Closing summary
We’re now closing this blog to continue our live coverage of the fires in California in a new blog. You can follow along here:
Here’s a recap of what has happened so far today:
At least two people were killed in the Eaton fire, north of Pasadena which has grown to 10,600 acres and has destroyed more than 100 structures. There have also been “a number of significant injuries”, fire officials said, and “tens of thousands of homes” are affected. About 32,500 residents were under evacuation orders, a drop from the more than 50,000 residents evacuated overnight.
President Joe Biden has directed the Department of Defense to rapidly provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities, including air support, to the state of California. The White House announced in a statement that the president has approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, allowing impacted communities and survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery.
“As the fires continue to devastate communities, President Biden is focused on mobilizing life-saving and life-sustaining resources across the region,” it said.
The Palisades fire, west of Los Angeles, has grown to more than 15,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive fire in the city’s history. About 37,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
The Hurst fire, in the San Fernando Valley, is close to 500 acres after erupting on Tuesday night. More than 3,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area in Sylmar.
More than 400,000 power customers were without power, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. Another 440,000 customers could face similar shutoffs depending on weather conditions.
Officials are urging residents across the region to conserve water so there is enough for firefighters to use. Demand was so high that three tanks emptied by Wednesday morning, causing some fire hydrants to dry out.
California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. President Joe Biden warned the recovery “is going to take time” as he attended a briefing with Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station. President-elect Donald Trump blamed Newsom’s environmental policies for the fires.
About 1.5 million customers are without power in southern California, with nearly a million of them in Los Angeles County, as wildfires continue to rage across the region, according to PowerOutage.us.
Agencies nationwide are rushing to aid California in its battle against the five wildfires that have broken out near Los Angeles since Tuesday.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters Wednesday that the California National Guard is adding two modular air firefighting systems, and the Nevada National Guard is preparing two more. The Defense Department has an additional four such planes that it can offer the state, if needed and if wind conditions improve for air support. She added that 10 navy helicopters have been directed to California.
Additionally, the National Interagency Coordination Center, which mobilizes wildfire aid, has dispatched additional firefighters, air tankers and scoopers (which deliver water from nearby lakes and oceans) from neighboring states.
Updated
Palisades grows to more than 15,000 acres
The Palisades fire, which became the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles’ history when it reached 11,802 acres Wednesday morning, has increased in size yet again – now encompassing 15,832 acres.
The fire is confirmed to have destroyed 300 structures thus far, according to CalFire.
Updated
The 30th Annual Critics Choice awards, which were scheduled to take place in Santa Monica on Sunday, have been postponed due to the wildfire in the neighboring Pacific Palisades region of Los Angeles. The awards show will instead occur on 26 February.
“This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community,” the Critics Choice award CEO, Joey Berlin, said in a statement. “All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected.”
Updated
In a phone call with Joe Biden Wednesday, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass shared on X that she and the president “discussed an urgent path forward towards recovery for the thousands of families impacted” by the wildfires raging across the city.
The White House confirmed the call, which it says took place as Biden returned to Washington DC aboard Air Force One after attending a briefing in Santa Monica Wednesday morning. Reporters who accompanied Biden could see smoke from the windows of their Osprey aircraft. The ride was bumpy as winds continued to be a challenge in the area.
Biden approves major disaster declaration for California, with DoD to deploy extra firefighters and air support
President Joe Biden has directed the Department of Defense to rapidly provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities, including air support, to the state of California.
The White House announced in a statement that the president has approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, allowing impacted communities and survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery.
“As the fires continue to devastate communities, President Biden is focused on mobilizing life-saving and life-sustaining resources across the region,” it said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has also approved Fire Management Assistance Grants to reimburse California for firefighting costs last night, it said.
Fema administrator Deanne Criswell is scheduled to travel to California on Friday to assess on-the-ground community needs like additional sheltering options and damage assessments, it said.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris are praying for those who lost loved ones, had property damaged, were injured, and for everyone affected by this and other devastating fires in the area.
“The situation remains extremely dangerous, and the Administration continues to urge residents to heed the warnings of local officials and evacuate immediately if told to do so.”
Updated
Summary of the day so far
Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as massive, fast-moving wildfires tear through several neighbourhoods of Los Angeles.
Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
At least two people were killed in the Eaton fire, north of Pasadena which has grown to 10,600 acres and has destroyed more than 100 structures. There have also been “a number of significant injuries”, fire officials said, and “tens of thousands of homes” are affected. About 32,500 residents were under evacuation orders, a drop from the more than 50,000 residents evacuated overnight.
The Palisades fire, west of Los Angeles, has grown to 11,802 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive fire in the city’s history. About 37,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
The Hurst fire, in the San Fernando Valley, is close to 500 acres after erupting on Tuesday night. More than 3,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area in Sylmar.
More than 400,000 power customers were without power, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. Another 440,000 customers could face similar shutoffs depending on weather conditions.
Officials are urging residents across the region to conserve water so there is enough for firefighters to use. Demand was so high that three tanks emptied by Wednesday morning, causing some fire hydrants to dry out.
California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. President Joe Biden warned the recovery “is going to take time” as he attended a briefing with Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station. President-elect Donald Trump blamed Newsom’s environmental policies for the fires.
The National Hockey League said tonight’s game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames has been postponed due to the “devastating effects of the wildfires.”
A makeup date will be announced as soon as it can be confirmed, it said.
A slew of Los Angeles premiere events have been cancelled due to the wildfires.
Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Studios scrapped the premieres for Unstoppable and Wolf Man, both of which were supposed to take place on Tuesday night.
Paramount and Max cancelled their Wednesday events for the movie Better Man and the upcoming TV show, The Pitt.
“Due to the dangerous conditions affecting Los Angeles we are canceling tomorrow’s premiere of Better Man,” a Paramount spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with those impacted by the devastating fires resulting from these conditions, and we encourage everyone to stay safe and follow guidance and orders from local officials and government agencies.”
Updated
Here are some of the latest images from the newswires showing fierce wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area, fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds.
Hurst fire grows to 700 acres
The Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley has grown to 700 acres, fire officials said.
An earlier update from Los Angeles City fire chief Kristin Crowley said the fire, which erupted about 10pm local time on Tuesday, had “rapidly expanded” to more than 500 acres.
Updated
Palisades fire grows to more than 10,000 acres
The Palisades fire has grown to 11,802 acres, LA fire chief Kristin Crowley said during a briefing with Joe Biden and the California governor, Gavin Newsom.
As we reported earlier, Crowley said her team knew there was a “significant threat” from the fire as soon as it started because of the “high, high, high winds”.
At least 1,000 structures have been destroyed from the blaze and tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders.
Updated
Biden warns 'it's going to take time' to recover
Joe Biden warned that “it’s going to take time” to recover from the wildfires.
“We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes,” he told reporters at a briefing in a Santa Monica fire station.
“It’s going to be a hell of a long way” before things get back to normal, the president said. “It’s going to take time.”
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, thanked Biden for his support. “It’s impossible for me to express the level of appreciation,” Newsom said.
Updated
Joe Biden and Gavin Newsom receive briefing from fire officials
Joe Biden and Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, are receiving a briefing from fire officials at a fire station in Santa Monica.
LA fire chief Kristin Crowley says she had never seen such high winds as when the Palisades fire broke out on Tuesday morning.
