California Wildfires Strike Close to Home for FOX 13 News Reporter

The aftermath of this week’s wildfires in Southern California is devastating, leaving destruction in its wake. While these fires may be hundreds of miles away from Utah, they hit close to home for me, as the areas affected were once familiar places I lived and worked.

The evacuation zones, which have come dangerously close to my brothers’ homes in Granada Hills and Sylmar, are now only a few blocks away. I recall working for a newspaper in Pacific Palisades, an area now engulfed by flames. Recent photos show the place where I once sat at my desk, a view that once overlooked a school that is now gone. The coffee shop where I met Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson has also been reduced to rubble.

These wildfires have caused unimaginable destruction, and it’s hard not to think about what would happen if a similar event took place in Utah. In Salt Lake City, it would be akin to losing everything from 400 South to Rose Park, with Capitol Hill, Temple Square, and downtown reduced to ash.

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In St. George, residents like Sherrie Slater are reflecting on how such a catastrophe could affect their communities. If a fire of this magnitude hit St. George, everything from Pioneer Park to the Dixie Convention Center would be destroyed. Slater is now preparing for the worst, discussing with her family what essentials to have ready, just in case.

For Lew and Gayle Davis, visiting from Washington state, this is not their first encounter with wildfire danger. Having witnessed a similar fire situation in Steheken, Washington, they understand how quickly fire can move, even from miles away. It’s a harsh reminder of how vulnerable we all are to the unpredictable nature of wildfires.

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

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