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Watch | Men and dog trapped in flames as California wildfires close-in

A video shared on X captures a house in Pacific Palisades engulfed by flames as wildfires rage across California.

The Pacific Palisades neighborhood is a hillside area along the coast dotted with celebrity residences and memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit “Surfin’ USA.” (X/@humansnocontext)

Fast-moving wildfires in Los Angeles have forced thousands including Hollywood actors and reality TV stars to flee their hillside mansions as wind-driven blazes ravage affluent neighbourhoods.

Videos circulating online captured the terrifying scenes as flames engulfed homes in the canyons, winds whipped through thrashing trees, and thick plumes of black smoke rose ominously into the sky.

One such video going viral on the internet shows two men and a dog trapped inside a home as flames close in.

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Through the glass windows, the flames could be seen just feet away, closing in rapidly. One of the men, trying to comfort the visibly distressed dog, gently patted its head and said, “You’re going to be OK, you’re going to be OK, alright?” However, the growing intensity of the fire prompted him to exclaim, “Oh s***,” as the situation became more dire.

Two men and a dog trapped in a home surrounded by the Palisades fire.

This is terrifying. pic.twitter.com/Xa17pH196j

— NO CONTEXT HUMANS (@HumansNoContext) January 8, 2025

Amid the chaos, the pair discussed whether they should pack their belongings and leave, but the urgency of the flames left little time for decisions. “Don’t worry about that, dude. Holy s***,” one of them responded as the fire raged closer. They confirmed they had turned off the gas to reduce the risk of an explosion and debated whether to open a window, with one advising, “Don’t open anything.”

A user named, Kevin Dalton later confirmed, “I am told the dog and both his humans were eventually able to safely evacuate the property.”

More than 70,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate as powerful winds fueled a fire in the scenic Pacific Palisades neighborhood, with over 13,000 homes and buildings at risk, spanning from the affluent neighborhoods overlooking the Pacific Ocean to the hillside suburbs. The fires have already caused severe injuries, adding to the devastation.

Actor James Woods, known for his roles in Casino and Once Upon a Time in America, shared emotional updates as wildfires threatened his Pacific Palisades home. Posting a video on X, Woods stood in his driveway, preparing to evacuate, while firefighting planes flew overhead, dropping water on the encroaching flames.

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“It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say,” the Golden Globe winner later reflected, capturing the heartbreak of potentially losing his home to the devastating fires.

We were blessed to have LA fire and police depts doing their jobs so well. We are safe and out. There are several elementary schools in our neighborhood and there was an enormous community effort to evacuate the children safely. Can not speak more highly of the LA fire and LAPD. pic.twitter.com/bdsSJmvQel

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 7, 2025

Human-induced climate change is intensifying extreme weather events worldwide, fueling more frequent and devastating disasters such as heatwaves, floods, and wildfires.