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The Hurst fire is now 37% contained, California governor Gavin Newsom shared on social media on Thursday evening.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, had been 10% contained, and currently encompasses 855 acres.
President Joe Biden said he will send every federal resource possible to southern California, including hundreds of firefighters, 30 firefighting aircraft, 8 defence aircraft and 500 military personal.
More than 153,000 people were under evacuation orders in Los Angeles county, according to an update from Shawn Boyd at California’s state operations centre.
Seven shelters were open for those displaced, with more than 1500 people already taking shelter.
The national weather service tells us there will be a short break from the high winds over the weekend, but there could be another surge starting on Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Today so far
Thank you for joining our coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires today. There are five wildfires currently raging in Los Angeles county. They include:
The Palisades fire, at 19,978 acres and 6% containment
The Eaton fire, at 13,690 acres and 0% containment
The Kenneth fire, at 960 acres and 0% containment
The Hurst fire, at 671 acres and 10% containment
The Lidia fire, at 348 acres and 60% containment
As we settle in for the third night since wildfires broke out in southern California, here are the top developments of the day:
Seven people have died, and more than 10,000 structures have burned, in the Palisades and Eaton fires. Five deaths have been confirmed in the Eaton fire and two in the Palisades. The Palisades fire, which had remained 0% contained since it broke out Tuesday, was 6% contained by 6pm Thursday.
A new fire, now called the Kenneth fire, sparked around 3:34pm and quickly ballooned to 960 acres.
President Joe Biden has announced that the federal government would pay for 100% of the firefighting needs for the next 180 days.
Law enforcement officials are working to issue a curfew for affected burn zones in Los Angeles, in order to combat looting, though it is unclear when it will go into effect.
Vice-president Kamala Harris canceled a trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany shortly after President Biden canceled a trip to Italy in order to more closely monitor the fires.
The California prison system has now deployed nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters to fight the devastating blazes.
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Fire death toll rises to seven
The death toll from the Palisades and Eaton fires has risen to seven, according to city and county officials.
There have been five deaths from the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, according to Carlos Herrera, a public information officer with the LA county fire department.
Meanwhile, two people have died in the Palisades fire burning along the Los Angeles coast, according to LA fire department spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
Updated
Law enforcement officials said there has only been one looting incident in the Palisades region so far this evening at a town hall hosted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
“Although we have responded to many calls for service within our area of operation, we only have one verified burglary report so far,” said LAPD commander Steven Embrich.
The Palisades fire is now 6% contained, California governor Gavin Newsom shared on social media on Thursday evening.
The fire had been 0% contained since it first broke out Tuesday morning at about 10.30am, and currently encompasses 19,978 acres.
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More than 10,000 structures destroyed in LA fires
More than 10,000 structures have burned between the Eaton and Palisades fires. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, LA fire chief Kristin Crowley reported than more than 5,300 structures were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades fire. Earlier in the day, authorities confirmed that the nearby Eaton fire had destroyed over 5,000 structures.
The NFL is moving the Rams’ wildcard playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
The playoff game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Arizona.
While none of the fires is burning near SoFi Stadium in Inglewood where the teams were set to face off, the NFL made the decision due to concerns about air quality and the strain put on the community, as well as the possible demands on police and fire department personnel.
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Hundreds of firefighters head to fight Kenneth fire
An additional 900 firefighters are being deployed to battle the fast-moving Kenneth fire, California governor Gavin Newsom said in a social media post Thursday evening. The fire, which sparked at around 3.34pm, currently encompasses 960 acres.
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The LA unified school district is doubling its number of food distribution centers, to deliver school meals to students as the district plans to keep schools closed Friday. Lausd had previously opened 8 food distribution centers, and district superintendent Alberto Carvalho said it would be increasing that number to sixteen.
He added that the district would evaluate the changing circumstances over the weekend before deciding whether to open schools Monday.
Law enforcement officials are still working to issue a curfew for affected burn zones in Los Angeles, though it is unclear whether it will go into effect tonight.
“I cannot tell you if the curfew will be enacted tonight, the goal is for it to be enacted tonight,” said LA county sheriff Robert Luna, “but once we get everything done, we may enact it tomorrow night.”
Updated
Vice-president Kamala Harris has canceled a trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany scheduled for next week as wildfires continue to rage in her home state. Her decision follows a similar one made by President Joe Biden, who was due to travel this week to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but instead stayed in Washington.
LA fires death toll rises to six
The Palisades fire killed two people, according to the LAFD fire chief, bringing the death toll of the Los Angeles wildfires to six. In Pacific Palisades, the fire also destroyed 5,300 structures.
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Fema administrator Deanne Criswell outlined the disaster aid the agency will offer southern California at a press conference in LA Thursday evening. She described financial assistance available to help Angelenos pay for temporary lodging and destroyed vehicles, as well as assisting the city to establish temporary schools and repair roads. President Joe Biden announced earlier today that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs of disaster response for 180 days.
“We are going to be here with you along the way to help you rebuild in a way that makes you stronger and more resilient,” Criswell said. “As the firefighters continue to bring in resources and support the suppression efforts for these fires with the major disaster declaration, we now have the ability to begin having those conversations about recovery.”
An aircraft fighting the Palisades fire was hit by a drone on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. LAFD fire chief Anthony Marrone told the Los Angeles Times that the “super scooper” – which can “scoop” water from nearby lakes and oceans to fight fires – was damaged, althgouh the plane landed safely.
He added that the FBI is planning to install “aerial armor” to prevent future drones from entering the firefighting zone.
“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the FAA said in a statement. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations” during a temporary flight restriction.
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California officials lifted evacuation orders in Sylmar, where residents were previously asked to leave their homes during the Hurst fire, Thursday afternoon.
The fire, which still encompasses 671 acres, has been 10% contained. Although evacuation warnings remain in effect – meaning residents should be prepared to leave again – mandatory orders have been eased.
Kenneth fire grows to nearly 800 acres
The Kenneth fire, which broke out on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties at about 3.34pm, has grown to 791 acres, according to CalFire.
Officials have ordered mandatory evacuations in surrounding areas as the fire threatens the Los Angeles neighborhood of Calabasas.
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LA officials send evacuation alert in error
An emergency alert warning Los Angeles residents to evacuate was sent in error, according to the LA emergency management department.
“Recent @ReadyLACounty alert to evacuate was sent in ERROR. Evacuation orders have not changed,” the department wrote on X.
A local sheriff’s department branch also confirmed the error: “THERE ARE NO EVACUATIONS FOR THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD! We understand the confusion caused by the Emergency Alert.”
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As wildfires raged on in Los Angeles on Thursday, some Angelenos returned to their homes as yet others fled from new evacuation zones.
Here is a selection of scenes photographers captured of the devastation left by the still uncontained Palisades and Eaton fires.
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Reporting from her base in Los Angeles, our colleague Lois Beckett has more on what Thursday has been like on the streets of the fire-ravaged megalopolis:
Ash was falling gently over the Historic Highlands neighborhood of Pasadena, California, on Thursday as residents began to grapple with the toll of the Eaton fire still being fought in the mountains above.
