Fear and anxiety when people flee a Hollywood fire

Burning wildfires surrounding Los Angeles have spread to the Hollywood Hills, a residential neighborhood overlooking the city's historic Hollywood district.

The Sunset Fire broke out at around 18:00 (14:00 GMT) local time on Wednesday, covering much of Hollywood in thick smoke and forcing an evacuation order.

While driving around Hollywood, I saw a lot of people running away from their homes with all the belongings they could carry.

When I stopped, some of them responded with fear and anxiety.

“Are you here to help people? Where should I go?” Anna Waldman asked as I got out of my car.

“Where is he safe?”

Sirens blared above us, helicopters roared.

When I helped her get to a safe area, she told me she was walking her dogs and was planning to stop at a grocery store when she smelled heavy smoke.

She returned home, looked out her windows, and watched the fire move quickly through the Hollywood Hills to within walking distance of her home.

She packed what she could: food, clothes, blankets, and food for her three small dogs.

“I can't believe this,” she said in exhaustion.

Makayla Jackson, 26, carried her two-year-old son, Ramare, on a street corner as they waited for a ride. They were evacuated from a homeless shelter that was in danger of fire.

“They just told us to get out and leave,” she told me.

She said she was moving toward Hollywood High School, where more help was being offered.

Much of the heart of Hollywood is covered in thick smoke. You can barely see the tops of the towering palm trees that line the streets here.

It is complete chaos in the streets near the fire. People use sweatshirts to cover their faces so they can breathe. Many of them carry bags and suitcases looking for somewhere to go.

Some were clearly wearing pajamas, which surprised them.

Many of the roads near the fire, such as the famous Hollywood Boulevard, which houses the Hollywood Walk of Fame, are congested with traffic.

Some even drive on the wrong side of the road to escape.

The inferno can be seen from nearby highways, where the darkness is illuminated with bright red colors.

On the outskirts of the legendary city, it is as if nothing has happened. People are dining, shopping and spending their evenings.