‘Feeling helpless’: Former Los Angeles residents speak on devastating wildfires

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Through the years, Nevada has seen a lot of Los Angeles residents move to Las Vegas.

Now, they are watching what used to be their home in the path of wildfires.

With how close the valley is to Southern California, it is easy to consider it our neighbor.

Many of our viewers go back-and-forth on the weekends to get that dose of beach life or still have loved ones there. FOX5 spoke to to Las Vegas residents who moved from LA and they all share one thought: Heartbreak.

“Having spent 13 years in Malibu and Manhattan beach area, I’ve never seen 100 miles an hour winds,” Chris Bennett said.

Bennett is the alumni president for Pepperdine University.

He lived in the Malibu area for many years and goes back often.

“We are seeing the fire jump over pacific coast highway, take out seaside homes I’ve lived in those homes over the ocean, and some of those homes have been there since 1900s,” Bennett said.

However, the worry now turns to making sure his friends back there are safe.

“It’s devastating to see these people who have lived and worked their have their livelihood taken away,” Bennett said.

FOX5 also spoke with former Los Angeles resident Sydney Knott, who has friends back in the Palisades.

“Everyone that we know in the Palisades has evacuated, and most are moved off with family and friends, and they had just minutes to get out,” Knott said.

It’s the area where she tells us she raised her kids and never thought a place that meant to so much would turn to ash.

“I think we are all right now feeling very very helpless,” Knott said.

Both Knott and Bennett are doing their best to keep in constant communication with their friends but the fires are making cell service spotty.

As of Wednesday evening more than 1.5 million people are without power.

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