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How I was stranded in the Palisades Fire — and found my way out

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In 23 years in the Highlands in Pacific Palisades, a one-way-in, one-way-out neighborhood, I had a rule: If a fire in the hills burned more than an hour, I left.

Fires broke out nearby about every year and a half. We never once had an official evacuation, but I’d still load the car with photo albums, computers and original art and wait it out at a friend’s. I never wanted to wait to be told.

On the morning of Jan. 7, 2025, still packed from a business trip, I walked the dogs and made my first latte. My husband called to remind me it was a “Red Flag” day.

A few calm sips later, I glanced out the kitchen window and saw a locomotive of fire and smoke chugging across the distant ridge.

I ran upstairs for my overnight bag, a few special pieces of jewelry, and my passport, and put them and the dogs in the car. As I dashed back upstairs for something important I’d forgotten, my phone buzzed: “Prepare to Evacuate.”

Now I knew we were in trouble. As I backed out of the garage, it buzzed again: “Evacuate.” Damn.

A mile and a half later, with giant black smoke clouds billowing ahead, I emerged from the canyon only to hit gridlock, with fire on the hills on both sides. The man in the next car looked over nervously, and we agreed it was better to pull over.

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