The Palisades fire is now an active fire fight as firefighters are doing their very best to protect people in the area, she says.
LA police department chief James McDonnell says the last 24 hours have been “unprecedented”.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he says.
Updated
All Los Angeles fire department air operations in the Palisades have resumed after being grounded due to extreme weather conditions.
LAFD helicopters are back to dropping water and hundreds of firefighters continue to be on the scene to help respond to the Palisades fire and Hurst fire, said LA’s mayor, Karen Bass.
Updated
Eaton fire explodes to more than 10,000 acres
The Eaton fire, which is centered near Pasadena and has killed two people, has exploded in size and grown to 10,600 acres, fire officials said.
Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone said during a news conference earlier this morning that the Eaton fire had grown to more than 2,000 acres.
The Biden-Harris administration has been in constant communication with California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, their teams, affected counties, and other local officials to support response efforts for the fires in southern California, the White House said.
As we reported earlier, Joe Biden is set to receive a briefing from fire officials at a local fire station in Santa Monica later today.
Updated
Nearly 400,000 homes without power across California
Nearly 400,000 customers were without power in California as of a short while ago, according to poweroutage.us.
Updated
The Getty Villa, a campus devoted to the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, said it remains safe and intact from the Palisades fire.
“While trees and vegetation on the property have burned, Getty structures have been unaffected, and thankfully, both staff and the collections are safe,” Katherine Fleming, head of the J Paul Getty trust, said in a statement.
The Getty Center is out of the fire zone but will be closed until at least Sunday to help alleviate traffic in the area.
Palisades residents urged to conserve water after hydrants temporarily went dry
Officials are urging residents across the Palisades region to conserve water so there is enough for firefighters to use after all the fire hydrants temporarily went dry.
“We pushed the system to the extreme,” said Janisse Quiñones, head of the LA department of water and power.
The “tremendous” demand on the water system resulted in tanks being emptied three times since yesterday, she said.
“Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure.”
“We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” Quiñones said.
Updated
Trump blames California governor for fires
Donald Trump blamed the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, for the “virtually apocalyptic” fires raging through the Los Angeles area, arguing he should have signed a declaration to pump more water through the state to prevent the situation.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
“I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is to blame for this.”
Updated
Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has not been impacted by the Eaton fire but it remains closed except for emergency personnel.
The fire is “very close to the lab” but there’s been no fire damage yet, the center’s director, Laurie Leshin, posted to X.
Hundreds of Nasa employees at the lab have had to evacuate from their homes and many have lost their homes, she added.
Summary of the latest update from LA officials
Here’s a recap of the latest on the wildfires from Los Angeles officials:
At least two people have been killed and numerous others injured, some with “significant injuries”, as a result of the Eaton fire. The fire has grown to more than 2,000 acres as it burned some 30 miles (50 km) inland in Altadena, near Pasadena. Some 32,500 people have been evacuated due to the Eaton fire and more than 13,000 structures remain at risk.
Thousands of firefighters are battling at least four separate blazes – Eaton, Palisades, Hurst and Woodley – in the metropolitan area of the Los Angeles area. Firefighters are coming from Nevada, Oregon and Washington to support the fight against the fires.
“There are not enough firefighters in LA county to address four separate fires of this magnitude,” LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said. The county was prepared for “one or two brushfires, but not four, especially given these sustained winds and low humidities,” he added. The fires are “stretching the capacity of emergency services to their maximum limits,” city fire chief Kristin Crowley said.
More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed because of the Palisades fire, and about 37,000 residents are under evacuation orders. While no fatalities have been reported from the Palisades fire so far, there have been a “high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate,” Marrone said. The Palisades fire has burned well over 5,000 acres and is 0% contained, and its cause is known.
The Hurst fire, in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, had exceeded 500 acres. More than 3,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area.
About 100 schools in the Los Angeles unified school district have closed due to the wildfires. The closures account for about 10% of total schools, superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
Two people were arrested for looting on Wednesday morning. “If you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I’m going to tell you something: You’re going to be caught,” Los Angeles County sheriff Robert Luna said.
Updated
Southern Californians have become used to mass wildfire evacuation orders in recent years.
In December 2017, multiple wildfires across the region forced more than 230,000 people to evacuate.
And in 2007, fires in San Diego triggered the largest evacuation in that county’s history – forcing more than 500,000 people to leave their homes.
Currently, the Palisades fire has forced about 30,000 people to evacuate and the Eaton fire has prompted evacuation orders for 52,000 residents.
Updated
California governor cancels Carter funeral trip and deploys California National Guard
California governor Gavin Newsom has cancelled a trip to Washington DC this week for Jimmy Carter’s funeral because of the wildfires.
Newsom was scheduled to leave the state to attend the funeral but he will remain in California, a spokesperson said.
Newsom also deployed the California National Guard to help deal with the fires. His office said the California National Guard and Cal Fire had “a unique partnership unlike any other state – skilled, trained personnel with vast wildfire fighting experience”.
Updated
Residents of Los Angeles have fled deadly wildfires engulfing the suburbs of the west coast megalopolis, as firefighters struggled to contain the flames overnight amid fears they would worsen.
Tanner Charles posted this footage to X saying “video of the moment my friend and I abandoned his house after we tried to save what we could. Please be praying for him and his family”.
Updated
As multiple fires rage across Los Angeles, residents in the sprawling suburbs and rural enclaves are bracing for another day of brutal wind.
Gusts across the southern California region peaked at 100mph, with swaths of the area seeing between 50-80mph winds over the last two days.
Trees thrashed and debris was strewn across yards in Chatsworth, California, a neighborhood at the foot of the Santa Susana Mountains, throughout a sleepless night on Tuesday. Residents anxiously kept watch on the glowing horizons and billowing smoke pluming over the mountains above wondering if new ignitions would start in the night.
Wind-whipped fires are difficult to stop and can move incredibly fast, especially through these parched landscapes.
“It was very surreal,” said resident Patty Robinson after trees thumped against her roof and the gusts howled.
“To hear this wind and know the effect it is having and the damage that it can bring makes my hackles rise,” she added. “My little lizard brain is freaking out.”
Even in an area prone to fire risk, where locals are accustomed to bouts of blustery Santa Ana winds, the early-January event has been a harrowing one.
The firefight continues on three major fires and locals begin cleaning up broken trees and wind-blown damage, but the extreme weather is far from through. The National Weather Service forecasts that critical fire conditions will continue into Thursday.
“Sustained winds reaching 30 to 40 mph, with stronger winds in the terrain, along with low relative humidity, and dry fuels will contribute to the dangerous conditions,” they wrote in a Wednesday morning update.
Updated
Biden to meet fire officials in Santa Monica for briefing
Joe Biden is set to receive a briefing from officials at a local fire station in Santa Monica on Wednesday.
The US president received a briefing from his team on the raging wildfires in Los Angeles county overnight, a White House official said.
Biden is traveling in the Los Angeles area on a previously scheduled trip and will add the stop to the fire station before returning to Washington later in the day.
Updated
LA county fire chief says not enough firefighters to handle blazes
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone, during a news conference, said there were not enough fire personnel across these agencies to handle the fires.
“All 29 fire departments in LA county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster,” Marrone said.
“There are not enough firefighters in LA county to address four separate fires of this magnitude.”
The county was prepared for “one or two brushfires, but not four, especially given these sustained winds and low humidities,” he said.
Updated
Here are some of the latest images sent from the newswires showing the effects of the Palisades fire, which has destroyed more than 1,000 structures.
The fire is 0% contained and burned more than 5,000 acres, according to fire officials.
Updated
Judy Chu, a Democratic congresswoman representing California, has issued a statement saying her “heart is heavy” after seeing the devastating across southern California.
“My thoughts are with the families whose homes, businesses, and schools have been destroyed or are in the path of the wildfires ravaging our region,” Chu said.
“I’m imploring everyone in the wildfires’ paths to listen to local emergency officials, prepare to evacuate, and follow evacuation orders when given.”
The Palisades fire could become the “costliest on record” not just in California but generally, due to structure losses, a climate scientist said.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, speaking to SF Chronicle, estimated the structure losses from the fire at at least four figures, potentially including some of the “most expensive homes in the world.”
Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) administrator Deanne Criswell said authorities are “closely monitoring” the ongoing wildfires in California
In a statement posted to X, she urged residents to monitor their surroundings and evacuate immediately if told to do so by local officials.
Los Angeles city council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson said Tuesday night was “one of the most devastating and terrifying nights” that authorities have seen in any part of the city’s history.
“We wake up this morning with a renewed spirit that we can defeat this fire and move on to a brighter day,” he said.
Kamala Harris's LA neighborhood under evacuation order on Tuesday night
A spokesperson for the vice-president, Kamala Harris, said her neighborhood in Los Angeles was put under an evacuation order on Tuesday night.
Harris and the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, were not at home at the time and they are “praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel,” Ernie Apreza wrote on X.
“The vice-president and president continue to closely monitor the wildfires, remain in touch with state and local officials, and have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help respond and recover from this terrible disaster.”
Updated
Two arrests were made on Wednesday morning for looting amid the wildfires, Los Angeles county sheriff Robert Luna said.
“If you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I’m going to tell you something: you’re going to be caught, you’re going to be arrested, and you’re going to be prosecuted,” he said. “Don’t do that.”
Updated
Palisades fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is 0% contained, LA county fire chief says
The Palisades fire has burned “well over 5,000 acres” and is 0% contained, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said. “The fire is growing,” he said.
An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed, he said.
There have been no reported fatalities, but a “high number of significant injuries” to residents who did not evacuate, he said.
More than 1,000 personnel have been assigned to the Palisades fire. “The cause of the fire is unknown,” he said.
Updated
Here’s an updated map showing the wildfires that have been raging in and around Los Angeles.
Two civilians have died in the Eaton fire, fire officials said in this morning’s news conference. There also have been “a number of significant injuries”.
About 37,000 residents are under Palisades fire evacuation warnings and about 15,000 structures are deemed at risk, said the LA County sheriff, Robert Luna.
As of this morning, the Palisades fire is still burning with evacuations in effect for the city of Calabasas, the city of Malibu, Los Angeles city, Pacific Palisades and unincorporated area of Los Angeles county and Topanga Canyon.
“You need to be prepared,” he said. “Make sure you have your essentials, important paperwork, your medications, things that you can take, your phone charger to survive for at least week.
“But if you are told to evacuate and given an order, there is nothing worth your life.”
Updated
LA County sheriff Robert Luna said approximately 32,500 residents are under Eaton fire evacuation orders.
About 13,186 structures are deemed to be at risk and that could grow evacuation warnings, he said.
This is a “very fluid” situation, especially in the Altadena area, he said.
LA unified school district superintendent Alberto Carvalho says the decision was made to shut down a number of schools after air quality deteriorated significantly overnight.
About 100 schools have been closed, accounting for about 10% of the district’s total schools, he said. A decision will be made at 4pm local time today about whether those schools will continue to be closed tomorrow.
“Today is not a typical day,” he said. “We need flexibility, patience and grace, and we shall extend that to our workforce and certainly our parents and students in our community.”
There have been several reported firefighter and civilian injuries, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said, and all patients have been treated and transported to local hospitals.
She urged that “we are absolutely not out of danger yet” with strong winds that continue to push through the city and the county.
Updated
LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said the Palisades fire continues to demand a “significant” amount of resources and attention.
A second major brush fire, the Hurst fire, has erupted in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, she said. Those fires are stretching the capacity of emergency services to their maximum limits, she said.
The Los Angeles city fire department is battling those two major fires, she said.
Updated
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the National Weather Service has predicted a continued red flag weather event with strong winds and low humidities.
All residents of Los Angeles county are in danger, he said.
Updated
Two people have died and a number have 'significant' injuries as Eton fire continues to grow, say officials
Officials in California are holding a news conference on the wildfires.
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone says the Eaton fire has burned over 2,000 acres and the fire continues to grow with 0% containment.
More than 500 personnel have been assigned to the Eaton fire, he said.
There have been two reported fatalities to civilians as well as a number of “significant” injuries, he said. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, he said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation, he said.
Updated
Much of the city of Pasadena is under evacuation orders as firefighters wait for winds to die down so they can get aircraft up to start dousing the flames from overhead.
Until that happens, it’s going to be difficult to get the blaze there under control, Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin told KABC-TV, according to Associated Press.
Fire departments from across California were sending in firefighters as crews in the Los Angeles area were stretched to their limit, he said.
He said there had been no loss of life and thanked public safety officers for “pulling people out from burning buildings” overnight.
Reporting from Los Angeles:
It’s a strange morning in Los Angeles. My power went out in the middle of the night. Dawn seemed delayed, because a thick layer of smoke was covering up the usual sunshine. My car’s windshield wipers swept away a layer of grime that looked like ash. In some directions now, the sky is glowing orange, not from the sunshine but from the fire.
I spent much of the night periodically waking up and refreshing the map of the Eaton fire in north-east Los Angeles, seeing it move closer to me. I kept mapping the contours of the map to my knowledge of the area. Would the fire jump the highway? Would that hill protect the neighborhood?
I’ve received an evacuation warning, telling me to prepare to leave my neighborhood, though I haven’t been ordered to leave yet.
My neighbors are also assessing, weighing traffic and the risks and benefits of leaving early: when is the fire close enough to go?
Updated
The Eaton fire has burned more than 2,200 acres as of Wednesday morning and threatens over 28,000 structures, according to Los Angeles Fire officials.
In an update on Wednesday morning, fire officials reported that the Eaton fire is currently 0% contained. A red flag warning is in effect for the area until 6pm local time on Thursday, along with a high wind watch that is in effect until 6pm local time today.
The fire has resulted in one firefighter injury, as stated in the report.
Multiple evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for the affected areas and over 700 personnel and 79 engines are dedicated to combating the Eaton Fire.
Updated
Have you been affected by the recent fires?
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You can tell us the impact the wildfires are having on you by filling in the form in this link below:
Updated
Where the fires stand this morning:
Palisades fire, LA county: 2,921 acres, 0% containment
Eaton fire, LA county: 2,227 acres, 0% containment
Hurst fire, LA county: 505 acres, 0% containment
Woodley fire, LA county: 765 acres, 0% containment
Tyler fire, Riverside county: 15 acres, 100% containment
Updated
The Screen Actors Guild has canceled its 31st annual live SAG Awards nomination announcement amid the fires.
“In an abundance of caution for the safety of our presenters, guests, and staff, the live in-person 31st Annual SAG Awards nominations announcement has been canceled due to the wildfires and adverse wind conditions in Los Angeles” read a statement posted on social media.
“Nominees will be unveiled tomorrow at 7:30am PT via press release and the SAG awards website,” the statement adds. “We look forward to celebrating these incredible actors and their work at the SAG Awards ceremony on February 23. In the meantime, we urge everyone to stay safe, and thank you for your continued support.”
Updated
A social media user has shared a video of the moment that he and his friend abandoned his house in California.
In the video, flames are seen engulfing the house, surrounding trees and the street as the two individuals run outside wearing masks.
Updated
The Tyler fire in Riverside county is now 100% contained, according to California Fire Officials.
As of 7:02am PT this morning, the Tyler fire, which began this morning and has burned 15 acres is active but 100% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire protection.
Updated
Pepperdine University has canceled in-person classes on Wednesday and closed the university’s campuses in Malibu and Calabasas due to the Palisades Fire.
“The University continues to monitor the Palisades fire, which is approximately 3.5 miles east of the Malibu campus” the school said in a statement. “The fire has grown to more than 2,900 acres, but continues to pose no immediate threat to the campus.”
“Due to the ongoing firefighting efforts and associated road closures, the Malibu and Calabasas campuses are closed Wednesday” the statement reads, adding that all scheduled in-person classes on the Malibu and Calabasas campuses will not meet in person on Wednesday, and “employees should work remotely if possible”.
“We are also monitoring additional fires impacting the greater Pepperdine community” the school added.
Updated
High wind warnings are in effect until this evening in many parts of Los Angeles county.
The National Weather Service is expecting north to north-east winds of 30 to 50 mph in some areas with widespread gusts between 60 and 80 mph. Isolated gusts between 80 and 100 mph are possible, the service said.
“Damaging winds could blow down many trees and power lines” the service said, adding that widespread power outages are possible, and that travel will be difficult.
A wind gust of 100 mph was recorded on Mount Lukens Truck Trail in the Western San Gabriel Mountains around 5am local time this morning, the National Weather Service said.
Here is a look at the estimated sustained wind speeds recorded last night at 10pm PT:
Updated
The number is customers without power in California has decreased since this morning.
As of 9:45am ET, 175,015 customers in California are experiencing power outages, according to Poweroutage.us.
This is down from the over 300,000 people in the state who were without power earlier this morning.
Updated
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed today, the park announced.
“Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed today as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions” the theme park wrote in a statement on social media.
“We will continue to assess the situation and expect to open for business tomorrow” the statement adds. “The safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority.”
An evacuation order was issued for all residents in La Cañada Flintridge in Los Angeles county on Wednesday morning.
“An evacuation order has been issued for all of La Cañada Flintridge due to severe wind conditions and ongoing fire in the area” the LA county sheriff’s department said. “Residents in affected zones should evacuate immediately.”
Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is located in La Cañada Flintridge and is currently under an evacuation order.
Updated
Woodley fire in Los Angeles County has grown to 75 acres
Another wildfire in Los Angeles county, named the Woodley fire, which started at 6:15am local time this morning, has grown to around 75 acres, California fire officials reported on Wednesday morning.
The fire is being driven south by strong winds, and crews are actively working to contain the fire and protect structures in the affected area, officials said.
Updated
Most extreme conditions expected this morning, National Weather Service says
The most extreme conditions are expected this morning, the National Weather Service said on Wednesday morning.
“Dangerous fire weather conditions are ongoing in southern California with the most extreme conditions expected this morning” the service said in a statment.
Winds should gradually weaken somewhat through the day, the service said, but critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist into Thursday.
Widespread wind gusts of 50 mph with isolated gusts between 70 to 100 mph have been recorded.
Updated
Eaton Fire has grown to over 2,200 acres, and is 0% contained
The Eaton fire has has grown to 2,227 acres, and is 0% contained, Los Angeles officials said on Wednesday morning.
Over 700 firefighters have been assigned to the blaze.
Extreme fire conditions expected to continue through mid-afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
“Widespread damaging north to northeast winds and extreme fire weather conditions will continue through mid afternoon” the service said in a recent update, adding that downed trees and power lines are expected, as well as power outages, hazardous driving conditions, increased traffic, and airport delays.
Tyler Fire, which ignited this morning, is burning in Riverside County
The Tyler wildfire ignited around 3:30am local time this morning in Riverside County, according to California Fire officials.
As of 9am ET, the fire has burned 15 acres and is currently 0% contained.
Over 15 school Los Angeles County School districts have announced closures on Wednesday as a result of the wildfires, according to the LA County Office of Education.
The Los Angeles Unified School District announced a “continuity of learning” plan for students from its six closed schools, providing access to digital academic resources.
“Los Angeles Unified will continue monitoring the situation and, if necessary, will prepare for the possibility of online learning on Thursday, January 9” the district said, adding that they will announce a decision regarding closures on Thursday later this afternoon.
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag warnings for several areas of Southern California.
A Red Flag warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are expected to occur shortly.
“A particularly dangerous situation is expected for inland Orange County, the Santa Ana mountains, inland empire, and San Bernadino Mountain foothills from 7am to 1pm today” the National Weather Service said in a recent update. “A period of widespread, strong winds accompanied by very dry air and critically dry fuels will result in dangerous fire conditions.”
Currently, a Red Flag warning is in effect for Orange County coastal areas until at least 6 PM local time this evening.
For San Diego and Riverside County mountains, San Diego valleys, the San Gorgonio Pass, the San Bernardino Mountains, the Inland Empire, the Santa Ana Mountains, and inland Orange County, the warning will be in effect through at least Thursday.
The Mayor of Los Angeles warns residents that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning.
In a post on social media, Mayor Karen Bass said:
Our LAFD and LAPDHQ teams continue to work overnight to protect Angelenos affected by fires in L.A.
Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning and to heed local warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe.
Red flag parking restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
Actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, said on social media that he has evacuated his home in Malibu last night.
“Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there were small fires on both sides of the road as we approached Pacific Coast Highway” Hamill said. “Most horrific fire since ‘93…STAY SAFE.”
More than 330,000 customers in California are currently experiencing power outages.
According to Poweroutage.us, 331,819 customers in California are without power as of 8:30am ET this morning. Los Angeles County accounts for 223, 939 of the outages.
A wildfire smoke advisory is in place in the northwest coastal area of Los Angeles County including Malibu, Pacific Palisades and the areas near the fire.
The advisory is in place until at least Wednesday evening, with officials warning that the PM2.5 levels in the air may reach the unhealthy category or higher.
More than 50,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate from the Eaton Fire, which is one of three large fires currently burning in Los Angeles County.
The Eaton fire has now burned 2,227 acres and as of 7 am ET this morning, 52,314 residents are under evacuation orders as a result of the Eaton Fire, and over 20,000 structures.
Another 46,847 residents and 18,051 structures are under evacuation warnings related to the same fire.
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Firefighter injured and multiple burn victims, officials say
At approximately 8:30 pm local time last night, a 25-year-old female firefighter sustained a serious head injury, while battling the fire, according to officials at the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“She received immediate treatment at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation” Erik Scott, a public information officer for the department, said.
