West

California wildfire survivor shares story of narrowly saving his own house from Eaton Fire: 'A miracle'

Published

5 hours ago

January 13, 2025

California wildfire survivor shares story of narrowly saving his own house from Eaton Fire: 'A miracle'

A survivor of the devastating Eaton Fire that devastated the Altadena area of Los Angeles County recently spoke up about his experience fighting the inferno.

Justin Christie, a resident of Altadena, spoke with Fox News Digital on Saturday afternoon about his experience. As of Saturday evening, the Eaton Fire, which began on Tuesday, is only 15% contained.

Christie explained that his family has lived in the area since 1967, and had never seen anything as destructive as the Eaton Fire before.

“[I’ve seen] tons of fires on this hillside,” Christie recalled. “When I saw this, when I came out in the street and I saw the flames up on the hillside, something just told me this was different.”

NEWSOM CALLS TRUMP’S CLAIMS ‘PURE FICTION’ AFTER PRESIDENT-ELECT POINTS FINGER OVER CALIFORNIA FIRE TRAGEDY

Justin Christie is pictured in front of a view of damaged structures and homes caused by the Eaton Wildfires in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Getty Images/Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

“I really got frightened, and I started to think [about] what I needed to do to prepare for it.”

Christie said that he was especially alarmed after seeing one of his palm trees catch on fire, which had never happened before. He quickly got all of his family members into his car and drove them away from the scene.

“I’ve never, in all the fires, never had one of our trees catch on fire,” he said. “And that was the one that really said, okay…we’re in big trouble.”

Christie later drove by to check on the status of his house – when he realized no one was going to extinguish the fire on his palm tree, Christie decided to put matters into his own hands and fight the fire himself.

“I thought my house, many times, was going to go,” he recalled. “From 8 in the evening to 12 o’clock noon. This house here, that burned next to me, was the last one that was to put me in danger.”

“When that one finally calmed down…I had a little sense of relief.”

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Congress members tour the wildfire disaster zone in Altadena on Saturday. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

But Christie said that that sense of relief was short-lived before another neighbor of his suffered a fire in their garage. Though Christie’s house was unscathed from that fire, the resident described the whole situation as “just shocking.”

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s just enough to make you want to cry,” Christie said. “So many people just lost everything.”

“And I never, ever thought….we’ve been here for so long…I always thought we were just far enough out of the fire’s reach.”

When thinking back to the experience, Christie described the sounds and sights of the wildfires as “incredible.”

The auditorium at Elliott Junior High is barely recognizable after being ravaged by wildfire in Altadena, Calif., on Friday. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

“The breaking glass, the explosions from gas lines, people’s propane tanks, cars catching on fire,” he vividly described. “It just sounded like several freight trains coming at you.”

Overall, Christie said that his house’s survival from the Eaton Fire was nothing short of a miracle.

“It was some miracle that I got a hold of the fire…the wind died down at one opportune time,” he said. “And if it hadn’t….it would have caught this trellis I have next to me, it would have caught my house on fire and I would have been done. And there were several times when I wanted to leave, but I didn’t. I stayed.

“If I had left, the house would be gone. Totally gone.”

Andrea Margolis is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.

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Montana

Majestic Video Of Elk Her In The Wild Goes Viral: WATCH

Published

27 minutes ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Majestic Video Of Elk Her In The Wild Goes Viral: WATCH

PublishedJanuary 13, 2025 10:27 AM EST|UpdatedJanuary 13, 2025 10:27 AM EST

An incredible video of an elk herd in Montana is captivating the internet.

Montana is one of the most beautiful states in America. In fact, I’d argue it’s the most beautiful state in America with only Maine (you can read about my working class trip to Maine here) being able to also compete for the top stop.

It has incredible mountains, snow and plenty of wild animals roaming around. The last one is why we’re here today.

Montana elk herd goes viral.

KTVQ News shared a video a woman filmed from her kitchen window near Bozeman of a massive elk herd roaming around.

Generally speaking, we like to see big elk get smoked, but this one is a nice change of pace. It’s a great reminder of the beauty of nature.

You can watch the stunning footage below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

That’s a very cool video, and it’s proof you don’t always have to be shooting something out in nature in order to see something great.

Do we enjoy awesome hunting kills at OutKick Outdoors? Without a doubt, but there is plenty of room for lots of different content.

For those of you who might not know, I used to live in Bozeman and got to see some really cool stuff in Montana during my time there. If you haven’t ever visited, then I suggest you pencil it in. It’s an awesome state.

Hunters kill massive elk in Colorado. (Credit: Getty Images)

What did you think of the video? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

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Nevada

2024 one of the deadliest years on Nevada roads on record

Published

33 minutes ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

2024 one of the deadliest years on Nevada roads on record

Last year proved one of the deadliest on Nevada roads, with 412 deaths resulting from vehicle crashes.

The 412 traffic deaths in 2024 resulted from 377 crashes involving a fatality, according to an annual report from the state Office of Traffic Safety. That makes 2024 the fourth-deadliest year on record, according to state records dating back to 1991 and tracked by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

As is the case each year, the top contributing factors to fatal crashes were speeding and impairment, according to the state.