This area was under an evacuation order on Wednesday, and the next day the streets were still littered with fallen branches from Tuesday night’s intense windstorm. The fire broke out early in the evening and spread rapidly amid the powerful gusts, killing at least four people and destroying more than 5,000 structures in the area, which also includes the Altadena and Sierra Madre neighborhoods. As of Thursday afternoon, the blaze had burned 13,690 acres and remained 0% contained.
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Public health officials are urging Angelenos to avoid all contact with ocean water, according to a statement issued on Thursday.
The county public health department “advises beach users to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potential debris from fires and contamination”.
The advisory is expected to remain in effect until three days after firefighting efforts cease to lower the risk of exposure to potentially toxic chemicals and debris washed into the Pacific.
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LAFD issues evacuation order for new brushfire
The Los Angeles fire department has issued another mandatory evacuation order for a new brushfire, named the Kenneth fire. The blaze currently encompasses about 50 acres.
LAFD has called for residents to evacuate the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles from Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard and County Lane Road east to East Valley Circle Boulevard.
Updated
Fema administrator Deanne Criswell will visit Los Angeles to tour the region devastated by the Palisades fire later today, congresswoman Judy Chu said at the LAFD press conference Thursday afternoon.
Eaton fire destroys up to 5,000 structures, officials say
The Eaton fire has grown to 13,690 acres, LA fire department fire chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s grown since our morning press conference because the fire is making a run towards the historic Mount Wilson area. We are still at 0% containment,” he said, adding that 1,527 personnel had been assigned to fight the fire.
He added that one firefighter has been injured in the fight and that 4,000 to 5,000 structures have likely been destroyed in the blaze.
Updated
LA Sheriff hopes to implement curfew
LA county sheriff Robert Luna said his department is hoping to implement a curfew beginning Thursday, from 6pm to 6am, in order to combat looting in areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. The news came during a press conference hosted by the LA Fire Department Thursday afternoon.
“I think most of you heard our press conference earlier today, we had a number of looting arrests throughout the entire county region. That is unacceptable behavior,” he said, adding that he hopes the curfew “will help send a stronger message keep people out of the impacted areas so we don’t continuously victimize the people who have already been victimized, who have lost their hope their homes.”
Although the situation is in flux, he said the sheriff’s office has received between 12 and 16 arrests related to looting. He also confirmed that the fatality count remains at about five deaths between the two fires, though homicide detectives have not yet been able to enter the affected fire zones.
Updated
The California prison system has now deployed nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters to fight the devastating blazes in the Los Angeles area, officials said on Thursday afternoon.
The California department of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) said it had 783 imprisoned firefighters out in the field responding to the emergencies. That figure has doubled from the day prior.
The incarcerated crews are embedded with the California department of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire).
The CDCR operates more than 30 “fire camps” across the state where people serving state prison sentences are trained in firefighting and support authorities as they respond to fires, floods and other disasters.
The wages are meager, but are considered high-paying jobs behind bars, with CDCR firefighters earning between $5.80 and $10.24 a day and an additional $1 per hour when responding to active emergencies. When responding to disasters, they may earn $26.90 over a 24-hour shift.
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Palisades fire grows to nearly 20,000 acres
The Palisades fire has grown to 19,978 acres and remains 0% contained, fire officials said.
Approximately 5,316 structures have been destroyed in the fire, based on an aerial survey conducted on Wednesday, they said in an update a short while ago.
The damaged structures include homes and businesses, as well as structures like RVs and sheds.
Updated
California governor Gavin Newsom thanked Californians for their generosity, noting the “extraordinary” and “selfless” acts that he has seen during the crisis.
“Good Samaritans jumping to aid neighbors. Humanitarians like Chef José Andrés providing meals to responders,” Newsom wrote in a post on X.
Andrés has deployed a relief team from his World Central Kitchen organization to provide sandwiches and water to those in need.
Harris noted that many insurance companies have cancelled insurance for many families who have been affected by the fires.
This will “delay or place an added burden on their ability to recover”, she said.
Many of these families will have lost everything and will not have the resources to recover “in any meaningful way”, she added.
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Vice-president Kamala Harris described the scenes in southern California as “apocalyptic” and “unprecedented”.
Harris said the situation was “extremely dynamic”, “very much in play” and “unpredictable”.
“We are literally waiting to see which way the wind blows,” she said.
Updated
Biden said the winds are expected to see a “temporary break” but that in some areas, the winds are likely to continue.
He pledged to continue to send “literally every resource we can find” to help Governor Newsom and first responders.
Biden said the government is focused on helping people who have been displaced or lost everything.
“Let me close with a message for the people of southern California: we’re not going anywhere,” he added.
Updated
Biden said he is surging all federal resources possible in California, including 400 additional federal firefighters, and more than 30 firefighting helicopters and planes.
The secretary of defense has also authorized 500 wildlife ground clearing personnel, and the defense department will continue working with the governor to identify additional resources that can be provided for public safety and security, he said.
Canada has also supplied additional firefighters and firefighting aircraft, Biden said.
Updated
Biden said that over the last 24 hours, the US Forest Service has suppressed more than 50 fire starts.
Three major fires are still burning in the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and in Sylmar areas, the president said.
He acknowledged that there have been concerns over a water shortage, noting that power was shut off due to worries that it could spark additional fires, which meant that the ability to pump water was also cut off.
Fire officials are bringing in generators to get those pumps working again so that there will no longer be a shortage of water coming out of hydrants, he said.
Updated
Biden: US government will cover 100% of fire response cost for 180 days
Joe Biden has announced that the federal government would pay for 100% of the firefighting needs for the next 180 days.
Biden said he had been speaking with California governor Gavin Newsom, who had requested if he could increase federal funding due to the magnitude of the disaster. The president said:
Today, I’m announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost for 180 days. It’s going to pay for things like debris and heavy material removal, temporary shelters, first responders, salaries and all necessary measures to protect life and property.
He said he told the governor and local officials to “spare no expensive to do what they need to do”.
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“Karen’s gotta go,” said Matthew, 32, referring to Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass. He said that if she did not resign once the immediate crisis was over, he hoped that smart people would take to the streets and demand her resignation.
He cited a number that has been circulating on social media and in some news outlets, that Bass had cut $17.6m from the fire department’s budget before the crisis, and said that, given his level of trust in politicians, he would not be surprised if one of them had pocketed the cash that should have gone to the fire department.
Politico reported on Wednesday that the reports of budget cuts were “wrong”, and that “in fact, the city’s fire budget increased more than $50m year-over-year compared to the last budget cycle.”
But even if that $17.6m statistic was not accurate, Harley said. “It’s hard not to believe it when you see this.”
Their friend David, 35, said that it was concerning to see Joe Biden sending money to Ukraine and Israel, when resources were so badly needed at home.
“There’s no faith in the government at all,” Matthew said.
On the other hand, he added, they did have a lot of faith in the courage of the first responders. And, he said, “I have seen a great sense of community – everyone checking in on each other,” which provided some “faith in humanity restored”.
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Lake Boulevard in Altadena runs straight upward into the mountains – and, today, into heavy clouds of smoke.
Law enforcement had blocked off the major road, which a local told me yesterday was dotted with burned businesses.
