Los Angeles brain surgeon saves streets from 'apocalyptic' wildfires

A Los Angeles brain surgeon who spent nearly a week fighting to save homes on his street from wildfires told the BBC he had spent 15 years preparing for such an event.

Malibu resident Dr. Chester Griffiths, 62, defied evacuation orders and held off the Palisades Fire with the help of his son and neighbors until emergency services arrived.

Dr Griffiths told the BBC's Today programme: “We always knew there would be a fire one day, but we didn't know when.”

“We never thought this would be so catastrophic and apocalyptic.”

Griffith said he returned to fight fires on Malibu Street last week, accompanied by his sons, Chester Jr. and Colbert, hours after having brain surgery.

“Houses fell like dominoes,” he said.

Thankfully, he and neighbor Clayton Colbert had a plan of action in the event of a fire and procured hoses that could be used.

Dr. Griffith, his son and Mr. Colbert connected four hoses to fire hydrants, sprayed water on the flames from a nearby rooftop and used soil to extinguish embers on the ground.

Dr Griffiths said: “We had embers burning for about 12 hours.”

Firefighters only joined the trio in the final days of the week-long ordeal, as the number of fires in the Los Angeles area was “extremely severe” and left resources “severely stretched.”

“(The fire service) don't think they can save all the houses,” Dr Griffiths said.

He said he “completely understands” why fire services are too busy to help, adding: “That's why it's so important to be trained in advance, have equipment and really get community support.”

Fire crews in Los Angeles are still battling two large blazes and two small blazes, bracing for more possible damage.

The Palisades Fire, burning between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's west side, has destroyed more than 23,000 acres and is one of the most destructive fires in California history.

At least 24 people died in the fires in the Eaton and Palisade Fire Districts, 23 others are missing, and more than 90,000 people are under evacuation orders.

residents are Prepare for further disruption Forecasts show the winds that fueled the fires may pick up again.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said “emergency preparations” are being made for near-hurricane-force winds expected throughout Tuesday.

President Joe Biden says it will cost tens of billions of dollars to rebuild urban areas burned by nearly a week of wildfires.