Los Angeles, USA: The Palisades, a luxurious neighborhood approximately 32 kilometers west of downtown Los Angeles, has been ravaged by an unprecedented wildfire, destroying properties worth billions of dollars. This catastrophic blaze has engulfed many iconic landmarks in the city.

"The destruction is overwhelming. Only a few isolated homes remain intact," shared Moira Shourie, an Indian American resident of the Palisades, speaking to PTI from Los Angeles.

Shourie and her family, along with their pets, evacuated their home in the scenic area, known for being home to Hollywood stars like Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal. They have been staying in a hotel in downtown Los Angeles for the past two days.

"These fires carried embers hundreds of feet into the air, making containment impossible. A fire captain described it as trying to stop a tornado—you simply can’t. Aircraft that typically drop fire retardants couldn't be deployed, leaving the firefighting efforts entirely reliant on human intervention. It was heartbreaking," Shourie explained.

"I can’t even support my friends. Virtually all of them have suffered significant losses—whether their homes were destroyed, severely damaged, or contaminated by smoke and ash," she added.

After canceling planned visits to Italy and the Vatican, outgoing President Joe Biden addressed the situation on Thursday, calling the fires in California catastrophic. Speaking from the White House, Biden noted the extensive destruction of homes, schools, and businesses, stating that entire communities have been obliterated, lives lost, and families left permanently scarred.

"These are the worst fires Los Angeles has ever faced," Biden remarked after meeting with senior officials.

The death toll currently stands at six, with thousands of structures destroyed. Over 360,000 residents have been displaced by the blaze, which has devastated more than 17,000 acres in the Palisades area alone, making it one of the most destructive incidents in recent history.

The fires have deeply impacted Indian-origin families, many of whom have lost everything.

"Thankfully, the timely evacuations have minimized casualties, but recovery will take years—perhaps three to five—even for partial rebuilding," shared another Indian-origin resident with PTI.

"My office was located along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, next to the famed 'Billionaire’s Beach.' That entire stretch, both on the beach and inland, is now nothing but ashes," noted Bagla, another resident affected by the disaster.

In total, the fires have scorched over 28,000 acres in and around Los Angeles, the future host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The Palisades wildfire has claimed numerous celebrity homes, including those of Paris Hilton, Anna Faris, Eugene Levy, Cary Elwes, and Mandy Moore.

Shourie reflected on the devastation, sharing that her family lost their residence of nearly five decades to the flames. "It will be a long road to recovery," she concluded.