Over winter break, junior Meghan Lee was enjoying her vacation in Los Angeles with her cousin: she was eating good food, celebrating the new year, and exploring the city. Just days after returning home, Lee’s mom received shocking news: her cousin had been forced to evacuate her home due to the uncontrollable Palisades fire.

“I was so scared, because my cousin is down there, and she’s really close to the Palisades,” Lee said. “Thankfully, her house was not destroyed in the fire, but she did have to evacuate for a few days.”

The Palisades fire started on Jan. 7 in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County and quickly spread to the Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. The fire was not only deadly by nature but also fast-spreading due to the harsh Santa Ana winds blowing from 80 to 100 miles per hour. The fires razed over 200 acres of land just hours after it had begun. 

“I don’t think the media shows just how fast the fire is actually spreading, because people get evacuation orders on one day and they don’t even get to make it home before the fire is at their doorstep,” Burlingame alumnus and UCLA freshman Chinmay Rao said.

The fire was fully contained on Jan. 31, after burning 23,448 acres, destroying 6,837 structures, and claiming 12 lives. As of Jan. 24, the Palisades fire ranked as California’s third-most destructive and tenth-deadliest wildfire. While its cause remains under investigation, Los Angeles County issued mandatory evacuation orders on Jan. 10 for residents in affected areas. Nearby communities were told to prepare for evacuation, and UCLA opted for a temporary shift to virtual classes until Jan. 17. 

Rao said that students could see the fire approaching campus from their dorm windows.

“We could see it expanding really rapidly,” Rao said. “It was a strange feeling for everyone because we didn’t know what to expect.”