Personal trainer Dolvett Quince, best known for his role on Seasons 12-17 of "The Biggest Loser," has been posting his comments on social media as wildfires spread across Los Angeles County, killing many Californians. People are displaced.
Koons said he first heard about the fire on social media and saw smoke from his home just 2 miles away in Palisades.
"I stayed there that night. It was very difficult to breathe in the house because you could smell the ashes and there was just smoke in the air. It went down my throat, through my nose, through my eyes and onto my dog. Same thing, we all decided to pack our bags just in case, and then the next day we got an evacuation notice.
Basic phone numbers for Los Angeles area residents and how you can help them
Celebrity trainer Dolvett Quince recounts the moment he evacuated during the wildfires sweeping California.
Koons said when he first saw the fire starting to smoke, he thought it was a shame. He didn't realize the seriousness of the situation at the time, but when he got home today, it was dire.
"There's a lot of brush, a lot of stuff that's been blown down. There's still a lot of debris on the road from tree damage. I think we've got a long way to go before it gets cleaned up... It's going to look nice. "Not good," he said.
He remains optimistic as always. Recall that there have been many other disasters over the years.
"Katrina survived; Puerto Rico survived. Right? They were able to bounce back. I think because California has so many resources, the people who live here want to see their cities handled and managed better. I think I'm hopeful that people will take action to ensure that we emerge stronger."
Palisades residents describe losing home in fire Fox News video
Firefighters work on the deck of an oceanfront property after the Palisades Fire destroyed it on January 8, 2025, in Malibu, California. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
The community around him is already showing signs of recovery.
"I see people using bottled water to help others, and that's exactly what I'm going to do when I leave here with you and go out into the community and help people," he said. “I think there’s a positive shift happening here in Los Angeles where people are actually taking care of each other and helping others.”
Like most wildfire victims, he also expressed frustration with the government's preparedness in a region prone to fires and earthquakes.
“I feel like we knew about the problem, but despite knowing it, we were not prepared for it,” he said. “We pay too much tax to get this limited care.”
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He did, however, praise firefighters in the region and neighboring countries for their quick response and assistance, saying they deserved more for their hard work.
"The response of firefighters and first responders, firefighters and female firefighters has been amazing, absolutely amazing," Koons said enthusiastically. "Firefighters should be paid more, should be appreciated more, and I I think as a state, especially in a fire-prone state, I think there should be improvements there. , we should take better care of them.”