Scott also said that at around 9:00 pm local time, multiple burn victims were reported walking toward a nearby restaurant. Medical resources were directed to their location to provide evaluation and treatment.
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What we know so far about the California wildfires
A fast-moving wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles is spreading rapidly, as a fierce windstorm rages through the region.
More than 1,400 firefighters have been deployed and are working on three separate major fires in Los Angeles County, which between them cover nearly 4,500 acres of land.
The Palisades Fire has already burned through almost 3,000 acres and is currently 0% contained.
The Eaton Fire has burned 1,000 acres and is currently 0% contained.
The Hurst Fire has burned 500 acres and is also 0% contained as of Wednesday morning.
Tens of thousands of California residents have been placed under evacuation orders, with six emergency shelters in operation.
Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley told a press conference earlier that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were threatened, and the city of Malibu has warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate at short notice.
Officials in Malibu have warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate.
So far, no deaths have been reported, officials said. One firefighter has sustained a serious head injury, according to Fire Department officials.
California Gov Gavin Newsom had visited the area affected and said he found “not a few [but] many structures already destroyed”.
A Santa Ana windstorm is expected to increase overnight and continue for days, producing isolated gusts that could top 100mph (160kph) in mountains and foothills – including in areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months
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The president of the California professional firefighters union, Brian Rice, has told US media that in the current situation is “at the mercy of the wind.”
Speaking to CNN he said “gusts that are reported into the 60s, 70s and 80s, you’re not going to control that. These men and women are going to put in 24-, 36-, 40-, 48-hour shifts. They are not going off the fire line anytime soon.
He continued “Everyone is at the mercy of the wind right now. And until we see a shift in the wind, or a drop in the wind, it’s just not going to let up.”
Earlier Rice said there had been no fatalities among the firefighters but some injuries had been sustained including “strains, sprains, eye injuries, smoke inhalation”.
The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, is currently out of the US, having attended the inauguration of the new president of Ghana on Tuesday. She has nevertheless warned that the situation is expected to worsen, posting several updates to social media to say:
Emergency shelters are open for Angelenos who have been evacuated due to these devastating fires.
Our fire and police teams continue to work overnight to protect Angelenos affected by fires
Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning and to heed local warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe.
Red flag parking restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
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Here are some of the latest images sent over the newswires showing the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, where the Aveson School of Leaders elementary school is among the buildings affected.
US media is reporting that significant local landmarks, community buildings and businesses have been damaged or destroyed by the fires.
The Palisades Charter High School, which has been used as a filming location multiple times including appearing in Carrie, Teen Wolf and Freaky Friday has been damaged, while the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center has also suffered damage.
Malibu’s 36-year-old Reel Inn seafood restaurant has been destroyed, and the owners of Malibu Feed Bin, a pet store, have posted to social media to say that it has been lost.
The Hurst fire, the third major wildfire to have broken out in California, is now threatening the city of Santa Clarita, according to a warning from the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department.
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Speaking to CNN, David Acuna from CAL Fire said “We are having new fires pop up as we speak,” and that evacuating people was the priority at the moment.
He told the news network:
Once the winds have died down … and we have made sure that all the people are out of the way, then we can devote all of our resources towards containing – and then eventually, completely extinguishing the fire
The PowerOutage.us website reports that about 250,000 customers of the Los Angeles department of water and power and Southern California Edison are without power in California.
Here is a map illustrating the locations of the three fires being fought in California near Los Angeles.
Governor Gavin Newsom has described the fire outbreak as “unprecedented”, and NBC News has reported that at least 49,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
There are reports of some people being treated for, and at least one firefighter has been injured. There are, as yet, no reported fatalities.
NBC News has spoken to Eliza Leonchenko, 25, who was visiting a friend in Santa Monica. She told the news network:
If people are not feeling the fire and are just seeing it, they might think it’s not getting closer and not getting more dangerous. During the day we were like ‘Oh my god, it’s so far’, but then suddenly it was so close. I’ve never seen something like this movie. This is like a horror movie.
Another eyewitness, Rachel Spencer, a Pasadena resident who fled her home on Tuesday evening, was in touch with CNN. She told them:
I opened the door, looked out the front door, and the whole freaking parking lot over there is on fire. We all had to get out. It was just a mess. Embers were flying all over the front yard and on top of the bungalows. You couldn’t breathe, and going to the freeway there was just like debris all in the street, from the trees and just everywhere.
I’ve had several family members were evacuated from their homes tonight. We don’t know if our homes are still standing. We are just all devastated and in disbelief.
Here are some of the latest images sent over the news wires from the wildfires in California. Emergency services are battling three separate fires near Los Angeles, which are being fanned by high winds. NBC News reports that at least 49,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department has said in a statement that Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl stadium has been opened as an evacuation centre which can take large animals.
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The Los Angeles Times reports that there have been problems with water supply to fire hydrants in one of the areas affected by the fires.
It quotes Rick Caruso, the owner of Palisades Village, saying “There’s no water in the fire hydrants. The firefighters are there and there’s nothing they can do. We’ve got neighborhoods burning, homes burning, and businesses burning. It should never happen.”
The paper also cites reports on internal firefighter communications that water hydrants in Pacific Palisades were down, with the Department of Water and Power acknowledging reports of diminished water flow. Earlier firefighters had to ground their firefighting planes due to the high winds.
Here is some video footage of the fires as a family have captured their dramatic escape from a coastal neighborhood in Los Angeles county, with cellphone footage showing them driving through the darkness and the side of the road and power lines on fire.
Gov Newsom: more than 1,400 firefighters deployed to fight 'unprecedented' fires
California’s governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statement on social media saying that California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighters in its attempts to quell the wildfires in the state.
Describing the fires as “unprecedented”, Newsom said “Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives.”
Local fire officials have said firefighters are working on three separate major fires, which between them cover nearly 4,500 acres of land.
Tens of thousands of California residents have been placed under evacuation orders, with six emergency shelters in operation.
Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley had earlier told a press conference that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were threatened, and the city of Malibu has warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate at short notice.
Numerous buildings have been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades area between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu.
CAL Fire says it is responding to three separate wildfires in California. The Palisades fire it puts at a size of 2,921 acres, and the Eaton fire at 1,000 acres. The third fire, in Sylmar, which it has dubbed the Hurst fire, it puts at 500 acres. The CAL Fire website reports 0% containment on all three.
Reuters reports that highways were jammed with people fleeing, and that Pacific Palisades resident Cindy Festa said that as she evacuated, fires were “this close to the cars,” demonstrating with her thumb and forefinger.
“People left their cars on Palisades Drive. Burning up the hillside. The palm trees – everything is going,” Festa said from her car.
Officials in Malibu have warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate. In an update on its website, the city government said:
The city of Malibu urges all residents not currently under evacuation orders to be prepared to evacuate. If you require additional time to evacuate, or if you have pets or livestock, consider making preparations to leave now.
It says that six evacuation shelters are in operation, three of which can take people with animals.
Westwood Recreation Center (LA City Shelter)
Pasadena Convention Center
El Camino Real Charter high school
Agoura animal care center (small animals)
LA Equestrian center (large animals)
Pierce College equestrian center (large animals)
It adds that the Palisades fire is estimated at 2,921 acres.
Local media reports that evacuation orders have now been expanded in Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia.