Small crowds of people had gathered on both sides of the street here, looking up at the smoking hills and trying to assess the situation.
A group of three friends on the corner in Altadena told me that they had been overwhelmed by the number of fires across Los Angeles in the past 24 hours. They lived and worked in different locations across Los Angeles county, including nearby in Pasadena, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the San Fernando Valley. All of those different locations had been threatened by wildfires on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I’ve seen really bad fires, but this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Harley, 28, who did not give his last name. “My mom has been here 40 years, and it’s the worst she’s ever seen.”
The experience was terrifying, the friends said – and they thought Los Angeles’ elected officials, especially the mayor, were to blame.
Harley said he was infuriated that California, one of the largest economies in the world, was “so unprepared” for the crisis. “There’s lack of resources, lack of preparation, lack of coordination. It shouldn’t have gotten to this point.”
“Why are we still struggling?” he asked.
In Altadena, where even the streets where houses are unscathed by fire are littered with fallen branches and debris. Law enforcement has blocked off Lake Avenue, ahead of what a local told me yesterday are some severely burned businesses pic.twitter.com/WdcHNZKwSy
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) January 9, 2025
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The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department said there have been “multiple deaths” in the fire areas.
“Information is still very preliminary,” it said in a statement to the Guardian.
“Homicide investigators have not had the chance to process any of the scenes due to the dangerous conditions still at each location, such as spot fires, downed power lines and leaking gas.
“Once homicide investigators can assess the scenes, more information will be provided.”
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Four killed in Eaton fire, one in Palisades fire – report
The official death toll from the fires in southern California remains at five, according to the Los Angeles sheriff’s department, four of which were a result of the Eaton fire.
Officials had previously said that the five deaths were all in connection to the Eaton fire.
They told NBC News that they are just getting into areas that have been limited due to the fires.
The outlet has also reported that human remains were found on Wednesday night at a Malibu residential home destroyed the Palisades fire.
The discovery was made as authorities conducted a wellness check following a missing person’s report, NBC reported.
Updated
The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department has published the latest status updates on the four active fires affecting the region.
The Palisades fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, has burned 17,234 acres.
The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned 10,600 acres.
The Hurst fire, in the San Fernando Valley, has burned 671 acres.
The Lidia fire, in Acton area, has burned 348 acres.
Updated
Hundreds of Red Cross workers are working to help residents fleeing from the southern California wildfires by providing safe shelter, food, emotional support and other relief services.
The organization is also mobilizing hundreds more disaster workers to support the wildfire victims and moving truckloads of supplies like cots, blankets and water to be ready to support thousands of people in emergency shelters if needed.
Anyone who needs a safe place to stay can find shelters on redcross.org or text SHELTER & your zip code to 4336.
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Los Angeles residents are turning to a free mobile app and web browser to help them track the wildfires blazing across the region.
Watch Duty, a nonprofit which launched in 2021, provides live updates about nearby wildfires, evacuations, emergency warnings and firefighting efforts.
It relies on volunteers dubbed “reporters” who listen for emergency updates in the low hum of radio static, analyze data from the National Weather Service and other sources, and discuss findings with one another before sending push notifications to their active user base.
Run by real people, including active and retired wildland firefighters, dispatchers and veteran storm watchers, the team collaborates to quickly gather and vet information when a fire ignites.
There are reports that the Eaton fire has reached the top of Mount Wilson, threatening television transmitters on the peak in the Angeles national forest.
In a statement, the Mount Wilson Observatory said power at the observatory is out so communication is limited.
Helicopters and other aircraft are helping fight the flames in that area, Carlos Herrera, a public information officer for Los Angeles county, told CNN.
“This was something we hadn’t anticipated that might be a potential,” he said, adding: “It just kind of picked up. We are attacking it via aerial support.”
Updated
Reporting from Pasadena:
Ash is falling gently over the Historic Highlands neighborhood of Pasadena, as residents begin to grapple with the toll of the Eaton fire still being fought in the mountains above.
This area was under an evacuation order on Wednesday, and the streets are still littered with fallen branches from Tuesday night’s intense windstorm.
Many of the houses in this neighborhood are completely preserved. Others have been reduced to ash and rubble. On a single block, a neighbor told me, five houses were damaged, while the others remain standing.
The intense winds on Tuesday scattered embers from the wildfire raging above the town across a huge swathe of the landscape, sparking fires and destroying homes far beyond the fire line, a resident told me. That accounts for the randomness of the destruction: one house sparked on fire, its neighbor preserved.
I spoke to one woman standing in front of her home, which had been burned to the ground, leaving only charred remains. It has been a Craftsman house built in 1916, she said – one of California’s most beloved architectural styles. Her home had been more than 100 years old – “but not any more.”
She said she couldn’t say much more at the moment. “I’m a little raw right now.”
Updated
The Lidia fire in Acton has burned 348 acres and is currently 60% contained, according to Los Angeles fire officials.
A red flag warning remains in effect in the area until 6pm local time on Friday.
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Hollywood Hills fire 'fully contained', LA mayor says
The Sunset fire, which started in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, is now “fully contained”, according to Karen Bass, the LA mayor.
“Thanks to the bravery and collaboration of our LAFD, the #SunsetFire is fully contained” Bass wrote on social media.
“If you are returning home, please drive SLOWLY and watch the road,” Bass added. “Firefighters are still working in some damaged areas.”
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The office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has released a statement on the wildfires in southern California.
“In the last few days, wildfires in southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life” the statement reads. “A state of emergency has been issued.”
The statement goes on to list some resources and ways in which people can help those in need.
Updated
In a recent update, Los Angeles fire officials say that the Eaton fire is threatening almost 40,000 structures, and has destroyed almost 1,000.
The Los Angeles county fire department said in their latest report that the 972 structures had been destroyed by the Eaton fire and 84 structures had been damaged.
Five people have been killed by the Eaton fire, the report states, and four firefighters have sustained injuries.
The Eaton fire has burned 10,600 acres and is currently 0% contained.
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The Los Angeles unified school district will remain closed on Friday.
In a statement the school district said that a “confluence of factors” including “wind, fire, and smoke” had “created unpredictable, complex situations that present potentially unsafe conditions for our school communities”.
The district is the second largest school district in the country, serving more than 420,000 students.
According to its website, the district spans 710 sq miles, encompassing Los Angeles as well as all or parts of 25 smaller municipalities, along with several unincorporated areas of Los Angeles county.
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More than 170,000 people have been evacuated as firefighters battle at least five fires in the Los Angeles area.
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Although the winds diminished slightly on Wednesday night, they are currently increasing and are expected to become more widespread on Thursday, continuing into Friday morning.
In a recent update, the National Weather Service indicated that the strongest winds will occur today and into Friday morning across the mountains, including the Santa Susana and Santa Monica ranges, as well as the Santa Clarita Valley, where damaging wind gusts of up to 65mph are anticipated.
The gusty Santa Ana winds will also overspread many of the usual wind-prone coastal and valley areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties during this time, with gusts ranging from 35 to 55mph, the service said.
“With the enhanced Santa Ana winds today through Friday morning, there will be the increased risk of rapid fire spread and extreme fire behaviour” the service added. “Including long range spotting, on existing fires as well as any new fires.”
