Once the California wildfires are contained, I’m sure we’ll hear even more harrowing and heartbreaking stories of loss and survival. I was surprised that several outlets have already compiled lists of landmarks damaged or destroyed in the fires. One in particular sent a shiver down my spine.
NBC News reported that Palisades Charter High School is just “one of several Los Angeles County schools that sustained ‘significant’ fire damage.”
Deadline explained many “places on the sprawling campus were not visibly damaged by the blaze, including most classroom buildings and gyms, as well as the baseball field, stadium, aquatic center and lush quad.”
However, both outlets noted that about 40% of the school was either damaged or destroyed. Like all the other schools licked by the flames, it’s temporarily closed until further notice.
They also both referred to notable alums who attended the school, which included:
- Filmmaker J.J. Abrams
- Director Adam Shankman
- Actors Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Katey Sagal
- Rapper Will.i.am.
They also listed the movies and TV shows the school had appeared in, including the original adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, the Freaky Friday remake with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, and MTV’s supernatural teen drama Teen Wolf.
Set-jetters may have known the California school was a location for all of those productions. Diehard horror fans may have known it was in Carrie. It was news to me and gave me a chill because it’s Carrie. Besides the pig’s blood part, one of the other memorably iconic moments is when the title character sets the gym ablaze during prom.
The fact the school where that movie was set found itself part of a real-life fire disaster chilled me to the bone. What about you?
Check-In
It’s one thing to watch a disaster movie. It’s quite another to live through a real-life disaster or watch one unfold.
If you want to help those affected by the fires, the links below direct you to articles listing ways to donate to food banks and animal shelters, as well as other agencies. Note that “donate” means everything from giving tangible goods to time and monetary donations.
- CBS News – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/help-victims-california-wildfires-affecting-los-angeles-county
- Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/danafeldman/2025/01/11/how-you-can-help-people-and-animals-impacted-by-the-california-wildfires
- NBC News – https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-to-help-victims-los-angeles-wildfires-rcna187274
- The New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/help-california-la-wildfires-victims.html
- USA Today – https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/12/los-angeles-wildfires-donate-victims/77655315007
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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The LA fire is a painful tragedy for so many people. I pray for mercy soon!
Amen, Priscilla. I’m hoping the winds aren’t as bad as they expect this week again, but if there are winds, may they help rather than hurt. Or maybe bring in some moisture to help the firefighters battle the blazes.