Pasadena resident Bobbie Oliver spoke to CNN, and told the news network:
The smoke was unbearable even with windows closed. We could see the fire and our house was full of smoke. Then a cop car went around saying evacuate now in a bullhorn. It was frantic and downed trees and branches all in the streets.
The fires and evacuation orders have forced the cancellation of several high profile events in the area.
Earlier the Screen Actors Guild Awards has cancelled its live in-person nominations announcement that were scheduled for tomorrow, and Reuters reports that premiere or of the movies Wolf Man, Unstoppable and the US premiere of Robbie Williams biopic Better Man have all been cancelled.
As a consequence of the Eaton fire officials have declared schools in Pasadena, San Marino, Glendale, Alhambra, Burbank and South Pasadena will remain closed on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Reuters is carrying some reports of injuries from the fires. Citing local television station KTLA, it reports “several people were injured, some with burns to faces and hands.”
An official added that one female firefighter had sustained a head injury.
US media are reporting two further fires in the area have developed, and that firefighters are now responding to four different fires. The Tamarack fire and the Sylmar fire are both in suburbs in the San Fernando valley.
CNN reports that the fire near Sylmar “has burned through 100 acres, with an immediate evacuation order issued for the area north of the 210 freeway from Roxford to the Interstate 5-14 split.”
The New York Times quotes Sheila Kelliher, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County fire department, who said of the Palisades fire:
These embers are blowing everywhere, and I’m just watching it chew up the hillside, and as it gets to each new patch of fuel it’s just exploding.
It is approaching midnight in California.
Southern California wildfires: what we know so far …
Fast-moving wildfires have broken out in southern California, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes
The Pacific Palisades fire swept through an affluent Los Angeles hillside home to celebrity residences Tuesday, burning homes and prompting evacuation orders. In the haste to get to safety, roads were clogged and people were forced to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot
The Eaton fire in Altadena started near a nature preserve just before 6.30pm, Associated Press reports. Flames spread so rapidly staff at a senior care center reportedly pushed dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street
The Los Angeles Fire department has appealed for off-duty firefighters to help fight the flames that were being pushed by winds topping 60 mph (97 kph) in some places. It was too windy for firefighting aircraft to fly, hampering the fight against the flames
The exact cause of the fires was unknown and no injuries had yet been reported, officials said
California Gov Gavin Newsom had visited the area affected and said he found “not a few [but] many structures already destroyed”
A Santa Ana windstorm is expected to increase overnight and continue for days, producing isolated gusts that could top 100mph (160kph) in mountains and foothills – including in areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months
Families tell of last-minute escape from California wildfire
In the past few months, Jon Oei’s parents, who live in the highlands of the Pacific Palisades, have received multiple wildfire evacuation orders, the most recent in the early hours of New Year’s Eve, he said.
So on Tuesday, when a wildfire began not far from the family’s home, they did not immediately evacuate.
By 10:30 am however, they could see “smoke coming over the top of the hill,” the 35-year-old said. The fire, ignited as a ferocious windstorm whipped the region, was rapidly growing.
Oei was staying with his parents, and he knew the one main road going out of their neighborhood would be snarled with traffic following the first evacuation order. Soon, videos showed long traffic jams as residents tried to evacuate, empty cars lining some roads as people gave up the wait and continued on foot.
“I think a lot of people ignore the first call,” he said. “You get stuck. There you see people abandoning their cars.”
Meanwhile, the wind was also pushing the fire in the opposite direction from his parents’ home, Oei said. So they waited.
It was not until after 5pm, he said, that they finally decided to flee. The family could see the fire coming over the Malibu side of the hills, which meant that the single road out of the community risked being cut off by fire.
A separate fire in Pasadena, the Bert fire, had expanded to three acres just before 10 pm on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing the county fire department.
The fire is in east Pasadena, near San Gabriel, several miles from the Eaton fire.
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Authorities say they are responding to a separate brushfire about 30 acres in size.
ANF Firefighters & LAFD are responding to a brush fire, Yarnell n/o Foothill Blvd. Initial reports are 30 acres. @LAFD @LACoFDPIO pic.twitter.com/nRYKlyzdd3
— Angeles National Forest (@Angeles_NF) January 8, 2025
The Screen Actors Guild Awards has cancelled its live in-person nominations announcement that were scheduled for tomorrow due to the wildfires and strong winds in Los Angeles.
Instead, it said in a statement, nominees will be unveiled via press release and its website tomorrow morning.
The affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which borders Malibu about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of downtown LA, includes hillside streets of tightly packed homes along winding roads nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains and stretches down to beaches along the Pacific Ocean. It is also home to many Hollywood celebrities, some of whom have been posting about their experiences on social media.
Mark Hamill, of Star Wars fame, posted a “personal fire update” saying he evacuated Malibu so last-minute that he saw “small fires on both sides of the road”.
Actor James Woods posted footage of flames burning through bushes and past palm trees on a hill near his home. The towering orange flames billowed among the landscaped yards between the homes.
“Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate,” Woods said in the short video on X.
Actor Eugene Levy, the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, evacuated earlier on Tuesday, telling the Los Angeles Times while stuck in traffic, “The smoke looked pretty black and intense.”
Extreme winds have forced authorities to ground firefighting helicopters.
Firefighting helicopters for the Palisades fire were grounded shortly before 8pm, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles fire department, while strong winds have also forced officials to suspend air coverage fighting the Eaton fire in Altadena for the night, a city spokesperson said.
Officials had warned of this probable outcome at a news conference earlier this afternoon, with forecasted strong winds anticipated to make water bombs and fire retardants dropped from the air less effective.
Vice-president Kamala Harris has released a statement:
My heart goes out to all those being impacted by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Doug and I are praying for our fellow Californians who have evacuated, and we are thinking of the families whose homes, businesses, and schools remain in harm’s way. We are deeply grateful for the heroic first responders who are risking their own safety to fight the flames and help keep communities safe.
…
As a proud daughter of California, I know the damage that wildfires have on our neighbors and communities. I also know that the impact is often felt long after the fire is contained. As we respond and as Californians recover, I will ensure that our administration is in constant contact with state and local officials.
Firefighters are in for a long night, with already extreme wind conditions expected to get worse, Los Angeles county fire department captain Sheila Kelliher has warned.
Kelliher said the terrain and wind combined created a “massive fight.” Complicating matters is the nature of the wind, which “doesn’t just stay at one direction,” she told CNN.
“Just when you think you know what the fire is going to do, it swirls around and comes behind you. It’s definitely erratic, I think is one of the best words I can use to describe this wind, and it is strong.”
What are the Santa Ana winds?
Santa Ana winds are common in southern California during cooler months and have fueled many of the Golden state’s most ferocious wildfires.
What are the Santa Ana winds?
Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of southern California toward the coast and offshore, moving in the opposite direction of the normal onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific into the region.
Why do they increase wildfire danger?
Humidity levels often plunge to single-digit percentages during a Santa Ana wind. The extreme lack of humidity in the air causes vegetation – living and dead – to significantly dry out and become susceptible to fire.
The tremendous wind speeds can stoke any spark – from a fallen power line to a cigarette bud – into a rapidly spreading conflagration.
Santa Anas are linked to some of the worst wildfires southern California has experienced, including the Woolsey fire, which killed three people and destroyed more than 1,600 structures in November 2018, and the Franklin fire, which damaged or destroyed nearly 50 homes in the Malibu area.
