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Topanga residents prepare to evacuate amid rapidly growing wildfires
Residents living close to Topanga Canyon were making preparations to evacuate due to rapidly spreading wildfires in the Los Angeles region.
With wildfires continuing to blaze throughout the Los Angeles vicinity, Olympic gold medallist Gary Hall Jr. is among the numerous individuals who have encountered significant losses.
“It was more devastating than any apocalyptic film you’ve ever witnessed and 1000 times more intense,” Hall shared with the Sydney Morning Herald.
The residence Hall was leasing in Pacific Palisades, California, where he operated his business, was engulfed by the flames, obliterating nearly all of his belongings – including his 10 Olympic medals.
“It’s chaos in Los Angeles. We were encircled by flames. The embers were falling around me as I jumped into my vehicle,” Hall remarked. “I managed to grab my dog and just a few personal belongings. It’s every person looking out for themselves.”
Hall mentioned that the fires advanced so rapidly that he was forced to leave all his swimming memorabilia behind during the evacuation.
“I did ponder over the medals. I didn’t have the opportunity to retrieve them,” Hall Jr. said. “Everyone is curious to know if the medals were destroyed? Indeed, everything was incinerated. It’s something I can move on from. I suppose all items are just possessions. It will require effort to rebuild. What can you do?”
The swimming pool at his property, where he instructs children in swimming, was also obliterated.
Hall noted that nearby Sunset Boulevard was “a complete standstill” and that individuals were leaving their vehicles behind and fleeing to safety. He managed to escape and is currently residing with family in San Diego. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist him.
A representative for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee stated they were not informed about Hall’s circumstances and would be making contact with him. The USOPC shared information on Wednesday concerning the support it is extending to its athlete community affected by the fires.
Hall secured consecutive gold medals in the men’s 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens) Olympics. Additionally, he claimed three golds as a part of Team USA’s relay squads in 1996 (Atlanta). He also earned three silvers and two bronzes throughout his Olympic journey.
Contributing: Tom Schad
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