I woke up to my phone vibrating from hundreds of notifications. Every single one had the same message: The Palisades is on fire. A week earlier, a smaller fire in the Palisades was swiftly contained. I anticipated a similar outcome, but my assumption was wrong.

I monitored the fire’s progress through various news sources, as updates were given quickly. Later that day, my friends and classmates expressed their growing concern as the fire approached their homes and Palisades High School. Footage of the fire’s devastation was released, leading me to believe that the school had been completely destroyed. Fortunately, only 40% of the campus had actually been damaged. My film classroom, which contained an extensive collection of valuable equipment worth thousands of dollars, was unfortunately lost in the fire, leaving us with only three cameras that students had borrowed.  

Later, I received text messages from my friends informing me that their homes had been destroyed. I also learned of an individual who had lost a cherished pet that had been with them for years. This devastating experience emphasized the remarkable resilience of the residents of Los Angeles, a testament to the city’s strength. #Palistrong

Edited by Sophia Winston