When the Palisades Fire erupted on Tuesday, rapidly growing to torch nearly 20,000 acres and destroy more than 5,000 structures, one family jumped into action to save their home.

As of Thursday, the Palisades fire had reached 15,000 acres, spreading to Malibu and Topanga and torching homes and restaurants along the Pacific Coast Highway. One resident told the Washington Examiner ’s video producer Natasha Sweatte that his community is coming together in this time of crisis.

Unrelenting Santa Ana winds continued to propel flames through the Pacific Palisades area for a third day, spreading over 17,000 acres and destroying or damaging thousands of structures.

Los Angeles has been battling fires fueled by violent winds of up to 160km/h. Nearly 180,000 people have had to flee their homes. Since the start of the fire, which broke out near Pacific Palisades before moving into the San Fernando Valley,