A United Airlines passenger recalled the moment he saw the raging wildfires engulfing Los Angeles from above, describing the scene as “like Mordor in The Lord of the Rings''.
Mark Viniello told Fox News Digital that he was on a flight from Denver to Burbank on Tuesday night when passengers were informed before takeoff that the plane would be rerouted to Los Angeles International Airport due to high winds. spoke.
“When I opened the window about 20 minutes before landing, I was greeted with a view that could only be described as Mordor from 'The Lord of the Rings,'” he says. Viniello said of the plains.
“The other passengers were looking out the window, holding their breath and looking in general disbelief,” he said.
Live updates: California wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes
Aerial photo of fires in California. (X/Charles V. Payne)
Vignello said that in addition to the nightmarish scene below, there was turbulence caused by strong winds that passengers had been warned about.
“The landing was difficult and scary, but in the end it was worth the applause,” he said.
There are currently at least five wildfires burning in Eaton, Hearst, Palisades, Woodley and Tyler counties. Firefighters say the Tyler Fire is 50% contained, but other blazes are largely uncontained as wind gusts up to 160 mph are helping the wildfire spread.
California wildfires: What to do when evacuating
A fire has engulfed Southern California, killing at least two people and injuring “several” firefighters and civilians, authorities said. More than 1,000 structures were destroyed.
The Eaton Fire burns buildings and sways trees in strong winds in Altadena, California, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
About 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures are under threat from the wildfires.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the National Guard on Wednesday. Newsom was quickly criticized by President-elect Trump for resisting plans to send more water to the state's agricultural Central Valley, saying it could endanger endangered species.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
