'The flames were so big': WI woman's home evacuation journey from California wildfires

 

LOS ANGELES (CBS 58) -- It's been a whirlwind of emotions for La Crosse native Melissa Mickelson, as she experiences the devastation of the wildfires in Los Angeles firsthand.

Mickelson was on watch all day Wednesday hoping the flames would stay away from her apartment near Hollywood Boulevard, when all of the sudden the smoke and embers got too close for comfort.

"The flames were so big, and they were so close, and it was real scary," said Mickelson.

Mickelson, her boyfriend and dog had to evacuate their apartment Wednesday. They immediately hit the road, where even more chaos ensued. She says there was bumper to bumper traffic and emergency vehicles working to make their way through.

"I was panicking because we could not move, we were stuck in traffic," said Mickelson. "Everyone was freaking out around us and smelling it just made me think, oh my God, I'm going to die breathing in this air."

She says it took around 45 minutes to drive only four blocks, while embers and smoke filled the air.

"It took all night for us just to move just a couple miles," said Mickelson. "I mean it was really bad."

After a long night, she was able to make it to safety in Beverly Hills.

"We finally got out of there, but holy crap," said Mickelson.

Anxious to leave her apartment behind and worried for the safety of her community.

"It doesn’t worry me as much losing my apartment and clothes and random stuff I can buy," said Mickelson. "I was scared for animals and people who were living in the hills. The Hollywood Hills got real bad, it was a life-or-death situation right up behind us in the hills."

Mickelson says the evacuation in her area was lifted Thursday. She was able to go back to her apartment and nothing was damaged.

However, she says there is still a lot of ash in the air and that her and her boyfriend remain cautious as the wildfires continue to rage on.