As Galway endured three days of orange weather warnings for ice, Oranmore native Shahira Barry faced a starkly different crisis in Los Angeles, her adopted home for over a decade. The Californian city is reeling from devastating wildfires that have destroyed over 12,000 structures across more than 60 square miles, displacing tens of thousands of residents.
Described by LA Fire Department Captain Erik Scott as "the most devastating natural disaster to hit the Los Angeles area," the Palisades and Eaton wildfires have left a trail of destruction. Over 88,000 people are under evacuation orders, with firefighters battling to control the inferno.
Shahira, a model, actor, and social media influencer, found herself thousands of miles away from her apartment, visiting her mother in Galway when the fires erupted. What should have been a special time for both Shahira and her mother, who due to early-onset dementia, lives in a 24-hour care facility in Galway, was interrupted by fears that the fire would claim everything she owned back in California.
Speaking about her experience, Shahira recounts the emotional turmoil of being unable to protect her belongings as flames threatened her neighbourhood.
"I never could have imagined what would kick off in LA while I was away, I was so nervous to return because it seemed like all hell has broken loose here and it was just absolute chaos," said Shahira, describing the nightmarish events of the past week, not knowing if her apartment would still exist when she returned to LA.
"My apartment is right on Runyon Canyon, and the fire came dangerously close."
'I feared I would lose everything'
Famous for its hiking trails and a key part of why Shahira chose to live in a neighbourhood close to the canyon, nothing stood between Shahira's apartment building and the blaze which swept through the nature trail on Wednesday, coming perilously close to consuming the surrounding homes.
As Shahira tried to find solace in Galway, she was inundated with emergency alerts from LA authorities, urging evacuation. "At 2 a.m. Irish time, I received texts and robotic calls warning me to evacuate immediately. It was terrifying, and I feared I’d lose everything."
'One of the lucky ones'
Despite the chaos, Shahira’s apartment was spared, a stroke of luck she doesn’t take for granted. "I’m one of the lucky ones," she reflected. "Many others have lost everything."
Returning to LA, Shahira described the eerie transition back to normalcy. "The immediate area around me seems fine, but the fires are still burning in places like the Palisades. The rebuild will take years, and for those who’ve lost their homes, recovery may never be complete."
The fires have highlighted the challenges faced by emergency responders. "Initially, they weren’t equipped to handle the scale of this disaster," Shahira said. "Water in fire hydrants and reservoirs ran out, and only when reinforcements from neighbouring states arrived did things begin to improve."
Community coming together
Despite the trauma, Shahira’s resolve to stay in LA remains steadfast. "While it’s frightening to witness such destruction, the community’s response has been inspiring. People have come together to help in ways that are truly heartwarming."
Looking ahead, Shahira is hopeful but realistic.
"LA has the World Cup, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl coming up, so rebuilding will likely be rushed. But for the ordinary people affected, the road to recovery will be long and painful. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile life can be."
For Shahira, Galway offers a grounding sense of home amidst the chaos, but LA remains the city where she continues to chase her dreams.
