Former North Carolinians face evacuation amid California Wildfires

For former North Carolinians now living in Los Angeles, the ongoing wildfires are a jarring experience.

Fire trucks fill the streets, evacuation orders are issued, and the air is thick with smoke.

Cameron Merritt, who lives in Los Angeles, shared his firsthand account with WRAL News. 

“Air quality is real bad, super high winds, pretty much what’s going on around here,” Merritt said.

Merritt, a Raleigh native, shared how close the fires are to his home.

“Fires are taking place 2–3 miles from where I live now. We’re getting a lot of smoke around here,” he said from Los Angeles.

With the fires intensifying, Merritt is preparing to evacuate again after a brief return home. 

“I already have a couple of bags packed—essentials, clothes, that sort of thing. I’ve got them loaded in the car,” he said.

Areon Mobasher, another Triangle native now living in Los Angeles, is also feeling the impact. With a sensitive respiratory system, he made the decision to leave as soon as the conditions worsened.

“I’m fortunate to have family outside the city, away from the action. When I lost power this morning—one of 4 million people in LA County affected—I decided it was best to get out,” Mobasher said.

For both Merritt and Mobasher, staying in touch with loved ones has been crucial during these uncertain times.

The fires, smoke, and evacuations make life feel like being trapped in a fireplace. Yet, their resilience and preparedness keep them moving forward, even as they face the terrifying reality of California’s wildfire season.

As of Wednesday, January 8, at least five people have been killed and more than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate.