Inside the desperate, chaotic escape from Pacific Palisades: 'If you go any further you will die'

The Palisades fire started out as a small brush fire around 10:30 a.m. near Piedra Morada Drive, but the Santa Ana winds quickly drove the flames through the dry brush and onto the neighborhoods below.

Darrin Hurwitz was working at his home when he noticed the smoke around 10:35. He packed a bag with clothes for his kids, laptops, medications and some family heirlooms.

Hurwitz was surprised by the lack of fire response, stating it took the better part of an hour before he began to see more than a sporadic number of fire engines.

He expressed concerns about the fire risk since moving back, noting that the area hadn't seen rain in eight months, heightening the danger.

Read at Los Angeles Times