A year after the Palisades Fire turned a desperate escape from Malibu into a fight for survival, Patty Phillips returned to the place where she nearly lost her life. In January 2025, Phillips was trying to evacuate with her dog, Koda, when her car became stuck on a boulder along a dirt road near Big Rock Drive. Flames were closing in, while thick smoke made it difficult for Phillips to see outside. Fearing she might not survive, she waited for help as her husband, James, searched for someone willing to reach her. As per CBS News, he eventually found Los Angeles County Fire Captain Malcolm Dicks, who agreed to enter the fire zone with him.
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