Tricia Consentino, a Pacific Palisades resident and business owner, shared her harrowing experience of evacuating her home and business due to the devastating fire that swept through the area. While her home remained intact, her business in the village was lost to the flames. Consentino recounted the challenges she faced during the evacuation process, including being blocked by police on the road despite being instructed to leave.
During her initial attempt to evacuate, Consentino described encountering debris and thick smoke that heightened her fears of being trapped in the fire. She even went out of her way to rescue a young man who was walking through the canyon, bringing him to safety in her car amidst the dangerous conditions.
As they navigated through the smoke-filled streets with flames on either side, Consentino likened the experience to a scene from a movie, feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by the chaos surrounding them. The family's second evacuation attempt proved successful with the assistance of a police escort after the road had been cleared of debris.
Reflecting on the impact of the fire on her community, Consentino expressed sorrow over the significant loss of homes and businesses, estimating that about half of the people she knows have been affected. As a tutoring business owner with approximately 200 students, she faces the challenge of rebuilding her business and supporting her community through this difficult time.
