Mike Jerrick's former Pacific Palisades homes burn down amid wildfires; victims speak out
PHILADELPHIA - The Los Angeles wildfires are taking a devastating toll on communities and impacting those with ties to those areas.
Stuart Geller evacuated from the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, where he has lived for several decades. He’s currently staying with a friend in Santa Monica and shared videos of the large clouds of smoke in the sky.
"I’ve lived here 45 years, never seen anything like this. Going down the hill was a warzone," said Geller. "My son has lost his house, my nephew has lost his house, my ex-wife has lost her house and I believe my brother lost his house."
Geller said he was updated on Wednesday morning that his house was still standing, and he is praying the flames don’t spread to his home.
Reports in California said the Palisades Fire burned more than 5-thousand acres. Firefighters are also battling two additional major fires in Los Angeles County.
The fires destroyed landmarks, businesses and homes and sadly claimed the lives of at least five people by Wednesday evening.
"My town is 70-80% gone, and we’ve lost our supermarkets and the post office and couple of the schools. I know they’ve lost palisades elementary school," said Geller. "The winds are still so strong, it’s impossible to fight this fire."
RELATED COVERAGE:
Airbnb offering temporary housing to people impacted by Los Angeles wildfires
Watch: Palisades Fire creates apocalyptic scene along L.A. highway
How to stop wildfire smoke from getting into your home and car
FOX 29 connected with Geller through our very own Mike Jerrick who lived in the Pacific Palisades for 12 years and raised his two daughters Jessica and Jill there during their formative years.
"When we were out there, I took my granddaughter Teddie to show the school and the church where my daughter, her mother, went to school and to church," said Mike. "It’s shocking, devastating. I’ve been watching nonstop our sister station KTTV in Los Angeles. I can’t believe what I’m seeing."
In fact, Mike was just back in the neighborhood during the holidays and spent some time showing his granddaughter around a place that holds precious memories for their family.
"The two homes that we lived in are now gone, their church where they made their first communions and went to mass every Sunday, that’s gone. Their school Corpus Christi School is gone. The building where they had their teeth straightened and had braces put on, that’s gone. The playground where they learned how to play tennis, basketball and softball that’s all gone," said Mike. "I feel bad for them because they are heartbroken and I know they’re just buildings, but all the memories in there."
As firefighters battle the three major wildfires, winds were gusting up to 100 miles an hour according to reports.
Dana Olita of Roxborough flew into Los Angeles Tuesday night and said the winds made flying very challenging.
"We were fighting 80 mile an hour winds, so I’m trying to record but I can’t keep my hands steady it was probably one of the most dangerous flights I have ever been on," said Olita. "We ended up having to go probably 50 miles out to sea to be able to turn, to come back to flying into LAX, because every time the pilot turned we would be hit with massive wind gusts."
Authorities said tens of thousands have fled to safety, but sadly many families will be returning home to ash.
"What’s next is I guess the rebuilding of the town and for me personally making sure my son is all right and his three girls," said Geller.
"Everybody can rebuild just as long as my friends and family members are still with us that’s all I care about," said Mike.