Oakridge Residents Evacuate From California Wildfire

Occurred on January 7, 2025 / Sylmar, California, USA

Info from Licensor: "First video details the initial evacuation of the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, nestled in the foothills of Sylmar just south of Santa Clarita, from the Hurst fire on Tuesday January 7, 2025 at 10:33pm. Filmmaker Andrew Schwarz, 32, a resident of the community took the video while driving his Jeep Cherokee to evacuate along with the rest of the residents. The fire on the hill just North of the community's perimeter is seen. The chaos and traffic caused by the proximity of the fire is detailed.

The second video, also filmed by A. Schwarz, was shot at 12:32am Wednesday morning January 8 in the parking lot of Sylmar Towne Center, just about 2.5 miles from the Oakridge Community, where several residents congregated. Andrew Schwarz and his family parked their cars, got out, and watched the fire grow larger and more menacing after just a couple hours after fleeing. In the video, Andrew's father, Jeff Schwarz, 65, is heard saying, 'That is very scary. Two miles away,' worried for his family's safety and the possible destruction of his property and everything else the family owned. What followed was a full night spent in their cars, after having no alternative stay options due to so much of the rest of the city burning and travel being too dangerous. The video details the fire (the same fire as in the first video of evac) moving due East, toward the community. It barely missed the residences of the community and shifted more north on the other side of the hills of Sombrero Canyon. The residents returned to their homes the next morning, but were evacuated again later that same morning (1/8/25) after the fire briefly moved back in their direction, and then ultimately were rendered safe from the fire due to excellent fire prevention services from Ventura County, at which point they returned to their homes safely in the afternoon of 1/8."