Footage from the California wildfires are emerging, showing the panic, and chaos of the rapid evacuation. As people fled their homes, many chose to drive. However, as flames started to bridge the road, some ran from their vehicles. Now, roads blocked by abandoned cars are being cleared by bulldozers so emergency services can continue to fight the flames.
Videos by Wide Open Country
If you have ever seen a zombie movie, you'll be familiar with the scene. People driving to get away from areas of danger will panic, abandoning their cars on already busy roads. As soon as a few do it, the rest are forced to follow. This results in roads completely jammed with locked, immobile cars.
Now, so that emergency services can reach both the wildfire and people who need rescuing, they are having to clear the cars with bulldozers. In a situation like this, people's personal property comes second to people's lives.
The footage shows the enormous bulldozer doing its best to clear away the cars blocking the roads. Many people online are outraged by people's short-sightedness in abandoning their vehicles, but I can sympathize.
Many have had to flee their homes amid roaring wildfires at their doorsteps. Packing what they could into suitcases they tried to get to safety. In a fever-pitch situation like this, people don't think straight. Either way, the people who left their cars behind expected them to be engulfed by fire. A bulldozer is no different.
Bulldozer Clears Cars Of People In Panic
Nobody would willingly leave their car in a road, and continue on foot unless in panic. The bulldozers used to clear the cars from the road are doing a fantastic job. Things like this are inevitable. It is easy to criticize from the safety of a keyboard, as so many online are. But, the reality of a wildfire is much more terrifying.
Annoyingly though, most people took their keys from the car. Leaving them in the car would have made the process a whole lot easier, and probably saved emergency services a lot of time. However, keeping a level head while fleeing from a burning home isn't exactly easy.
I am just glad these people have managed to hopefully get themselves to safety.