Additionally, another moderate to strong Santa Ana wind event is possible from Monday into Tuesday.
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More than 400,000 people in California still without power
Over 400,000 customers in California remain without power.
As of 1.50pm ET, 417,456 customers in California were experiencing power outages, according to Poweroutage.us.
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Due to moderate-strong Santa Ana winds and low humidities, high end red flag warnings will remain in effect through 6pm local time on Friday in wind-prone areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, he National Weather Service said.
The service added that all red flag warnings had expired for Santa Barbara county, with no threats of significant winds there.
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Defense secretary says troops ready to help tackle fires
The US defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, said California had made a “few requests” so far for aid from the military to fight the fires, adding that he has taken steps to ensure troops are ready if needed.
“We stand ready to surge capability in as quickly as possible,” Austin said during a press conference in Germany, according to Associated Press.
“I’ve done some things to cause our troops to get in a three-point stance to make sure that … if the whistle blows we are ready to move in and provide assistance.”
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The National Basketball Association (NBA) game on Thursday evening between the Lakers and Hornets has been postponed.
The game had originally been scheduled to take place at the Crypto Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
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As Los Angeles firefighters battle the blazes, rightwing media and commentary has focused instead on diversity within the fire department, saying it’s to blame for the devastation.
“Meet Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley,” X account Libs of TikTok, known for spreading anti-LBGTQ rhetoric, posted. “She boasts about being the first female and LGBTQ fire chief in the LA Fire Department. Promoting a culture of DEI is her priority. Does this make you feel safer?”
Crowley’s identity and attempts to diversify the firefighting force feature heavily into headlines about the fire department’s response to the fires, mingled with claims of mismanagement by LA mayor Karen Bass and California governor Gavin Newsom. It’s a common tactic on the far right to bring up DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) during crises and say it’s to blame.
In another tweets, Libs of TikTok, which has nearly 4 million followers, wrote: “DEI will get people k*lled. DEI must DIE.”
The account also laid out a variety of rightwing criticisms in one tweet to deflect from the role climate change plays in increasing wildfires. “Don’t you hate it when climate change appoints a DEI hire to run the fire dept, gives away fire equipment to Ukraine, stops critical controlled burns, defunds the fire dept, refuses to build more water reservoirs and store water, cancels fire insurance, mismanages forests and brush, and fires firefighters for refusing an experimental vaccine?”
Elon Musk, the owner of X and a frequent spreader of misinformation, claimed: “They prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes.” In a response to Libs of TikTok, he wrote: “Wild theory: maybe, just maybe, the root cause wasn’t climate change?”
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Here’s an infrared satellite image showing the Altadena neighborhood, in north-east Los Angeles, being burned by the Eaton fire.
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Summary: key things we learned from LA officials' update
Here’s a recap of the latest on the wildfires from Los Angeles officials:
The exact number of fatalities is not known at this time. Officials have previously reported that at least five people have died in the fires. But LA county sheriff Robert Luna said he was “not satisfied with some of the information that we’re getting”, adding: “Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet. We eventually will.” Luna said he believed the death toll would rise.
The Palisades fire, between Santa Monica and Malibu, has grown to 17,234 acres with 0% containment as of Thursday morning. LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley described the fire as “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles”. “Extreme fire behavior” continues to challenge firefighting efforts with wind gusts up to 60mph expected to resume. Damage assessments are ongoing but preliminary reports estimate the damaged or destroyed structures to be “in the thousands”.
The Eaton fire, in the east near Pasadena, is estimated to be 10,600 acres but its growth has “significantly” stopped though it remains 0% contained. The fire has reportedly caused five deaths, several injuries and more than 1,000 structures damaged or destroyed. It is also still threatening almost 40,000 structures, according to a recent update. The cause of the fire remains unknown and it continues to be under active investigation.
The Hurst fire, in the Sylmar neighborhood, is at 855 acres and 0% containment. The Woodley fire, in Sepulveda Basin, is fully contained at 30 acres and there are no current threats. The Lidia fire, in Acton, burned 350 acres and is 40% contained. The Sunset fire, in Runyon Canyon, spanned 42.8 acres and its forward progress has been stopped. An evacuation order covering Hollywood, which had been threatened by the Sunset fire, was lifted on Thursday morning.
A red flag warning remains in place for LA county despite calmer winds. The National Weather Service predicted the warning will remain in effect for Los Angeles county and the majority of Ventura County through Friday. Winds are expected to subside somewhat, which should allow fire crews to increase containment lines. Officials said they were “hopeful” that the “tide is turning”.
“Historic winds” and extensive droughts created the “perfect storm”, LA mayor Karen Bass said. Bass has faced criticism for being out of the country when the wildfires began. Asked whether her leadership had been effective in responding to the disaster, Bass said her number one focus is to protect lives. “Rest assured that when that is done … we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, what didn’t work, and to correct or to hold accountable anybody,” Bass said.
Nearly 180,000 residents in Los Angeles county are currently under evacuation orders. Nearly 200,000 residents in total are under evacuation warnings. LA police chief Jim McDonnell said he expected evacuations to continue when the winds picked up later today. Luna, the county sheriff, urged people to leave the area if they are asked to. “If you are asked to evacuate, evacuate.”
At least 20 arrests have been made for looting or similar crimes. “This is simply unacceptable,” LA county board of supervisors chair Kathryn Barger said. “I promise you, you will be held accountable … Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis.” LA county district attorney Nathan Hochman said he would prosecute offenders with “maximal punishment”.
The LA county sewer, power and transportation systems have all been significantly damaged. The region’s municipal water system continues to suffer poor water quality due to ash and debris falling into the reservoirs and filtration systems. Boil water advisories are in place in some areas. Residents have been warned not to touch or remove debris as they could be hazardous or toxic.
About 95,000 customers remain without power in the LA area, with power restored to about 200,000 customers. Restoration times are expected to range from 24 to 48 hours as LA department of water and power crews continue to work around the clock to restore power.
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Elon Musk said Starlink, the SpaceX-owned satellite internet provider, will begin to offer free terminals to areas affected by the fires starting Friday.
Musk posted the announcement on X in response to a video of a local FOX 11 news reporter saying the station is relying on Starlink in order to broadcast the news.
“The only reason you’re able to see us right now is because of Starlink connection we just got today,” she said. “There’s absolutely no cell service at all in this whole area.”
Starlink uses physical terminals to connect to a constellation of satellites to provide internet around the world.
Musk has previously offered these connections to people in times of emergencies. He made Starlink internet free for those impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton until the end of the year and reports indicate SpaceX at the time distributed thousands of the receivers necessary to connect to Starlink.
It’s unclear how the company will determine who and where to distribute the terminals tomorrow and how long those who gain access to them will be able to connect to the internet for free.
We’ve reached out to SpaceX for comment and clarity.
Drone footage from a Los Angeles neighbourhood shows rows of houses completely destroyed.
Death toll expected to rise, says LA county sheriff Robert Luna
LA county sheriff Robert Luna was asked to provide more details on his earlier statement that he was not satisfied with the current death toll numbers.
“I want to be more confident in the specific information,” he responded, adding that he wants to make sure that figures are “solid” before sharing them.
