nAfter six long nights away, many residents who evacuated due to the Palisades Fire were allowed to return home after some evacuation orders were lifted on Thursday. “It’s phenomenal and the officers are saying ‘welcome home’ and it’s just fabulous,” said Nelly Zahari, one of the returning residents.
More than 11,000 residents living on the outskirts of the fire were told they could return to their neighborhoods Thursday afternoon, but those streets still aren’t open to the public. From Woodland Hills to Encino and down along Sepulveda, police were checking IDs and only allowing in those who actually live there. “It’s good to be back knowing police officers protected our neighborhood. It’s really really good to be back home,” Zahari added.
Residents expressed their gratitude for the dozens of law enforcement officers, not just at checkpoints but also patrolling during all hours of the day, for likely keeping looters away. ”It was safe when we came, they had the National Guard, they had the FBI, they had the police, LAPD,” said Cathia Charvarejian.
Last Friday night, as the Palisades fire reached Mulholland Drive and cast an ominous fiery glow over the San Fernando Valley,entire neighborhoods were told to evacuate. Many left, unsure if they’d have a house to return to. “All these like huge fire clouds over our houses, we were just like helpless and praying at that point,” said Joe Sarafian.
Ultimately, the fire never reached the Valley but as people returned, they said there was still an uneasy feeling. “Hope for the best but prepare for worse and so we were just continuing to track and we didn’t really let our guard down up until even now,” said Anna Karapetyan. “We still have our cars packed or we’re thinking about unloading now but, you know, it’s been a stressful week.”
| Key Details | Information |
|——————|—————–|
| Evacuation Orders Lifted | Thursday afternoon |
| Residents Allowed to Return | Over 11,000 |
| Areas Affected | Woodland Hills to Encino |
| Security Measures | Police checkpoints, National Guard, FBI, LAPD |
| Resident Sentiment | Grateful but uneasy |
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After Six Nights Away, Residents return Home following Palisades Fire
Table of Contents
Published: January 17, 2025
Introduction: After six long nights away, many residents who evacuated due to the Palisades Fire were allowed to return home on Thursday afternoon. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.
Interview with Returning Residents
Q: How does it feel to be back home after the evacuation?
Nelly Zahari: “It’s phenomenal! The officers are saying ’welcome home’ and it’s just fabulous. It’s good to be back, knowing that police officers protected our neighborhood. It’s really, really good to be back home.”
Q: What was the experience like during the evacuation?
Cathia Charvarejian: “it was safe when we came back. They had the National Guard, the FBI, and the police—LAPD—all here. It was reassuring to see so many officers patrolling and keeping looters away.”
Q: How did you feel when the fire raged near your neighborhood?
Joe Sarafian: “All these huge fire clouds were over our houses, and we were just helpless and praying at that point. We left unsure if we’d even have a house to return to.”
Q: Are you fully at ease now that you’re back?
anna Karapetyan: “We’re hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. we’ve kept our cars packed,and even now,we’re thinking about unloading them. It’s been a stressful week.”
Key Details
| Evacuation Orders Lifted | Thursday afternoon |
|---|---|
| Residents Allowed to Return | Over 11,000 |
| Areas Affected | Woodland Hills to Encino |
| Security Measures | Police checkpoints, National Guard, FBI, LAPD |
| Resident Sentiment | Grateful but uneasy |
For Additional Information: Los Angeles City and County residents can contact the palisades Fires Information Line at (213) 484-5604 or visit LAFD’s Palisades Fire page.
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