Shock images of LA home split in two
A hillside home that miraculously survived the destructive Los Angeles flames has split in half from a mudslide triggered by the water runoff from the firefights.
A hillside home that miraculously survived the destructive Los Angeles flames has split in half from a mudslide triggered by the water runoff from the firefights.
Shock images showed the crumbling Pacific Palisades home in two pieces – just one of the 12,300 structures destroyed in the worst wildfire in the city’s history.
The home narrowly survived the Palisades Fire, the largest of the raging blazes in southern California that have killed at least 27 people and left at least 36 more missing.
Aerial footage of the wreckage revealed the house behind the structure burnt down, which caused runoff to spill down the hill where the houses were built.
MORE:Celeb homes destroyed in LA fires revealed
Firefighters used water in the firefight to keep the Palisades home from burning – but the sliding mud and debris caused the house to break in half due to the pressure.
Bryan Kirkwood, a security guard for some homes in the area that survived the fires, spoke to local publication KTLA about the destruction.
“This is not good,” Kirkwood told the outlet.
“This is devastating. I didn’t realise it was this bad.”
He said he was shocked to find the home split in two.
“I didn’t see the news, got out here and looked and it didn’t hit me until now. Wow. This is a big deal.”
As of Thursday evening, 22 per cent of the Palisades fire was contained.
Combined, the wildfires have burned through 60 square miles as firefighters fought to get control of the flames.
The cause of the blazes remains unknown.
Over 170,000 were forced to evacuate their homes as the fires ravaged Los Angeles County.
As Los Angeles residents left their houses, some homeowners hired private guards like Kirkwood to protect their property from looters taking advantage of the natural disaster.
On Wednesday, new Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman issued a warning to looters and burglars.
“There are people out there who have decided that they are going to take advantage of this tragedy and that they’re going to exploit this crisis for their own personal benefit,” the DA said.
“We have sent this warning, and I’ll say it again: The question is not if, but when you are arrested.
“You will then be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.”
Hochman’s warning comes as a looter allegedly dressed as a fireman was caught breaking into mansions devastated by the flames.
Crime runs rampant on the grief-stricken LA streets as an alleged arsonist admitted he started a fire because he “liked the smell of burning leaves.”
Firefighters are continuing to work around-the-clock to get the blazes under control.While the strongest Santa Ana winds have weakened, the National Weather Service warned that more dangerous conditions are expected next week.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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