“Unfortunately, I think the death toll will rise. I hope I’m wrong, but I think it’s going to rise,” he said.
Updated
LA mayor sidesteps question over disaster response, saying 'focus is to protect lives'
Karen Bass, LA’s mayor, was asked in the news conference if she believed her leadership had been effective in responding to the disaster, and to explain the “fear and confusion” when the fires began.
“My number one focus is to protect lives,” she responded.
“Rest assured, when that is done … we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, what didn’t work, and to correct or to hold accountable any body, department, individual.”
Updated
Nearly 200,000 customers have had their power restored but about 95,000 customers are still without power, LA department of water and power CEO Janisse Quinones said.
Some 118 DWP crews are working around the clock to restore power as fast and as safe as possible, she said.
A boil water notice remains in effect for Palisades for at least another 48 hours, she said.
The city’s reservoirs were used last night to support aerial fire attacks, LA county public works director Mark Pestrella said. Those reservoirs continue to be ready and at the disposal of firefighting personnel, he said.
He noted that LA’s municipal water system continues to suffer poor water quality due to ash and debris.
He said officials will be actively coming into communities in the next days to deliver water. He said residents in some areas are advised to boil water, and warned against people trying to create their own water or power systems at water.
Updated
Fires cause 'significant' damage to water, power and transportation systems
The water, power and transportation systems in Los Angeles have all been “significantly” damaged because of the fires, LA county public works director Mark Pestrella said.
He warned that there is a “tremendous” amount of debris throughout the communities, and that the debris can be hazardous and toxic.
Updated
Pacific Palisades fire scenes described as 'apocalyptic'
LA county district attorney Nathan Hochman described the scenes in Pacific Palisades on Wednesday as “apocalyptic”.
“Not since the 1990s when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city,” he said.
He said he had a clear message for people who want to loot, commit burglary, engage in grand theft or internet scams.
“You will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law,” he said.
These acts are “despicable”, he said. “It’s a huge deal. We will prosecute them with maximum punishment.”
Updated
LA city police chief Jim McDonnell warned that the air is not healthy for people who have respiratory problems.
He said he expected evacuations to continue when the winds pick up. “We’re thankful for the wind conditions we have now,” he said.
Updated
Nearly 180,000 people under evacuation orders across LA county
Nearly 180,000 people in Los Angeles county are currently under evacuation orders, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
About 200,000 people are under evacuation warnings, he said.
He emphasized that residents who are asked to evacuate must follow warnings. “Please, if you’re told to evacuate, evacuate.”
Updated
LA county sheriff says lack of clarity over death toll
LA county sheriff Robert Luna said he was “not satisfied” with the information that he has been receiving about preliminary death toll numbers.
Officials have said that at least five people have been killed by the fires.
Luna said authorities will conduct a more thorough search of impacted areas, noting that some “look like a bomb was dropped on them”.
He asked for patience regarding the death toll, and said his office is working with the coroner’s office. “Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet,” he said.
“This is a crisis and we don’t know what to expect, but we’re ready for everything,” he said.
Updated
LA county sheriff Robert Luna noted that this is a “fluid and evolving crisis” and that numbers released will fluctuate.
“We’re getting information from our boots on the ground. It’s very chaotic out here, because it’s so fluid,” he said.
He said that 20 arrests have been made so far but that he expects that number to go up.
“Our first choice isn’t to do enforcement. It’s not to make arrests. It’s to help people, but if people choose to commit crimes, they’re going to be held accountable,” he said.
Updated
LA sheriff urges residents to evacuate: 'Not only your life you're putting in danger'
LA county sheriff Robert Luna urged residents to evacuate if they are asked to do so
“Please, if you’re asked to evacuate, evacuate, because it’s not only your life you’re putting in danger,” he said.
He noted that 20 individuals “chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property”.
He said rolling patrols are being deployed to prevent people from engaging in looting.
“When we have an evacuation order by law, if you remain in that area, you are guilty of a misdemeanor,” he added. “If you commit certain crimes, it could jump up to a felony.”
Updated
LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said crews were faced with a “massive challenge” when a structure fire involving two large hillside homes with exposed brush broke out in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.
She said firefighters continue to move into the southern California region from across the western region of the US. “We are very, very grateful for any assistance that we are receiving,” she said.
She said weather conditions are beginning to turn “favorably” which will allow fire personnel to increase containment lines.
Updated
All evacuation orders for Sunset fire in Hollywood lifted, fire chief confirms
The Sunset fire, which started last night in the Runyon Canyon, is at 42.8 acres, and all evacuation orders have been lifted, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said.
The fire was “rapidly and aggressively attacked” using coordinated air and ground fire suppression efforts, she said.
Updated
Woodley fire fully contained
The Woodley fire, which started on Wednesday, is at 30 acres and is fully contained, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said.
There are no current threats to the fire, she said.
Updated
Hurst fire at 855 acres and uncontained
On the Hurst fire, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said the fire is at 855 acres and 0% containment.
Crews were able to get a handle on several flare ups over the night and have established a perimeter, she said.
Updated
Palisades fire 'one of the most destructive natural disasters' in LA history
Damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades fire but preliminary reports estimate the damage and destruction of structures to be in the thousands, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” she said.
Updated
Palisades fire grows to 17,234 acres and is 0% contained
LA City fire chief Kristin Crowley said the Palisades fire, which start on Tuesday morning, has grown to 17,234 acres and is at 0% containment.
“Extreme fire behavior continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Pacific Palisades area,” she said.
Wind gusts are up to 60 miles per hour and are expected to resume throughout the entire day, she said.
Updated
LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said firefighters continue to battle brush fires in the city and across the region.
She said winds are expected to subside somewhat, which will allow fire crews to increase containment lines.
But she stresses that the red flag warning with extreme fire behaviour possibilities is still in effect.
Updated
Red flag warning to stay in effect throughout Friday
The current red flag warning is expected to remain effect for Los Angeles county and the majority of Ventura county through Friday, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said.
Updated
Lidia fire 40% contained, says LA county fire chief
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the Lidia fire, which started yesterday in Acton, has been 40% contained and forward progress has been stopped.
The fire is limited to 348 acres and the number of resources assigned has increased significantly. “We have a much better posture than we did on Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.
Updated
Eaton fire growth 'significantly' stopped but blaze is still at 0% containment
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone provided an update on the Eaton fire.
The fire remains estimated to be 10,600 acres, he said. Growth has been “significantly” stopped, and the fire is at 0% containment.
Some 879 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Eaton fire, and mutual aid resources continue to arrive to assist, he said.
There are several reported injuries and more than 1,000 structures damaged and destroyed, he said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and it continues to be under active investigation, he said.
Updated
People urged to avoid nonessential travel
LA county supervisor Lindsey Horvath said gas shutoffs continue to affect more than 15,000 people in Malibu.
Metro fares remain suspended today. “If you have essential travel today, please do so safely from the areas of the evacuation orders,” she said.
“If you do not have essential travel, please remain indoors for the latest updates and service impacts.”
Updated
LA county supervisor Lindsey Horvath said community members of Malibu and Santa Monica last night declared a curfew because of people trying to take advantage of the crisis.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable, and we will all stand together to keep each and every neighborhood safe,” she said.
