California man helps his 83-year-old father-in-law flee a wildfire with a walker – with the help of two good Samaritans

Firefighters are hoping calmer winds Thursday morning can help them battle five wildfires in the Los Angeles area that have prompted tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

During this time, many stories of survival surface. Aaron Samson, 48, was caring for his 83-year-old father-in-law in his Pacific Palisades home when the time came to flee Tuesday. They didn't have a car, so Samson called a neighbor who agreed to drive them and their belongings.

Samson began filming their escape, with flames and smoke surrounding the two men as they abandoned a car. As Samson retrieved a walker for his father-in-law, a woman could be heard screaming in panic as firefighters continued to move the crowd forward.

“We got it, Dad,” Samson can be heard saying repeatedly as they evacuated Tuesday.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES RAGE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, FORCING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOUSES

This image from video provided by Aaron Samson shows his 83-year-old father-in-law escaping wildfires after evacuating a vehicle near Pacific Palisades, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Aaron Samson via AP)

“My father-in-law was saying, 'Aaron, if we're ever in a position where the flames are right there, run and leave me here,'” Samson told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

We haven't gotten there yet. They walked for about 15 minutes before, for the second time in a few hours, a good Samaritan picked them up and then drove them to safety in Santa Monica.

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People evacuate their cars as flames from a wildfire spread through the street near Pacific Palisades, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Aaron Samson via AP)

As of Wednesday afternoon, Samson didn't know if the house had survived, but he said they were indebted to the two strangers.

“They saved us,” he said. “They’ve really stepped up.”

Aaron Samson kept telling his 83-year-old father-in-law, “We got it, Dad,” during the evacuation. (Aaron Samson via AP)

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Their escape came as thousands of people fled wildfires in the Los Angeles area that transformed picturesque neighborhoods into smoldering wastelands, with chimneys or wrought-iron staircases for all that remained of the homes. Driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, the flames destroyed more than 1,000 structures, burned landmarks made famous by Hollywood and killed at least five people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.