At least two people have been killed, and mandatory evacuation orders are in place for more than 80,000 people in the Los Angeles area.

The California fires are growing so fast that first responders report they're having a hard time attacking the flames.

"It's been a long day and a long night, but we're safe. That's the most important part," said Wisconsin native Caitlin Morrall.

She is still wrapping her head around the last 24 hours.

Her home, located in the Highlands of the Pacific Palisades, is only three blocks from where one of the devastating California wildfires ignited.

"What was the moment when you and your husband said, we gotta go now? Was there an alert? Was there a sound?" Mackar asked.

"It was immediate. It was just seeing the smoke," Morrall said. "We looked out our bedroom window, and we just looked at each other and said, grab as much as we can and let's get out."

Morrall said she doesn't know what—if any—damage their house has sustained, but the destruction the fire left has already left a hole in their community.

"Even if our home is there, our grocery stores are gone, our restaurants are gone, our small businesses are gone," she said of the damage. "There's only one road in and one road out of the Palisades Highlands, and I know a lot of people saw footage of cars being bulldozed down. That's the main road to our house. So, some of our neighbors were stranded in their homes until they bulldozed those cars out of the way."

The emergency is extending to other regions in the LA area. Photos from Mequon native Brooke Bayer show the sky above Warner Brothers Studios turning black from smoke and flames.

The Red Cross has crews in California assisting anyone who needs help with evacuations or shelter. Wisconsin volunteers tell TMJ4 they are ready to head west whenever they are needed.


TOPICS: Local News; Weather
KEYWORDS: california; fire; la; wisconsin

1 posted on 01/09/2025 7:08:19 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

You Can’t Make This Up:
<><>LA County Fire Dept Donated Fire fighting Equipment to Ukraine
<><>Biden’s USAID State Dept Funded 16 Ukrainian Fire Departments

LA’s raging fires have already claimed two lives and destroyed 1,000’s of acres and homes, as firefighters face unprecedented challenges, such as water shortages from dry hydrants. Tax paid equipment sent to Ukraine was needed to bolster these firefighting efforts.

Demented Joe Biden’s USAID tax dollars funded 16 Ukrainian Fire Depts
<><>with protective gear, motor pumps,
<><>chainsaws, rescue motor cutters,
<><>rechargeable spotlights, fire extinguishers,
<><>and hydraulic rescue tools.

The lesbian LA fire chief, govt power and water “officials” rake in massive salaries $700
and $800k per annum, plus perks, and all that “accidentally” falls into their bank accounts.


2 posted on 01/09/2025 7:10:00 AM PST by Liz ((This then is how we should pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Maybe someone is sending a real strong message.


3 posted on 01/09/2025 7:10:41 AM PST by The Louiswu (You get what you vote for, good and hard.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Liz

You’re going to see an end to ‘American Taxpayer Largess’ the SECOND President Trump is sworn in. Bank on it. :)


4 posted on 01/09/2025 7:14:03 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Alright.


5 posted on 01/09/2025 7:25:02 AM PST by Liz ((This then is how we should pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
The death toll is now up to five as of this morning. I think from the Eton fire. Newsom is now blaming local residents for lack of water in the hydrants:

NY Post:

Gov. Newsom passes the buck to ‘local folks’ when asked about hydrants running out of water during Pacific Palisades fire

Trump called for him to resign this morning - and I couldn't agree more.

From my back yard last night:

B9874-BDA-2-D66-4-E6-B-8-B26-B4515841-C048-1-201-a

Air pollution here is in the "purple zone" - the highest possible, pulled out a new air filter yesterday from one of the air purifiers and it was black with soot, even though our doors and windows are closed.

6 posted on 01/09/2025 7:25:39 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I hope so but we know we taxpayers will pay for Calif guv and LA Mayor screw ups


7 posted on 01/09/2025 7:26:18 AM PST by RWGinger (FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Liz

That’s not the problem. Sending useful equipment to Ukraine can only be criticized because of the amount expended; setting them up with firefighting equipment was a good thing to do.

The problem was that California did not set up it’s own firefighting systems to be effective. California’s firefighters were not give the people (LA cut the fire department budget), the equipment, the task focus (DEI was higher priority than putting capable people in place), or the infrastructure (especially water infrastructure) to do their own job. California’s laws (as of the last report I saw; this may be obsolete) forbade clearing brush and tinder from her forests, and from her power transmission lines.

What California’s government did for Ukraine, is the distraction. The problem is what California’s government did not do for California.


8 posted on 01/09/2025 7:33:51 AM PST by Keb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

Democrats hate Americans. They want depopulation.


9 posted on 01/09/2025 9:18:30 AM PST by cnsmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

Maybe someone is sending a real strong message.
= = =

I would capitalize Someone.


10 posted on 01/09/2025 11:45:50 AM PST by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson