LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Joe Everett told wildfire victims and evacuees that he feels like he “failed” the Pacific Palisades community during a community meeting in Westwood Thursday night.

Many residents, some of whom lost everything during last week’s wildfire, expressed anger and frustration during the meeting.

Some shouted questions like, “When can we get access?” “Why couldn’t you save our community?” and “Why is my home gone?”

Everett, a third-generation resident of Pacific Palisades, apologized to those in attendance.

“It’s extremely, extremely hard for me to look you in the eye knowing that, quite honestly, I feel like I failed you in some respect,” Everett said as his voice broke with emotion. 

When he finished the emotional address and was about to move on to other matters, the crowd interrupted and applauded Everett’s candor.

The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 during one of Southern California’s most powerful windstorms in over a decade, scorching nearly 24,000 acres and damaging or destroying over 10,000 structures.

Firefighters were often overwhelmed by embers flying for miles through the air only to ignite additional structures. Crews also reported running out of water while attempting to douse the flames.

Not many of the crowd’s questions were answered during the meeting, where fire officials provided further details about the firestorm that many already understood.

“I’ve never seen fire behavior like that in 39 years. This incident is going to go down as the most destructive fire incident in the history of Los Angeles County,” L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.