Guernsey student escapes Los Angeles wildfires

Amelie Le Prevost, a first-year student from Guernsey, is currently studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, commonly known as UCLA. Recently, she found herself in a very dangerous situation due to wildfires that were spreading rapidly in the area. When the fires began, Amelie had to leave her university accommodation and travel approximately 300 miles north to escape the danger. The wildfires have been devastating, resulting in the loss of at least 24 lives, with 23 people still unaccounted for. Amelie expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support she received from her friends and family during this challenging time, stating, 'I am very grateful to be safe. ' Amelie had just returned to UCLA for her second semester after spending the Christmas holiday back home in Guernsey. She described the situation as frightening, saying, 'It's unlike anything I've ever experienced before. ' Coming from a small island like Guernsey, she was not accustomed to being so close to a dangerous area. Although UCLA was not in the evacuation zone, students were advised to have a bag packed and be ready to leave if necessary. Amelie shared that some of her fellow students had lost their homes to the wildfires, which made the situation even more heartbreaking. From her building, Amelie could see the flames and smell the smoke from the fires. She mentioned, 'UCLA is a couple of miles from where the fires are now. ' It was particularly distressing for her to learn that some professors had gone to work that day only to find their homes burned down while they were teaching. Amelie is currently staying in Gilroy, California, and she believes it is unlikely that she will return to campus before the end of the week. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the fires, but the Santa Ana winds are expected to strengthen again, making their job even more difficult. Amelie concluded by saying, 'It's definitely been a bit of a whirlwind second term for me, but it's been nice that everybody's been such a great community.