Aerial video shows before and after views of Palisades Fire in Los Angeles
(KTLA) – The scope of damage caused by the Palisades Fire is even more apparent when seen from above.
Nexstar's KTLA got its first clear aerial look at the destruction Thursday morning and used satellite technology to share before and after views of Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood devastated by the blaze. You can see those images in the video report above.
After two days of ground images showing some of the "thousands" of structures that have burned in the massive fire, the smoke finally dissipated enough for Sky5 to share an overview of the charred landscape.
“I couldn’t image what we were preparing to see once we got over here on this side of the hill,” pilot Rich Prickett said. “I’m seeing more destruction here in Pacific Palisades than buildings that are standing."
The Palisades Fire, already the city's most damaging wildfire ever, was said to also be one of the most destructive natural disasters in the city's history by Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley.
“Those were all homes at one time and they’re just completely destroyed. One neighborhood after another … Nearly the entire community of Pacific Palisades has been destroyed here over the past couple of days … It’s unbelievable,” said Prickett. "It burned up to the ocean."
Nearly 27 square miles burned in Pacific Palisades, which is dotted with celebrity homes and was memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit “Surfin’ USA.” The flames torched part of Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror movie “Carrie” and the TV series “Teen Wolf.”
The fire destroyed the public library, two major grocery stores, a pair of banks and several boutiques in Palisades Village. Actor Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years.
The fire was zero percent contained on Thursday afternoon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.