The Palisades fire kept growing Saturday — coming dangerously close to the Brentwood neighborhood.
ABC News’ Matt Rivers spent Saturday in Brentwood, following firefighters as they snaked hoses through the exclusive suburb, winding into the backyards of multi-million dollar homes replete with views of the Mandeville Canyon.
There was less wind and more firefighting resources available, Capt. Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News as flames crept closer and closer to the balcony of the mini-mansion where he stood.
A firefighter sets up a hose while fighting the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Eric Thayer/AP
“Right now, this is our biggest threat. This is where a fire is burning right up to homes,” he said. “This is an all hands on deck.”
The flames were shooting up the hill in bursts every time the wind blew, but nothing like the screaming hellscape Pacific Palisades saw days earlier. The windspeeds were low enough that well-positioned firefighters continued to battle back the flames each time they got too close.
Firefighters monitor the advance of the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Eric Thayer/AP
Spotting a nearby indoor pool, a couple of firefighters went in with a pump and started sending pool water through a hose to fight the fire below. The house aiding in its own defense — firefighters using water no matter its source.
“Dude, get out of the canyon!” a firefighter frantically yelled to a man who was deep in the canyon’s shrubbery below using a garden hose in a fruitless attempt to tame the flames. He listened.
Firefighters line up for structure protection while battling the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Eric Thayer/AP
The other massive difference was air power. Drop after drop after drop, an unrelenting drumbeat of thrumming helicopter rotors and roaring jet engines made a visible difference on the hillside fires.
The result was keeping this fire under control, at least for now, and keeping this neighborhood standing. But that can all change if the winds come back. No one in this neighborhood feels ready to claim victory.
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Publish date : 2025-01-11 14:37:00
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