Teenager Prepares to Evacuate Amid Pacific Palisades Fire Emergency

Pacific Palisades, CA: A 19-year-old college student, Hannah Lunkewitz, is grappling with the reality of evacuating(Amid Pacific Palisades Fire Emergency) her home near the Bluffs as a raging wildfire approaches her neighborhood. With her parents and two brothers, Lunkewitz faces an uncertain journey as local roads remain jam-packed with vehicles attempting to flee the area.

“We were planning to drive out, but our neighbors warned us about the gridlock. No one’s moving,” Lunkewitz shared with CNN. The family is now considering a 10-minute walk to the Will Rogers State Beach as an alternative escape route.

Home from college for the holidays, Lunkewitz said she’s already packed with essentials, including clothes, her laptop, and other necessities. Meanwhile, her parents are busy gathering food, water, and important valuables for the evacuation.

“It feels surreal,” she said, adding that she is more nervous than anything else. “I’m in shock. It’s hard to process something like this happening in your own neighborhood.”

Having moved from Germany to Pacific Palisades a decade ago, Lunkewitz recalled that she’s never experienced a fire so close to her home. “It’s just more unreal to have it here,” she reflected.

The wildfire, intensified by strong winds and dry conditions, has forced thousands to evacuate in the Pacific Palisades area. Authorities have urged residents to act swiftly and safely as emergency services work tirelessly to contain the blaze.

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