Luxury neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades and Malibu, home to celebrities, have been ravaged by recent wildfires, affecting both wealthy residents and the broader community. The Westwood Recreation Center has become a shelter for evacuees, offering essential supplies and emotional support. Stories from those displaced reveal deep losses and personal struggles, such as Roya, who mourns her lost possessions, and Chris, who maintains a hopeful outlook despite his uncertainties. Amid the crisis, community solidarity shines through.
Luxury Neighborhoods and Unforeseen Consequences
The Pacific Palisades and Malibu neighborhoods stand out as some of the priciest areas in Los Angeles County, attracting celebrities like Anthony Hopkins, Taylor Swift, and Neil Young, who own exquisite properties here. However, the recent wildfires that swept through the region have impacted more than just the wealthy residents. A visit to the evacuation center situated in Westwood reveals the broader human toll of these disasters.
Westwood Recreation Center: A Shelter of Hope
Typically bustling with sports and recreational activities, the Westwood Recreation Center has transformed into a refuge for hundreds fleeing the flames since Tuesday evening. This facility is just one of approximately a dozen evacuation centers established throughout the city.
Outside, pallets stocked with drinking water greet those arriving, while a local pizza service provides meals at the entrance. Inside, a television broadcasts the latest news updates, and the Red Cross has set up cots and distributed clothing from donations made by the community. In times of crisis, the generosity of Americans shines brightly.
In the parking lot, makeshift caravans are parked, and individuals in casual attire gather, clearly having left their homes in haste. Among them is Roya, a 57-year-old who escaped from Malibu’s hills with her daughter Rezvon and husband. Clad in a hoodie and jeans marked with soot, her tired eyes reflect her turmoil.
Roya expresses her anguish over losing cherished photo albums, stating, “I can only think about how I should have saved the photo albums. I just can’t forgive myself for that,” as she gazes into the distance.
Originally from Iran, Roya and her husband established a real estate business in Malibu after purchasing multiple properties in 1984. They lived in one house and rented out four others. Now, they have received devastating news from a firefighter tenant who sent photos of their homes engulfed in flames. “Every time I close my eyes, I think of everything I have lost,” she shares sorrowfully. With her husband at 64, they feel too old to start rebuilding from scratch.
They managed to save their three cars and their pet goat, which is now being carried across the parking lot by Rezvon, a 24-year-old trained jewelry designer whose collections were lost in the blaze.
Meanwhile, her father is occupied with phone calls to insurance companies and FEMA, explaining that the family’s life savings were essentially tied to their property. After losing their insurance coverage following a severe fire in 2018, they found themselves with limited options. The only remaining coverage offered by the state of California was a mere million dollars for properties valued at five million. “We never imagined that all the houses would burn down at once,” she laments.
Another evacuee, Chris Parry, has just received new shoes and a pillow from the center but has opted to sleep in his car, as it’s more comfortable for his dog. Having lived in his aunt’s guesthouse in Pacific Palisades, he currently lacks a permanent home, stating, “I live day by day,” with a hint of humor.
Despite the chaos, Parry maintains a positive outlook, planning to attend his weekly dance class. “It could be so much worse; just look at all the lives lost,” he says. “I need nothing except my dog.”
Interestingly, some individuals at the evacuation center do not strictly require assistance. One woman steps outside to walk her dog while her young son plays nearby. Residing in Santa Monica, she evacuated with her mother, son, and two dogs after her child panicked due to the smoke. She openly enjoys the community support, saying, “It’s so nice not to have to do the dishes for once.” The center provides child care, meals, and even gifts, including a dog carrier she received. “For us, this is mainly an adventure,” she admits, highlighting the contrasting experiences amid the crisis.