Butler and Fuentes’ stories were just two examples of many in a city where destructive wildfires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and drought conditions, have been burning since Tuesday, forcing more than 180 000 people to leave their homes.
Ten deaths have been reported so far, but authorities fear that figure will rise as fires continue to consume entire streets and thousands of structures in densely populated areas of Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, local real estate agents, like Joe Cilic, have warned that unscrupulous landlords are already taking advantage of the disaster, suddenly luring homeless people into renting emergency accommodation at exorbitant prices.
“In a normal market you can do that,” Cilic said. “After a disaster, it’s a crime.”
Cilic, who works for Sotheby‘s and has long been active in the Pacific Palisades community, said he, too, was forced to rent a new home after fires destroyed the home he shared with his wife, Amy, their two children, Alexander and Sofia , and their two dogs.
“It’s not our dream house by any means,” Cilic said of the rental, adding that it was unfurnished and the first things he invested in were air mattresses. “But it’s good to have an address.”
Cilic said he has received calls from dozens of other people like him, many of whom are still dealing with the loss of their homes and almost all of their possessions.
“They’re trying to find their new dream home, but they’re just not going to get it right away,” Cilic said. “I was lucky. When I signed the lease for my rental, there were already 30 other people vying for the same property.”