Updated
Key event
LA county supervisor Lindsey Horvath noted that the fires have led to the loss of many faith centers in the region.
“These aren’t just structures. These are places where people have made lasting memories,” she said.
“As they look at their community now, their hearts break and we are in mourning with them. This is a time of grief.”
Updated
Karen Bass, LA’s mayor, said she has been in constant contact with her colleagues at the county, state and federal level.
“President Biden and Governor Newsom have assured us of full state and federal support,” she said.
Officials are executing a strategy and adapting to conditions on the ground in real time, she said.
“This is absolutely an unprecedented, historic firestorm, but we are all hands on deck,” Bass said.
“We need to continue to cooperate. We need to evacuate when asked to do so. We need to help others, help our neighbors. And first and foremost, we need to stay united.”
Updated
Karen Bass says historic winds and drought created 'perfect storm'
Karen Bass, LA’s mayor, said air operations are continuing rapidly in the Palisades, in Sylmar and across the region.
She noted that historic winds and extensive drought have created a “perfect storm” that has driven people from their homes and taken people’s homes.
“I’ve been in the fire zones, and you can see how fast and devastating these wind-driven fires are,” Bass said.
Updated
LA mayor says air operations have made 'significant progress' against the fires after aircraft were grounded earlier
Karen Bass, LA’s mayor, said her thoughts are with the thousands of Angelenos who are impacted by the fires. “Los Angeles will stand united and stand strong,” she said.
On Tuesday, winds were of “historic nature” and the “unprecedented winds” prevented air operations to continue, she said.
However as of Wednesday, the winds have allowed for air operations which have enabled “significant progress” against the fires, she said.
As of 7.30am PT this morning, evacuation orders in Hollywood have been lifted, she said.
Updated
Los Angeles county chair says 20 people arrested for looting or burglary in news briefing
Los Angeles officials are holding a news conference on the status of the wildfires that have blazed around Los Angeles for two days, killing at least five people, destroying thousands of structures and forcing the evacuation of more than 130,000 people.
LA County board of supervisors chair Kathryn Barger begins by saying that she is “hopeful that the tide is turning”, while acknowledging that there are still “significant” threats.
She says she saw first-hand the impact of the fires as she drove through the streets of Altadena yesterday. “The devastation could not be missed,” she said.
She says the county is working to harness and utilize the “incredible outpouring of generosity” from individuals, nonprofits and companies that want to help. She also thanks Joe Biden and California governor Gavin Newsom for pledging to bring federal and state resources to help Los Angeles county in their moment of need.
But Barger also notes that there have been individuals who are targeting vulnerable communities by burglarizing homes. She said 20 people were arrested for looting or burglary during the fires.
“This is simply unacceptable,” Barger said. “I promise you, you will be held accountable. Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis.”
Updated
No overnight reports of water shortages for firefighting operations
There were no overnight reports of water supply issues at the Palisades fire, the New York Times reports, citing an official with the Los Angeles County fire department.
Hours after officials acknowledged that the water system used to fight the Palisades fire buckled and some hydrants had run dry for hours early on Wednesday, the water supply has since improved.
“It was a challenge early. No reports overnight of any issues with water (and) water pressure,” Jim Hudson of the California department of forestry and fire protection told CNN.
“We’ve worked around some mitigations for that, and the water system is starting to stabilize.”
Janisse Quiñones, head of the Los Angeles department of water and power, said on Wednesday that three million gallons of water were available when the fire started but the demand was four times greater than “we’ve ever seen in the system.”
Updated
Timelapse footage taken from the surrounding mountains near Los Angeles shows the speed at which flames have spread because of high winds.
Biden to deliver remarks on wildfire response
Joe Biden said he was briefed this morning on the latest on the Los Angeles wildfires.
In a statement posted on X, the president said he will convene his team for another briefing, and that he plans to deliver remarks to the nation later.
Fire officials said they are continuing to experience some “erratic winds” and extreme conditions that have fueled the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
“This is unlike anything that I’ve ever seen in my 25 years on the fire department,” Capt Adam Vangerpen with the LA fire department told CBS on Thursday.
Amid issues with some fire hydrants, Vangerpen said they have to adapt and overcome the challenges.
“As we arrive on scene we expect there to be water in the hydrants,” he said.
“If there’s not then we have to shuttle water sometimes. We have to use water tenders that can bring water to us or we have to do relays to get water there.”
More than 400,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages.
As of 9:35am ET, 421,281 customers in California are without power, with around 210,000 coming from Los Angeles County, according to Poweroutage.us.
Updated
LAFD to lift evacuation orders for Hollywood Hills fire
The Los Angeles fire department will lift evacuation orders for the brush fire in the Hollywood Hills at 7:30am PT.
“At 7:30AM, the closed section of the Sunset Fire, area North of Franklin, will be OPEN and all evacuation orders LIFTED” the fire department said in a statement.
“We will still have LAFD companies working in the area and ask you to be careful while returning to your homes” it adds.
Updated
Conditions for a January Los Angeles firestorm have not existed before now, writes a meteorologist and climate journalist.
Read here:
Hundreds of incarcerated firefighters are helping battle the destructive blazes in southern California.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said on Wednesday that it had deployed 395 imprisoned firefighters across 29 crews while the county fights multiple out-of-control blazes fueled by extreme winds and dry conditions.
The incarcerated crews are embedded with the California department of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire) and its nearly 2,000 firefighters, who have been stretched thin from several simultaneous emergencies.
CDCR operates more than 30 “fire camps” across the state, where people serving state prison sentences are trained in firefighting and support authorities as they respond to fires, floods and other disasters.
Read more about it here:
Updated
High wind warnings are in effect until Friday for parts of Southern California.
The affected areas include parts of Orange county, the San Bernardino county mountains, the valleys of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the Santa Ana mountains and foothills, as well as the San Diego county mountains and valleys.
The National Weather Service predicts northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph in some areas, with gusts potentially reaching up to 70 mph. In certain locations, isolated gusts could even hit 80 mph.
Updated
Southern California Gas Company is temporarily shutting off natural gas service to the Malibu community, extending from Brentwood Country Club to Pepperdine University, according to a statement.
“SoCalGas has determined it is necessary to temporarily shut off natural gas service to the Malibu community from Brentwood Country Club to Pepperdine University” the company said. “As a result, approximately 15,000 customers in the impacted communities are currently experiencing temporary service outages.”
“Gas service will be restored to this area once it is safe to do so” the company added.
SoCalGas has also temporarily disrupted service to approximately 100 customers in Sierra Madre and Altadena due to the Eaton fire.
The National Football League is preparing to potentially move Monday night’s playoff game from California to Arizona due to the fires.
In a statement on social media, the NFL said:
The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires.
We continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
As with all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed. In this instance, the game would be played on Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, if necessary.
We will continue to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with public officials, both clubs and the NFLPA.
More than 250,000 customers are experiencing power outages in California, as of Thursday morning.
As of 9am ET, there are reportedly 258,323 customers without power in California, according to Poweroutage.us.
More than 15 school districts in Los Angeles county will remain closed on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles county Office of Education.
All schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will also be closed today.
