California man helps father-in-law, 83, escape wildfire with walker — with help from two good Samaritans
Firefighters are hoping that calmer winds Thursday morning will help them battle five wildfires in the Los Angeles area that have forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
Meanwhile, many stories of survival surface. Aaron Samson, 48, was caring for his 83-year-old father-in-law at his home in Pacific Palisades when it was time to escape Tuesday. They didn’t have a car, so Samson flagged down a neighbor who agreed to take them and their belongings.
Samson began filming their escape, with flames and smoke surrounding the two as they left the car. As Samson brought in a walker for his father-in-law, a woman could be heard screaming in panic as firefighters continued to lead the crowd.
“We got it, Dad,” Samson can be heard saying over and over as they evacuated on Tuesday.
CALIFORNIA FIRES RAGE THROUGH LOS ANGELES COUNTY, FORCING THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES
This image taken from a video provided by Aaron Samson shows his 83-year-old father-in-law fleeing wildfires after evacuating a vehicle near Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Aaron Samson via AP)
“My father-in-law used to say, ‘Aaron, if we’re ever in a situation where the flames are burning, just run and leave me here,'” Samson told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
It didn’t come to that. They walked for about 15 minutes before, for the second time in a few hours, a good Samaritan picked them up and drove them to security in Santa Monica.
BIDEN CELEBRATES GRANDDAUGHTER, NO QUESTIONS TAKEN AT CALIFORNIA FIRES BRIEFING WITH NEWSOM
People evacuate their cars as flames from a wildfire spread down a street near Pacific Palisades, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Aaron Samson via AP)
As of Wednesday afternoon, Samson didn’t know if the house survived, but he said they did owed to two strangers.
They saved us, he said. – They really stepped up.
Aaron Samson kept telling his 83-year-old father-in-law, “We got it, Dad,” as he evacuated. (Aaron Samson via AP)
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Their escape came as thousands of people fled wildfires Los Angeles area which turned picturesque neighborhoods into smoldering wastelands, with chimneys or wrought-iron staircases surrounding all that remained of the homes. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, the flames destroyed more than 1,000 structures, burned landmarks made famous by Hollywood and killed at least five people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
