Turkish citizen living in Emine Gülistan, whose home in Malibu, Los Angeles, was destroyed in the ongoing wildfires in California, described the experience as “living through hell.” The fires, which have scorched over 38,685 acres across four locations in the state, have claimed 24 lives and left thousands homeless. Efforts to control the blazes continue, involving thousands of personnel.
Recalling the harrowing events, Gülistan said, “I saw smoke and flames from the Pacific Palisades side and knew something was wrong.” She detailed how rapidly the fire spread, fueled by strong winds of up to 95 mph and extremely dry conditions following a lack of rain this year.
Gülistan described the heartbreaking loss of her home, which held deep personal significance. “It was a beautiful house filled with memories of my late husband and friends. Now, it’s completely reduced to ashes,” she said, adding that limited resources, including water and manpower, hindered firefighting efforts.
The situation in Topanga and Malibu remains critical, with roads closed and residents struggling to safeguard their properties. Local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fires.
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