ABC star stuns the view panel while reporting on LA wildfires from relatives’ burnt house
ABC News’ Chief National Correspondent, Matt Gutman, left the view panel visibly shaken as he delivered live coverage of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires from outside the burnt remains of his aunt’s home.
Wildfires ravage Los Angeles
The wildfires, which have been tearing through parts of Los Angeles, Malibu, and surrounding areas, have destroyed thousands of homes and forced the evacuation of around 70,000 residents. Among those affected is Gutman’s family, whose heartbreak was evident as he stood outside his aunt’s charred home to report on the unfolding disaster.
During his live broadcast on the view, Gutman shared:
“We can’t see it, but I can feel the heat emanating from this house, which actually happens to be my aunt’s house, who lost everything here, like so many people actually in this part of LA.”
Despite his personal connection to the tragedy, Gutman maintained his professionalism, though his emotions were clear. When host Sara Haines inquired about his aunt’s well-being, he admitted:
“Yeah, my aunt is struggling, Sara. You know, it’s been really hard for the family, but I think a lot of people, which is really interesting, have the same response – which is, ‘I’m okay.'”
He added that his aunt was not at home when the fire struck, expressing relief that no lives had been lost:
“We’re happy that nobody was killed, that nobody was trapped in these homes. There is a real fear across Los Angeles in a way that I’ve never experienced in ten years.”
A-list neighbourhoods devastated
The fires have hit some of LA’s most affluent neighbourhoods, including Pacific Palisades, home to several A-list celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Many of these high-profile residents have also lost their homes in the destruction.
Declared a state of emergency, the wildfires have transformed once-glamorous streets into sites of devastation. Firefighters are battling against extreme winds and water shortages, which have made containment efforts nearly impossible.
Fires spanning 25,000 acres
The fires, which now span more than 25,000 acres, have been reported in areas such as Hurst, Eaton, Woodley, Palisades, and Runyon Canyon. The scale of the destruction is so vast that the smoke is visible from space, according to images captured by NASA’s Space Observatory.
Federal support mobilised
President Joe Biden has responded swiftly to the crisis, approving additional aid and deploying resources to combat the fires. On Wednesday evening, he took to social media to outline the federal response:
“I have directed the @DeptofDefense to rapidly provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities to the region being impacted by the Southern California wildfires. We also continue to work closely with the National Guard. My thanks to the California National Guard and the Nevada National Guard for readying Airborne Firefighting Systems. Ten Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets are on their way.”
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The deployment includes firefighters, specialised equipment, and military helicopters equipped with water buckets to help control the blazes.
A community in crisis
As the fires continue to rage, communities in Los Angeles are grappling with loss, fear, and uncertainty. Residents like Gutman’s aunt, while devastated by the destruction of their homes, are thankful for their safety.
Gutman’s reporting highlights the human impact of the disaster, bringing a deeply personal perspective to a story that has affected thousands. As firefighters and emergency responders work tirelessly to combat the flames, the resilience of affected communities remains a beacon of hope amidst the devastation.
With resources being deployed on an unprecedented scale and aid pouring in from across the country, efforts to contain the fires continue. However, the scale of the destruction serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges posed by wildfires in a changing climate.
