LA brain surgeon saves street from 'apocalyptic' wildfires

In Los Angeles, a remarkable story unfolded as a brain surgeon named Dr. Chester Griffiths took extraordinary measures to protect his neighborhood from devastating wildfires. Dr. Griffiths, who is 62 years old and resides in Malibu, made the courageous decision to ignore evacuation orders and stay behind to defend his home and those of his neighbors. He was joined by his son, Chester Jr. , and their neighbor, Clayton Colbert. Dr. Griffiths shared with the BBC, 'We had always known that a fire would come someday - but we didn't know when. ' He expressed his shock at the severity of the fire, describing it as 'catastrophic and apocalyptic. ' Just hours before he returned to his street, he had completed a brain surgery, showcasing his dedication to both his profession and his community. Upon arriving home, he witnessed the flames threatening the houses around him. Thankfully, he and his neighbor had prepared an action plan for such emergencies. They had gathered hoses and connected four of them to nearby hydrants. Climbing onto the roofs of their homes, they worked tirelessly to spray water on the flames and used dirt to extinguish the embers that were falling around them. Dr. Griffiths recounted, 'There were burning embers coming down on us for about 12 hours. ' It was only in the last few days of their week-long struggle that firefighters were able to join them, as resources were stretched thin due to multiple fires raging across the Los Angeles area. Dr. Griffiths expressed understanding for the fire department's situation, stating, 'The fire department felt that all the homes weren't able to be saved. ' He emphasized the importance of being prepared and having community support in such dire situations. The wildfires have wreaked havoc, burning thousands of acres and destroying numerous buildings. The Palisades Fire, which is currently burning between Santa Monica and Malibu, has consumed over 23,000 acres, making it one of the most destructive fires in California's history. Tragically, at least 24 lives have been lost, and 23 individuals are still missing in the affected areas. Additionally, more than 90,000 residents are under evacuation orders as the situation remains critical. Weather forecasts indicate that strong winds, which have been fueling the flames, may intensify again. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has stated that 'urgent preparations' are being made in anticipation of near-hurricane force winds expected throughout the day. President Biden has also commented on the situation, noting that the cost of rebuilding the areas devastated by the wildfires could reach tens of billions of dollars.