A California family shared their frightening experience fleeing the Pacific Palisades wildfires. Eleven-year-old Lillian Davies documented their escape on January 7th, capturing her mother Julie navigating Palisades Drive amidst a smoke-filled, yellow sky. The video shows the approaching flames, with Lillian audibly expressing fear as they drove closer to the fire's edge. Julie can be heard praying for their safety and the well-being of their community during the ordeal.

The Davies family, including Lillian's 14-year-old sister Kelia, recounted the events on "The Faulkner Focus." Julie described the urgency they felt upon receiving the initial evacuation alert, emphasizing the need to leave their Highlands home quickly. With Palisades Drive as their sole exit route, the rapidly advancing fire made the drive treacherous, especially when traffic momentarily stalled their escape. Lillian shared her initial misinterpretation of the smoke as clouds, quickly realizing the danger as flames became visible.

Kelia, who wasn't with her mother and sister during the filmed escape, painted a grim picture of the devastation in their community. While some structures remained, she noted the widespread loss, including cherished landmarks and familiar places. Despite the hardship, she expressed hope and faith in recovery. The wildfires, impacting areas beyond the Pacific Palisades, including nearby Eaton, are considered among the most destructive in California's history.

An aerial view shows debris from burned properties, following the Palisades Fire at the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 10, 2025.  (REUTERS/Daniel Cole )