Melanie Griffith begs for prayers as her mother is evacuated from big cat sanctuary in path of ferocious LA wildfire that has gutted homes, destroyed 22,000 acres of land AND the set for Wipeout
Melanie Griffith asked for prayers after her mother was evacuated from a wildlife sanctuary because of raging wildfires in Los Angeles.
The actress wrote on Twitter: ‘Please say a prayer for all residents in the path of the #SandFire . My Moms place Shambala is being evacuated.’
Griffith’s 86-year-old mother, Tippi Hedren, opened the preserve in 1983 following on from her film Roar.
There are over 40 big cats – including lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, servals, bobcats, and an Asian leopard cat – who are cared for at the ranch.
On Sunday evening, Griffith, 58, confirmed that her mom was safe and the beloved cats had been saved. She wrote: ‘Mom is safe! Shambala is safe. Now sending love and thanks to all the firefighters who saved her and the cats.’
They accept donations for The Roar Foundation, the organization that runs the center.
Sable Ranch – a filming set used in the A-Team, 24 and Supernatural and the site for the Wipeout set – has also been destroyed.
The blaze has grown ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded.
Officials said it has run through the area ‘like a freight train’.
The latest figures released by the authorities say the blaze is at 20 percent containment and a total of 18 family homes have been gutted in the areas of Sand Canyon, Bear Divide and Little Tujunga.
On Saturday, authorities said the Sand Fire was at 20 per cent containment, but the U.S. Forest Service corrected that figure and said the fire remains at 10 per cent containment. Above firefighters battled the Sand Fire on Sunday
About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another blaze spanning 10,000 acres (16 square miles) north of the majestic Big Sur region.
Authorities say almost 1,700 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling the blaze in the mountains north of Los Angeles known as the Sand Fire.
On Sunday crews faced another day of hot weather, low humidity and high winds that could once again fan the fires’ explosive growth. Shifting winds sent smoke away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents were warned about poor air quality.
Late Saturday evening, a man’s body was found outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Detectives are working to determine whether he was killed by the blaze or another cause, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Rob Hahnlein said.
Boy didn’t stop kicking our seat during a very long Flight – Here’s what my dad did
Hi everyone, I’m Evelyn from Minnesota, and I have a story that will make you think twice before boarding a plane again. My dad and I were traveling from Alberta to Minneapolis. What started as a cozy and comfortable flight soon turned into a nightmare, all thanks to a little boy and his oblivious parents.
The Kicking Begins
About 40 minutes into our flight, a boy, probably around ten years old, started kicking my seat. At first, I thought it was a joke. I turned around and politely asked, “Hey buddy, can you please stop? I really want to enjoy my flight.” His parents shot me a weird look while the kid made a face, but I thought he got the memo.
Five minutes later, the kicking resumed, more relentless than before. This time, he was hitting both my seat and my dad’s. My dad, always the calm and composed man, politely asked the boy to stop as well. And he did… for about ten seconds. Then, it started again. Bam. Bam. Bam.
The Audacity of the Parents
My dad decided not to call the flight attendant. Instead, he reclined his seat as far as it could go. The boy, unable to kick anymore, started whining to his parents. The parents, instead of controlling their son, asked my dad to put his seat back up. “Our son should enjoy his flight too,” they insisted.
My dad politely refused. The audacity of these parents was beyond belief. They had the nerve to call the flight attendant on us. This is where things took an interesting turn.
The Flight Attendant’s Intervention
The boy’s father complained to the flight attendant, “This man put his seat back, and my son is uncomfortable!”
The flight attendant, maintaining her professional demeanor, turned to my dad. “Would you like to keep your seat reclined?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” my dad replied.
“Well then, we have no problem here,” she said, addressing the boy’s parents.
But the drama didn’t end there. The boy’s father was furious and demanded that the flight attendant make my dad put his seat up. The flight attendant explained that passengers are entitled to recline their seats if they wish. Frustrated, the boy’s father started raising his voice, causing a scene.
The Lesson
The flight attendant, seeing that the situation was escalating, called for backup. Another flight attendant and a senior crew member arrived. They listened to both sides of the story and then made a decision that shocked the boy’s parents.
“If your son cannot behave appropriately, we will have to ask you to move to different seats,” the senior crew member said firmly. “We have received multiple complaints about your son’s behavior.”
The boy’s parents, realizing they were outnumbered and outmatched, reluctantly agreed to move to the back of the plane. The boy’s father muttered something under his breath, but they gathered their belongings and moved.
As they walked past us, the boy shot us a defiant look. My dad smiled and said, “Next time, listen when someone asks you politely.” The boy’s face turned red, and he hurried after his parents.
Peace at Last
With the disruptive family relocated, the rest of the flight was peaceful. The flight attendants even checked on us a couple of times, ensuring we were comfortable. My dad and I enjoyed the rest of our journey, grateful that the situation had been handled so well.
When we landed in Minneapolis, we saw the boy and his parents again at baggage claim. They avoided eye contact with us, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. My dad had taught them a valuable lesson in respect and consideration for others.
Reflection
This experience reminded me of the importance of standing up for oneself and others. My dad’s calm but firm response to the situation not only resolved the immediate problem but also set a precedent for how to handle such issues in the future. It’s a lesson I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Traveling can be stressful, and we all need to be considerate of those around us. Hopefully, the boy and his parents learned that lesson too.
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