Read more:
Updated
Here are some more striking images crossing the wires.
With wildfires raging in southern California, it is worth rereading this safety primer on how to prepare and protect yourself in case of emergency.
If you don’t have to evacuate yet, protect yourself: keep the doors and windows closed – not locked. This will block smoke from entering the house but allow for an easy exit if there is a need to evacuate.
Moving furniture inside the house away from the doors and windows ensures less fuel for flames should the wall be breached. Shutting off air conditioning ensures there is no intake of outside air and prevents embers from circulating through the vents.
If there is smoke in the area, mask up and use air filtration devices if available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing a respirator to prevent smoke inhalation. Fill up tubs, buckets, sinks or any large containers with water, and if there is an outdoor water outlet, plug in a hose – this could help firefighters control the blaze.
Wearing protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and full pants, can help keep you safe from the heat and burns from falling ash.
If you find yourself trapped by the fire, immediately call 911. If you are in a house, move to the point furthest away from the fire and shut off all systems that circulate air through the building, as these can pull in embers from the vents. Turn on all lights so firefighters can find your house.
If you are in a car, lie on the floor of the vehicle, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket, and keep the windows rolled up. If you’re on foot, find a clearing with the least amount of combustible vegetation, a ditch or depression, or shelter behind material that will not burn, such as a rocky outgrowth. Lie face down to protect your airways from the smoke – the air is clearer closer to the ground – and cover yourself with a blanket or jacket if at hand. Call 911 if possible to alert authorities of your location.
Why are the fires in Los Angeles so bad right now?
A fierce windstorm is fueling dangerous wildfires in multiple locations around Los Angeles, with a major fire in the Pacific Palisades forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
The infamously dry Santa Ana winds are a persistent feature of California life during the colder months of the year. What’s particularly dangerous right now is that the strong winds – the worst since 2011, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist – are gusting across a bone-dry landscape, covered in dried-out vegetation acting as the perfect fuel for wildfires.
California’s winter rains can serve as a protective force against wildfires, by wetting the vegetation so it does not so easily catch on fire. But that simply didn’t happen this year.
As my Guardian colleagues reported earlier today, southern California has not seen more than 0.1in (0.25cm) of rain since early May. Much of the region has fallen into moderate drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor. In northern California, in contrast, there have been multiple drenching storms.
The dry conditions have turned the region around Los Angeles into a tinderbox. Now we’re seeing the dangerous consequences.
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Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has released a statement on X, some hours after the city of Los Angeles and governor Gavin Newsom earlier declared a state of emergency.
We’ve declared a state of emergency to amplify our response to this devastating fire and clear a path for a rapid recovery.
To the hundreds of brave firefighters and first responders who have been responding all day to this blaze – we thank you. To the thousands of families impacted by this horrific fire – the City of Los Angeles is providing resources and shelter as this fire continues. Visit http://notifyla.org for up to date information.
Evacuations ordered in fast-growing Eaton fire
Evacuations have been ordered as the Eaton fire near Altadena is growing rapidly, doubling in size to 400 acres, fanned by strong winds.
Eaton Fire estimated at 400 acres. If you are in an evacuation order area, please leave now.@PasadenaGov @LACoFDPIO
— Angeles National Forest (@Angeles_NF) January 8, 2025
#EatonFire
— Angeles National Forest (@Angeles_NF) January 8, 2025
Mandatory evacuations North of New York Drive, East of Altadena Drive, West of Sierra Madre Villa Ave.
Pasadena Fire, US Forest Service & LA County Fire in Unified Command. Over 200 acres spreading at rapid growth.
Mass Care and Sheltering being established.
We will…
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Biden says his administration will do 'everything it can' to support Palisades fire response
President Joe Biden says he has offered federal assistance to help suppress the “terrible” Pacific Palisades fire.
His statement in full:
I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire.
Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response.
I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials.
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Key event
Mandatory evacuation zones in the Palisades fire have expanded to the east and north as the fire has grown to 2,920 acres, with winds forecasted to continue increasing through the night, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an update.
“This remains an extremely dynamic situation and all residents in the area asked to monitor the news, LAFD Alerts and be prepared for possible evacuation,” the department said.
A community theater in the Pacific Palisades is “completely burned out right now. We just saw a partial roof collapse” NBC 4 Los Angeles’ Darsha Phillips reported. “It is completely engulfed in flames.”
Theatre Palisades opened in 1988, according to the organization’s website. Just about thirty minutes before the roof collapsed, the building had not been on fire, yet another sign of how fast the fires are moving, Phillips said.
The worst of the fires could be yet to come, with winds expected to increase overnight and continue for days, producing isolated gusts that could top 100 mph (160 kph) in mountains and foothills – including in areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months.
The blaze began at about 10.30am, shortly after the start of a Santa Ana windstorm that the National Weather service warned could be “life-threatening” and the strongest to hit Southern California in more than a decade. The exact cause of the fire was unknown and no injuries had been reported, officials said.
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'It's everywhere' - locals describe the scene
Locals have described the scenes on the ground, via the Associated Press:
Resident Kelsey Trainor said the only road in and out of her neighborhood was completely blocked. Ash fell all around them while fires burned on both sides of the road.
“We looked across and the fire had jumped from one side of the road to the other side of the road,” Trainor said. “People were getting out of the cars with their dogs and babies and bags, they were crying and screaming. The road was just blocked, like full-on blocked for an hour.”
Long-time Palisades resident Will Adams said he immediately went to pick his two kids up from St. Matthews Parish School when he heard the fire was nearby. Meanwhile, he said embers flew into his wife’s car as she tried to evacuate.
“She vacated her car and left it running,” Adams said. She and many other residents walked down toward the ocean until it was safe.
He watched as the sky turned brown and then black as homes started burning. He could hear loud popping and bangs “like small explosions,” which he said he believes were the transformers exploding.
“It is crazy, it’s everywhere, in all the nooks and crannies of the Palisades. One home’s safe, the other one’s up in flames,” Adams said.
These photos give a sense of how strong the windstorm is, whipping embers as a properties burn.
Summary
A fast-moving wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles spread rapidly on Tuesday, as a fierce windstorm raged through the region.
By Tuesday evening, the Palisades fire had grown to nearly 3,000 acres, according to the California department of forestry and fire protection (CalFire).
A second fire was reported near Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, near Altadena, according to CalFire.
More then 30,000 people in the Palisades were under evacuation orders. Many residents were forced to flee their homes urgently, leaving on foot or braving long traffic jams to reach safety.
In an afternoon press conference, the California governor, Gavin Newsom said that the Palisades fire had destroyed “not a few” but “many structures”. The full extent of the damage is not yet clear
The fire reached the grounds of the Getty Villa museum, a branch of the Getty Center. It’s not clear whether any structures have caught fire, but officials confirmed the grounds were on fire and that flames were approaching the museum buildings.
About 15,000 utility customers in southern California have had their power shut off to reduce the risk of equipment sparking blaze.
The fires ignited as the region was hit by unusually strong winds caused by a “life-threatening” windstorm that is affecting a large swath of southern California.
Updated
By sunset in north-east Los Angeles, a local Target supercenter was sold out of flashlights. Some of the nearby streets had already lost power, part of outages across Los Angeles, that had already affected clusters of hundreds and even more than a thousand customers, according to the Los Angeles department of water and power.