The LAUSD stated, “The combination of wind, fire, and smoke has created dangerous and complex situations, resulting in unsafe conditions for our school communities.”
The district added that they will continue to assess the situation over the next 24 hours and is preparing for the possibility of online learning on Friday, January 10.
Several school districts have already announced their closures for Friday, including Burbank Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District, and La Cañada Unified School District.
Updated
Universal Studios says its park in Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed again on Thursday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed on Thursday, January 9 as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions” reads a statement on the theme park’s social media.
“We will continue to assess the situation and are directing guests to visit our website for updates.”
Critical fire weather conditions expected to continue today in parts of southern California
Critical fire weather conditions will continue today across portions of southern California today, the National Weather Service said in its most recent update.
Winds of 20-30 mph are expected, with wind gusts of 40-60 mph possible.
“Significant fire growth remains likely with ongoing or new fires,” the service said.
Updated
Due to strong offshore winds and low humidity, Red Flag warnings are in effect until Friday evening in much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
On Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service said that north to north-east wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph were expected on Thursday in typical Santa Ana wind areas, with the strongest winds occurring in the mountains and foothills.
“Winds will be strongest near the Hollywood Hills,” the service stated.
For Thursday night and Friday, winds are forecasted to become slightly stronger, with gusts ranging from 40 to 55 mph. Isolated gusts could reach up to 70 mph in favored foothills and peaks.
Humidity levels are expected to be low, ranging from 10 to 20%, with localized drops to as low as 5% at times.
The service added, “There will be a high risk of widespread downed trees and power lines, as well as widespread power outages.”
Updated
Where the fires stand this morning:
As of 8am ET, here is where the fires currently stand, according to California Fire officials.
Palisades fire: LA County, 17, 234 acres burned, 0% contained
Eaton fire: LA County, 10.600 acres burned, 0% contained
Hurst fire: LA County, 855 acres burned, 10% contained
Lidia fire: LA County, 348 acres burned, 40% contained
Sunset fire: LA County, 43 acres burned, 0% contained
A fast-moving fire broke out in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard, and threatened some of Los Angeles’ most recognisable tourist spots yesterday evening, causing chaotic scenes as it triggered an evacuation.
This map from our graphics team shows the extent of the burn damage in the Los Angeles area after five major wildfires broke out since Tuesday.
This view from a few hours ago shows sunset over the heavily devastated Lake Ave, north of Altadena Ave in Altadena.
Martin Wooster, a professor of Earth Observation Science at King’s College London said that the risk to residents is not just of the fire itself, but that “the smoke filled air poses a risk to health for potentially millions of people, because the smoke particles are so small they can be breathed in and enter the lungs and circulation system”.
Residents in the Palisades and Pasadena have been advised to boil tap water before drinking it due to the risk of the water supply being contaminated by debris from the fire.
Wooster continued:
Satellite data shows that in quite a few areas of the world fire activity is actually reducing over the past 40 or 50 years, even though climate change is primarily driving an increase in the flammability of landscapes, by making many areas hotter and drier for longer. This reduction is because people are moving away from use of fire to manage land.
However, in the western US, the same data indicates that fires in the 21st century have been more active than those in the last few decades of the 20th – potentially due to changes in our climate. The number of ‘fire weather’ days (ie periods when weather conditions have been such that fires can spread) are increasing with climate change.
The US National Weather Service has issued a forecast today saying there remains “a critical risk of fire weather over parts of southern California on Thursday”.
Updated
The Los Angeles Times has described the city of Los Angeles as having faced “a two-day nightmare”, and said people need to be prepared for more days of fire weather.
In its latest report, it wrote:
Unlike the catastrophic conditions on Tuesday night, where gusts of up to 100mph (160kph) were recorded, on Wednesday night, aircraft were able to make water drops.
Officials urged people to still be vigilant. By Thursday afternoon, winds are expected to bump back up along the region’s Santa Ana wind corridors, with gusts from the northeast of up to 40mph (65kph), and isolated gusts of up to 70mph (110kph).
Winds should peak Thursday evening into early Friday morning, the weather service said. The weather service warned that foothills facing the south could face erratic winds, “which may lead to chaotic fire growth.”
Here is the latest map from our interactive team showing where evacuation orders and evacuation warnings have been in place around the five major wildfires that are burning around Los Angeles in California.
The New York Times has spoken to a couple who had to flee fires this week twice. Rob Sherman and Cecilia Peck initially fled their home in the Highlands area of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, to go and stay with friends, only to be evacuated again from that neighborhood west of Pasadena the following day.
Sherman told the newspaper: “If it weren’t so serious, I would have thought it was kind of funny. But it is so serious. It’s all happening against a backdrop of life and death.”
Updated
This clip of aerial footage shows the Sunset fire sweeping across Hollywood Hills in California.
NBC News reports that all schools in Los Angeles county will remain closed for in-person teaching today. UCLA has moved undergraduate classes online. Authorities yesterday said that three schools in the Palisades had suffered significant damage during the fire.
Updated
California fires: what we know so far …
Raging wildfires that have blazed around Los Angeles for two days have killed at least five people, destroyed almost 2,000 homes and buildings, and forced the evacuation of more than 130,000 people
CAL Fire said it was still dealing with five major fires, covering more than 29,000 acres
The disaster began on Tuesday afternoon, when a powerful windstorm fanned the flames of a fire in the scenic Pacific Palisades neighborhood, quickly forcing thousands to flee
Although winds had begun to ease by Wednesday evening, and firefighters from across the state were relieving exhausted crews, the danger was far from over. As officials provided an update on the fires, a new blaze broke out in the Hollywood Hills, and evacuation orders were also extended to Santa Monica. The US National Weather Service continued to warn “critical risk of fire weather over parts of Southern California on Thursday”
The Los Angeles department of water and power has issued a notice warning residents of the Pacific Palisades that they should only be using boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, due to low water pressure and potential contamination of the supply. A similar notice has been issued in Pasadena
Three people have been arrested for looting, according to law enforcement officials
Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton and Eugene Levy are among celebrities who have lost their homes
The White House announced that Joe Biden had cancelled Thursday’s planned visit to Italy – the final overseas trip of his presidency – to focus on directing the federal response to the fires
Updated
Eric Holthaus, an American meteorologist and climate journalist, writes for the Guardian today, arguing that the Los Angeles wildfires are climate disasters compounded:
The ingredients for these infernos in the Los Angeles area, near-hurricane strength winds and drought, foretell an emerging era of compound events – simultaneous types of historic weather conditions, happening at unusual times of the year, resulting in situations that overwhelm our ability to respond.
These fires are a watershed moment, not just for residents of LA, but emblematic of a new era of complex, compound climate disaster. Conditions for a January firestorm in Los Angeles have never existed in all of known history, until they now do.
The greenhouse gases humans continue to emit are fueling the climate crisis and making big fires more common in California. As the atmosphere warms, hotter air evaporates water and can intensify drought more quickly.
Melting Arctic ice creates changes in the jetstream’s behavior that make wind-driven large wildfires in California more likely. Recent studies have found that Santa Ana wind events could get less frequent but perhaps more intense in the winter months due to the climate crisis.
The more complicated answer is that these fires are an especially acute example of something climate scientists have been warning about for decades: compound climate disasters that, when they occur simultaneously, produce much more damage than they would individually.
