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Join Telegram ChannelDolvett Quince, a personal trainer best known for his appearance on seasons 12 through 17 of Biggest Loser, took to social media as one of many Californians lost from their homes as wildfires spread across the Los Angeles County.
Quince says he first heard about the fires on social media and could see the smoke from his home just 2 miles from the Palisades.
“I stayed that night. It was very difficult to breathe in my house because you could smell the ashes and there was only smoke in the air. It was getting into my throat, through my nose, through my eyes, to my dogs It's the same thing, and we all decided to pack a bag just in case And then we received an evacuation notice the next day, there was. a warning,” he said.
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Celebrity trainer Dolvett Quince talks about the times before he was evacuated during the wildfires that swept through California.
Quince says when he first saw the smoke when the fires started, he thought it was a shame. At the time, he didn't realize the severity of what was happening, but when he returned home today, it was serious.
“A lot of shrubs, a lot of things were blown away. The roads still have a lot of debris from tree damage. I think we have a long way to go to clean things up…it has looks pretty bad,” he said.
He remains, as always, optimistic. Remembering that there have been so many other disasters over the years.
“Katrina survived; Puerto Rico survived. Right? They were able to bounce back. I think because California has so many resources, people who live here want to see that their city is better managed, better governed .I think people will take steps to ensure that we come back stronger, I hope that,” Quince said.
PALISADES RESIDENT DESCRIBES LOSS OF HOME IN FIRES | VIDEO FROM FOX NEWS
Firefighters work from a deck as the Palisades Fire burns oceanfront property January 8, 2025, in Malibu, California. (AP Photo/Étienne Laurent)
The community around it is already showing signs of rebound.
“I've seen people helping others with bottled water, and that's exactly what I'm going to do when I come down from here with you and go out into the community to help people,” he declared. “I think an energetic change has happened here in Los Angeles where people are actually taking care of each other and helping each other.”
He also expressed some disappointment, like most wildfire victims, about the government's preparedness in a region well-known for frequent fires and earthquakes.
“I feel like we knew the problem, but we weren't prepared to solve it, even though we knew it,” he said. “We pay too much tax to benefit from this limited care.”
Hollywood Hills Fire (FOX Weather)
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He, however, praised firefighters across the region and neighboring countries for their quick response and assistance, saying they deserved more for all their hard work.
“The response time of the firefighters and first responders, firefighters and firefighters that came was incredible, absolutely incredible,” Quince said enthusiastically. “Firefighters should be paid more, firefighters should be appreciated more, and I think as a state, especially in fire-sensitive states, I think there should be an increase. We absolutely should care enough about your hard work and what you have to endure to sacrifice your life and the lives of your family to do the work you do. We should take better care of them.