By 6.30 local time, the wind, which had felt merely brisk earlier in the day, was feeling intense: I started to worry that a gust might blow my open car door off its hinges. It’s not just the speed of the wind, either – the air is painfully full of dust, dry leaves, and debris, so much that I tried to cover my eyes as I walked.
Experts have been repeating that part of the fire danger of southern California’s high winds right now is that, without any significant winter rain so far this season, the landscape is bone dry. I could feel that in the wind tonight: it feels like the wind is picking up everything and whipping it in our faces.
Updated
A second fire was reported near Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, near Altadena, according to CalFire. The fire, which was first reported at 6.23pm local time, encompassed 10 acres by 7pm.
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As the Palisades fire has grown, engulfing the campus of Pacific Palisades Charter high school, the Los Angeles fire department has asked all off-duty officers to report for duty.
Nick Melvoin, the Los Angeles Unified School District trustee, confirmed to the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times that the school, which leases its site from the school district, was on fire. Although students are still on winter break and do not need to be evacuated, “the physical campus is currently on fire”, he told the New York Times. “The baseball field. Classrooms. Bungalows. The tennis courts.”
Four LAUSD schools in the area will be closed on Wednesday: Canyon Charter Elementary, Marquez Charter Elementary, Palisades Charter Elementary and Paul Revere Charter middle school.
Updated
Palisades wildfire explodes to nearly 3,000 acres
The Palisades fire more than doubled in size Tuesday evening, up to 2,921 acres from 1,262 earlier in the afternoon, according to the California department of forestry and fire protection (CalFire).
CalFire also expanded its evacuation zones to include larger swaths of the coastal California communities of Topanga and Malibu.
Updated
As the sun sets in California, we’ve gathered photos of the Palisades fire that broke out this morning, about 10.30am local time. Officials have said that the worst of the high winds driving the fire are expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Forecasters predicted the windstorm would last for days, producing isolated gusts that could top 100 mph (160 km/h) in mountains and foothills – including in areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months.
You can find more photographs capturing the extent of the damage here:
Updated
Gavin Newsom, the California governor, urges residents to heed evacuation orders
Speaking at a press conference in Pacific Palisades this afternoon, the California governor Gavin Newsom noted that he found “not a few – many structures already destroyed” and thanked the US president, Joe Biden, for issuing a fire management assistance grant.
“No politics, no hand-wringing, no kissing of the feet,” Newsom said. The Democratic governor was scheduled to speak at an event with Biden this afternoon that was rescheduled due to the inclement weather. “My message to the incoming administration, and I’m not here to play any politics, is please don’t play any politics.”
Newsom further urged residents to heed evacuation orders: “By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods.”
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Southern California Edison, the utility company, cuts power to nearly 15,000 customers
About 15,000 utility customers in southern California have had their power shut off to reduce the risk of equipment sparking blaze. Half a million customers total were at risk of losing power preemptively, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday evening.
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Fire reaches the grounds of the Getty Villa museum, a branch of the Getty Center
Minutes after the J Paul Getty Trust issued a statement on the Palisades fire and efforts to protect the Getty Villa from wildfires, an unidentified official on LAFD radio said that the Getty Villa Museum was “catching on fire”, the Los Angeles Times reports. At this time, it’s not clear whether any structures have caught fire, but officials confirmed the grounds were on fire and that flames were approaching the museum buildings.
The Getty Villa, which is located in Pacific Palisades, displays a collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan Art. It’s better-known sibling, the Getty Center, is located in Brentwood and contains a broad-ranging collection of European and North American art.
A spokesperson from the Getty Villa confirmed the trust’s earlier statement to the Guardian, adding that there are “no structures currently on fire”.
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Universal Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios canceled two movie premieres scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening as the city declared a state of emergency amid high winds and the Palisades fire.
Wolf Man had been scheduled to premier at the TCL Chinese Theater and Unstoppable would have shown at the DGA Theater.
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More than 13,000 structures under threat from the Palisades fires, according to LA fire department fire chief Kristin Crowley, with the Getty Villa being one of them. In a statement issued this afternoon, Katherine E Fleming, president and CEO of the J Paul Getty Trust, said the museum is closed to non-emergency staff and will remain closed at least through 13 January.
“Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year. Some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but staff and the collection remain safe,” she said. “Additional fire prevention measures in place at the villa include water storage on-site. Irrigation was immediately deployed throughout the grounds Tuesday morning. Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections.”
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The city of Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency for the “wind event”, the city council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“We want everybody to know that the city is well prepared and has a tremendous emergency management infrastructure,” said Harris-Dawson. “If you can stay off of our roads, please do so to allow emergency vehicles to go across the city.”
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Photos from the Palisades fire are beginning to be sent out, showing the destruction of homes and the billowing black smoke choking the sky.
As the Palisades fire reached the Malibu coast Tuesday afternoon, the California department of forestry and fire protection (CalFire) announced road closures and evacuation shelters.
An evacuation center has been established at the Westwood Recreation center on South Sepulveda Boulevard. Meanwhile, the southbound Pacific Coast Highway has been closed at Las Flores Canyon Road, Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Coastline Drive.
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Palisades fire threatens more than 13,000 structures as residents evacuate
The Palisades fire has consumed more than 1,200 acres since it broke out at about 10.30am on Tuesday morning, and destroyed several homes in an affluent community along the Pacific Ocean.
Nearly 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures are under threat, said Kristin Crowley, fire chief of the LA fire department.
Actor Eugene Levy, the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, who was forced to evacuate, told the Los Angeles Times while stuck in traffic: “The smoke looked pretty black and intense.” Other evacuees described harrowing escapes, one woman recounting to ABC7 how she abandoned her vehicle and fled with her cat in her arms: “I’m getting hit with palm leaves on fire … It’s terrifying. It feels like a horror movie. I’m screaming and crying walking down the street.”
The Los Angeles school district was also forced to relocate students from three campuses, and Joe Biden had to cancel plans for an event announcing two national monuments.
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By mid-afternoon, shoppers at a luxury outdoor mall in Century City, about 12 miles east of the Pacific Palisades, were still strolling around as usual. But outside the mall, billows of smoke were visible to the west, and the views in the distance were starting to look hazy.
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I’m currently driving east across Los Angeles, and am close to Beverly Hills at the moment. Ahead of me, looking towards downtown, the view is pretty clear and sunny, though the palm trees that line the streets are tossing pretty dramatically in the wind. But behind me, in my rearview mirror, I can see billows of smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire to the west. The most recent air quality readings across Los Angeles were in the healthy range, but I’m expecting that the air quality is going to worsen quickly as the smoke spreads across the city.
As a fast-moving wildfire spreads near Los Angeles on Tuesday, we’re bringing you this live blog with the latest news on fires caused by a “life-threatening” windstorm that has hit southern California this week. The region is expected to see what could amount to the strongest winds in more than a decade, bringing extreme fire risk to areas that have been without significant rain for months.
A large swath of southern California, home to millions of people, is under what officials have described as “extreme risk” from the destructive storm. The weather service warned of downed trees and knocked over big rigs, trailers and motorhomes, and advised residents to stay indoors and away from windows. Powerful offshore gusts will also bring dangerous conditions off the coasts of Orange county and LA, including Catalina Island, and potential delays and turbulence could arise at local airports.
