A SURVIVOR of the deadly Los Angeles fires has relived the terrifying moment firefighters screamed at families to ditch their cars and run for their lives.
Phillip Cohen, 68, was forced to leave his beloved home in the path of the wildfire inferno that’s killed five and displaced 180,000.
“This is the worst I’ve seen [in Los Angeles]. The spread is crazy,” Cohen said in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
“I don’t know what’s left. I may have lost all of my son’s baby photos from my hard drive, everything from my computer, and furniture. I can’t go back for four of five days.”
At least five fires have broken out in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday morning, and three haven’t been contained at all, officials said on Thursday.
The historic Pacific Palisades and star-studded Hollywood Hills neighborhoods have both been hit, and A-list celebs like Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, and Billy Crystal have seen their homes reduced to smoldering rubble.
Strong winds have blown flames to the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset regions, with President-elect Donald Trump deeming the tragedy “apocalyptic.”
“This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a firefight,” the Los Angeles Fire Department’s David Ortiz told KTLA.
It comes as…
On Wednesday, Cohen, a retired educator who is fighting cancer, ran to the Westwood Recreation Center for cover as flames approached his property.
In his condition, Cohen was anxious to leave the comfort of his home, so he watched and waited while others evacuated.
It didn’t take long for his neighborhood to descend into chaos.
“They had to get out by foot. They had to leave their cars,” he said.
According to the survivor, there were “women sobbing, carrying babies and holding on to toddlers, running down Sunset Boulevard.”
“It was a mess. And as time went by, it became more chaotic.”
By the time Cohen could see the flames approaching, he knew it was time to leave. He grabbed one of his neighbors, loaded up into his car, and headed to the shelter.
“I grabbed my meds and my cell phone. The person I’m with here, he didn’t have a chance to get his car.
“I have condo insurance, so I’m covered. But I’ve heard stories of many who aren’t.
“I must say, major disasters can be a horrible equalizer in the sense that people with huge estates in the Palisades and Brentwood have nothing left.
“They’ve lost everything.”
Andrew Crowley, who lives in Pasadena, grabbed his laptop, CPAP, a few outfits, and pictures of his mother before rushing to the bus and leaving town.
For the past year, he’s struggled to find employment and had just $200 left in his bank account when the flames started encroaching on his property.
But he still had an active Pasadena Transit Pass, which he could thankfully use to get to friends who live in Irvine.
“I could have gone to the shelter in Pasadena, but who knows if things will get worse from there,” he exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
Crowley was grateful for the brave firefighters who risked their lives to keep Californians safe but admitted that emergency alerts left him confused.
The maps sent out by officials were “spotty,” and the alerts were “lacking in clarity,” Crowley said.
“Feels like a real failing of the city,” slammed Crowley.
He joined a growing chorus of people blasting politicians like Governor Gavin Newsom for their lack of preparedness.
“Really infuriating to learn that Mayor Karen Bass defunded the fire department to the tune of $23 million,” he said.
“They don’t have the manpower for this. Firefighters need better working conditions.”
Crowley said the fire completely razed his landlord’s building, but he hasn’t heard news on his property.
As someone who has survived two previous house fires, he feels prepared to weather the storm and has hopes he can overcome this latest tragedy.
“Nothing phases me. It’s not great, but I’ve been through worse,” he said.
There are five main fires that have hit LA over the last two days and are now threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.
Here’s a list of the key facts for each of the blazes:
Palisades fire:
Eaton fire:
Sunset fire:
Hurst fire:
Lidia fire:
Cadaver dogs are sifting through the rubbing for bodies, and officials believe the death toll will rise throughout their search.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said some areas “look like a bomb was dropped in them” and reiterated the disaster was a “crisis.”
Law enforcement is struggling to hold the fabric of the city together, as 20 people have already been arrested for looting.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who was newly elected to his position, issued a chilling warning to anyone who’s resorted to crime in the wake of tragedy.
“These acts are despicable,” he said.
“Do not expect anything [other] than maximal punishment.”
California has been home to dozens of devastating wildfires, including four currently burning in January 2025 that have left over 1,000 structures ruined. Here are the five most destructive wildfires in state history:
Source: KABC
