‘Everyone was trapped’: Australian mum loses everything in LA fire

A Sydney mother of two has recounted the horrific moment wildfires ripped through her California home, leaving behind nothing but ash and rubble.

An Australian woman who moved from Sydney to Los Angeles with her family has lost her home in the fires ripping through California.

Vanessa Quinn, originally from Sydney and living in California with her American husband Devon and their two children, Remi, 4, and Gigi, 2, was at their home in the Pacific Palisades when the fire began tearing through properties and moving towards the family at a rapid rate.

Australian mum Vanessa Quinn, her American husband Devon and their two small children returned to their home in Pacific Palisades to find nothing but a pile of rubble. Picture: GoFundMe

Talking to Sunrise, the Australian mother and real estate agent was working from home with her husband and waiting for the plumber to arrive when a fire warning pinged her phone.

At the time, their two children were at school and daycare. Mr Quinn immediately got in the car and made his way to collect them.

“Within 15 minutes, we could see the smoke and the flames from the back corner of our yard,” Ms Quinn said.

As Mr Quinn picked up his daughter, he watched the smoke billowing towards him, resembling a “large dragon”.

Homes in the Pacific Palisades have been destroyed by the destructive and ferocious fires. Picture: Apu Gomes / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

With their belongings crammed into a suitcase and thrown into the boot of their car, the family bolted from their home to the canyon roads, which were gridlocked.

“It took us two hours to do what would normally be a one-minute drive,” Ms Quinn said

“Everyone was trapped.”

Luckily, the family and their dog made it out of the city and headed to Mr Quinn’s mother’s house in the desert, where they remained until the flames passed through.

The fires have ripped through California at a startling rate. Picture: Planet Labs PBC / AFP

However, when the family returned to their LA home, it had been reduced to rubble.

The family home charred and blanketed by ash and debris, the only things left are remains of the brick fireplace, collapsed windows and walls and a set of stairs to the front door, a single burnt-out shoe sitting on the bottom step.

While their possessions and lifetime of memories may be reduced to ash, the family are “so happy that we are all safe and our dog as well”.

“It is onwards and upwards,” Mr Quinn said.

Ms Quinn’s sister, Rebecca, set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funds required to rebuild the home that has raised about $A115,000.

Homes have been engulfed in flames across the city. Picture: Agustin Paullier / AFP

At least 11 people have been killed during the fires in Los Angeles, including Australian man Rory Sykes whose cottage in Malibu was engulfed in flames.

The 32-year-old, who was raised in Sydney and lived with cerebral palsy, died in his self-contained cottage on the Malibu estate after his mother Shelley tried to douse the house in water.

Unfortunately, Dr Sykes said “no water was coming out of the hose”.

Tragically, the former child star and host of British children’s TV show Kiddy Kapers did not survive the blaze, dying of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Anthony Albanese extended his sympathies to Dr Sykes and her family as they grappled with the loss of their son.

“Can I send our deepest condolences to the family of Rory Sykes,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is a tragedy that an Australian has lost his life. DFAT is in close contact with his family. We’re providing consular assistance through this devastating time.”