Kapfenberg Grammy winner Markus Illko witnesses the Los Angeles wildfires. “It is really as bad as it seems,” says the musician, who has prepared for an evacuation.
It is 10:30 am local time in Los Angeles on Friday when the ‘crown’ reaches him. Markus Illko packed his bags, refueled the car and planned the evacuation. “The fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood is currently about two miles from our house,” said the Kapfenberg resident, who lives in Santa Monica. “We have to constantly monitor the situation via an app. It doesn’t look rosy.”
No one is currently living a normal daily life in the “City of Angels”. “The smoke is so strong that you cannot open a window or go outside. Schools are closed and public spaces are closed. Of course, many people don’t come to work.” Rehearsals, says Illko, “are more like group therapy.”
Many friends and acquaintances have been affected
Ten thousand burned down houses – for Illko and many others that is not just a number, but a fate. “On Sunday I stayed with friends in a house that no longer exists. It’s all been wiped out, an area the size of Manhattan.” Americans tend to exaggerate from time to time. “But this time it really is as bad as it seems.”
Most of his acquaintances stayed with family and friends, says the guitarist, who studied in Graz. Not everyone is super rich and world stars. “Yes, the area is expensive, but only a small part of it is really rich. There are people who bought a house in Palisades 30, 40 years ago when prices were lower. Many have put their entire wealth into a house and many have already canceled their fire insurance.”
A bright spot in these difficult times is the cohesion in society. “The Americans stick together in such a situation and are very combative.” The fire certainly does not mean the end of the world-famous city, as some predicted.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