The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety’s internal tracking of crashes reveals that between 50-60 percent of those who die in road crashes have an impairing substance in their system, according to Anita Pepper, spokeswoman for the office.

The deadliest year on record was 2006 with 431 deaths. The next deadliest year was 2005 with 427; followed by 2022 with 416; 2024 with 412 deaths; and 395 in 2004 rounds out the five deadliest years.

“Unfortunately, the numbers are trending very high,” Pepper told the Review-Journal. “We are almost back to where we were in 2022, and it’s devastating to see that the number is climbing.”

Last year’s total is an increase of nearly 6 percent compared with 2023’s total of 390 traffic deaths.

In Clark County, traffic deaths rose nearly 14 percent in 2024, with 293 deaths compared with the 258 seen in 2023.

Increasing safety

Clark County’s Office of Traffic Safety, which was founded in 2022, is focusing on re-evaluating its priorities when it comes to roads, deep-diving into data,and looking at sections of roads and intersections that need to be improved.

“At some point there will be a document that is the Safe Streets for All Action Plan for Southern Nevada,” Clark County Office of Traffic Safety Director Andrew Bennett told the Review-Journal. “We’re focusing a great deal of resources on that.”

Erin Breen, director of UNLV’s Road Equity Alliance project, said a lot can be done to increase the safety of all road users, but she said only a few leaders have the will to stand up and explain what needs to be done.

“Because the average driver sees the change as detrimental to their commutes, and getting places fast is a way of life here, unfortunately, it’s the leading contributor to fatalities too,” Breen said.

With speed continually a top factor in fatal crashes, Breen said curbing that is the easiest way to reduce road deaths. She noted that it wouldn’t be cheap, but it is the easiest and most effective way to make Nevada roads safer.

“Changing how fast drivers are comfortable traveling would add to the safety and comfort of those on foot, bike or mobility device,” Breen said. “Narrowing travel lanes on arterial roads, with further reductions at intersections would slow drivers down and assure that the crashes that do happen would be less severe. It would also allow for protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks for those traveling under human power.”

Part of the county’s action to create the Safe Streets for All Action Plan includes overlaying crash and citation data with speed involvement to paint a picture of the Las Vegas Valley’s roads.

“That might have disproportionate representation of crashes and high-injury crashes,” Bennett said. “That will paint a picture countywide, including our rural communities in that as well. That’s the bigger picture, smaller picture I think we’ve done more and continue to work with individual neighbors and businesses in the community, places of interest, whether it be schools or parks, ensuring that we have the ability to listen to the people that are using our road networks.”

Vulnerable road users

Traffic fatalities among vulnerable road users, which includes pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, saw some of the latest increases in the state and in the Las Vegas Valley.

Motorcyclist deaths rose an alarming 28 percent in the state, going from 64 in 2023 to 82 last year. In Clark County, motorcyclist deaths jumped 22 percent in 2024 compared with the year prior, going from 50 in 2023 to 61 last year. Washoe County, which includes Reno, saw a nearly 63 percent increase in motorcyclists’ deaths, from eight in 2023 to 13 in 2024.

“I can say that speed was a big factor in our increase. A lot of the time speeding motorcyclists were their own cause of death, but so many times they were aided by drivers turning, mostly on permissive flashing yellow arrows, which are great for moving cars, terrible for saving lives,” Breen said.

Bicyclists also saw an increase in fatalities, going from 14 in 2023 to 15 in 2025, a 7 percent increase in the state and increasing from 10 to 11 deaths in Clark County, a 10 percent jump.

Pedestrian deaths in the state rose by nearly 5 percent, going from 107 in 2023 to 112 in 2024. In Clark County, pedestrian deaths rose by 14 percent, with 95 deaths last year, up from the 83 seen in 2023.

“In 2023, the state reached over 100 pedestrian fatalities for the first time, we came dangerously close just in Clark County (this year),” Breen said.

Breen noted that during the Great Recession, when fewer people were driving, only 29 and 30 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2009 and 2010, respectively. That number increased to a then-all-time high in 2017 at 78 fatalities, a number that then was topped in both 2018 and 2023, with 83.

“Our population increase isn’t the issue, people who drive far too fast and completely focused on themselves is a problem,” Breen said.

Deaths tied to vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt dipped slightly with 64 in 2024 compared with 68 in 2023, a nearly 6 percent drop in the state. Clark County saw a nearly 10 percent decrease, going from 41 last year to 37 in 2024.

Personal choices

Even with all the messaging, educating and engineering from state and local officials occurring in relation to roads, the key aspect to increasing safety is choices made by each individual driver, Bennett said. Even though many believe that speeding will get them to their destination quicker, in traffic, data suggests otherwise.

“We need to have an honest conversation with out community,” Bennett said. “There’s report after report that shows that speeding 10-12 mph over the speed limit doesn’t result in you getting to your destination any quicker. Speeding isn’t worth it. Nothing delays traffic like a fatal crash. We’re trying to balance moving our community safely and effectively, but making sure that safety is part of that conversation.”

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X. Follow @mickakers on X. Send questions and comments to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com.

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