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Theatre writer describes experiencing LA wildfires

Getty Images Tom MacRae smiles at the camera outside a theatre. He is wearing a blue jacket and back-rimmed glasses. His hair is styled in a quiff. Getty Images
Tom MacRae, formerly of Northamptonshire, said the wildfires in LA were "really scary"

A British television and theatre writer based in Los Angeles has described the uncertainty of living through the city's wildfires.

Tom MacRae, who wrote the hit musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie and grew up in Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, was in LA when the fires broke out.

At least 27 people have been killed, and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed in what has become one of the worst wildfire disasters in the city's history.

Mr MacRae said: "When you have to leave your house and say goodbye, thinking 'I may never see this or any of my things ever again'... it was really, really scary."

Reuters Two firefighters dressed in yellow suits and white helmets look on at a fire through a clearing.Reuters
The Palisades fire in LA began on 7 January

About 82,400 Californians are under evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Mr MacRae said: "We've been quite close to one fire and very close to another. Both are finished with now.

"The wind was blowing in the other direction, but if it had turned, it could have come down the hill and got us within a few minutes. So we were very lucky.

"When we thought we were in the all clear, we got an alert that around half a mile down the street a large four-storey house went up.

"That was when we were evacuated. We actually left before waiting for the official evacuation order because we could see how close it was."

The blaze, which has burnt more than 24,000 acres, has been fought by 5,100 personnel.

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