You can read more from Eric Holthaus here: The Los Angeles wildfires are climate disasters compounded
Some more detail on the emergency curfew order imposed in Santa Monica as the city deals with the impacts of the Palisades fire.
In a statement mayor Lana Negrete said:
The Palisades fire is currently impacting neighborhoods in the northern part of Santa Monica, with approximately 2,472 households under a mandatory evacuation order, and 8,338 under a voluntary evacuation warning. This emergency order further assists our first responders and further protects residents as we weather this regional crisis and, ultimately, begin and support recovery efforts.
City manager David White, who signed the order late on Wednesday, said:
Our first responders are out patrolling, staying vigilant and coordinating with our partners throughout this emergency on all fronts. The order helps us ensure nobody enters impacted areas who is not supposed to, particularly those with nefarious intentions attempting to take advantage of the mandatory evacuations.
This satellite image shows a view of burning homes during the Eaton fire in Altadena, California
On its incidents page, CAL Fire is giving these latest figures for the five major wildfires in California:
Palisades fire, 17,234 acres, 0% containment
Eaton fire, 10,600 acres, 0% containment
Hurst fire, 855 acres, 10% containment
Lidia fire, 348 acres, 40% containment
Sunset fire, 43 acres, 0% containment
On top of that updated forecast from the US National Weather Service, one of its meteorologists, Ariel Cohen, has spoken to CNN, telling the news network:
Just because we’re not seeing the same strength of winds as we saw last night, I urge everyone to remain at a high state of vigilance, as we still have these fires growing and we still have the winds to create the rapid spread.
Updated
The US National Weather Service has issued an updated forecast, which includes this information on California:
There is a critical risk of fire weather over parts of Southern California on Thursday. Strong high pressure over parts of the Northern Intermountain Region and Great Basin will set up Santa Ana winds over Southern California. Therefore, the SPC has issued a critical risk of fire weather over parts of Southern California. Winds of 20 to 40mph, with stronger winds in the terrain, low relative humidity, and dry fuels have contributed to the dangerous conditions.
Yesterday the Guardian published this explainer on what Santa Ana winds are, and how they increase wildfire danger …
It is just approaching 1am in California, where authorities report five major wildfires are ongoing. Here are some of the latest pictures sent over the news wires:
The Los Angeles fire department has issued a statement saying the majority of the evacuation zone for the Sunset fire has been lifted, “with the exception of the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero St (East border) to N Sierra Bonita Ave (West border)”
The statement continued:
This area remains closed until tomorrow morning due to continued LAFD operations ensuring no flare ups in the vegetation surrounding these streets. Residents are asked to be cautious when returning to their homes because firefighters are continuing to work in their neighborhoods.
The Sunset fire has, according to CAL Fire, affected 42.8 acres.
The Los Angeles department of water and power has issued a notice warning residents of the Pacific Palisades that they should only be using boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, due to low water pressure and potential contamination of the supply. A similar notice has been issued in Pasadena.
The Palisades fire is the largest of the five major fires burning in California, covering 17,234 acres (70km sq). In its latest bulletin, CAL Fire said that 300 buildings had been destroyed, and a further 13,306 were at risk. It said:
Extreme fire behavior, including short and long-range spotting, continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisades Fire. Winds gusts up to 60mph are expected to continue through Thursday.
Tony Espinoza, who fled Pasadena on Wednesday, told CNN affiliate KSNV that he fled the fire with 13 other family members, but they only packed for three days. He said:
We had to evacuate. We left in a hurry. We only had a few hours to pack. My neighbors were still in their houses. We couldn’t breathe anymore. We packed our bags only for about three days. Because we all have jobs to go to. We have rent to pay. Bills are still due.
Another evacuee, Patrice Winter, who fled Topanga Canyon, told the Los Angeles Times:
It’s like Armageddon. That’s all I can say. What they’re showing on the news is really real; they’re not sensationalizing any of this. It’s what I saw with my own eyes. It rocks your world.
The Los Angeles Times reports that authorities in Santa Monica have issued a curfew order, that will apply from sunset to sunrise in areas where the mandatory evacuation order is in place.
My colleague Archie Bland has spoken to Gabrielle Canon, extreme weather correspondent for Guardian US, about the wildfires for today’s First Edition newsletter. He writes:
Wildfires are common in California – but rarely in densely populated metropolitan areas like these. And they have become significantly more dangerous in recent years because of the climate crisis.
Gabrielle Canon spent yesterday reporting near Pacific Palisades, where even people who have lived through many previous fires were stunned by the gravity of the situation. You can read her dispatch here. “It’s utter devastation here,” she said. “The iconic stretch of the Pacific Coast highway between Santa Monica and Malibu is unrecognisable.”
“People aren’t strangers to the risks,” she added. “But this fire is just laying siege to these communities, and we’re seeing major structural loss in places we haven’t for a very long time. This is going to be a catastrophic event.”
Gabrielle spoke to firefighters who said that in the Pacific Palisades area, about four out of five houses they had seen had been destroyed, even though many residents have invested in protecting their homes to meet insurance requirements.
“A lot of it came down to luck but construction also played a big part,” she said. “The firefighters saw a lot of properties where vegetation management hadn’t been done and that helped the fire spread.”
You can read more of their conversation here: Thursday briefing – What’s behind the growing danger and destruction of California’s wildfires
Updated
California fires: what we know so far …
Firefighters in California are battling at least five major wildfires which have killed at least five people, destroyed nearly 1,900 structures, and which are threatening famous landmarks
CAL fire lists five active fires which between them have burnt nearly 28,000 acres of land. Of the five, the Hurst fire and the Lidia fire have been partially contained
The fires have put 130,000 people under evacuation orders and ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. The Sunset fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and about a mile (1.6km) from the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hundreds of incarcerated firefighters are helping battle the destructive blazes. The California department of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) said on Wednesday that it had deployed 395 prisoners who have been trained as firefighters while in prison across 29 crews
In Pasadena, fire chief Chad Augustin said the city’s water system was stretched and was further hampered by power outages, but even without those issues, firefighters would not have been able to stop the fire due to the intense winds fanning the flames
Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton and Eugene Levy are among celebrities who have lost their homes
The disaster began on Tuesday afternoon, when a powerful windstorm fanned the flames of a fire in the scenic Pacific Palisades neighborhood, quickly forcing thousands to flee
Satellite images showed the scale of the destruction from the Pacific Palisades fire, which burned more than 15,000 acres and left the coastline along the famous Malibu neighbourhood scorched black and buildings along the water burned to the ground
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AFP reports that new fires appeared to be spotting as embers were thrown up to 2.5 miles (four kilometres) including one that razed a large property late on Wednesday in the densely populated Studio City area.
Adam Vangerpen of Los Angeles County Fire Department said crews were fighting to stop this new fire from spreading.
“It’s a four-storey home... we did just have the winds pick up again, so we are seeing some ember casting,” he said.
“Our hope is to hit it hard and make sure that we’re trying to keep it out of the brush right now, because with the winds picking up there in the hills, that is a concern of ours.”
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Victim died trying to protect his home, sister says
One of the five people killed in fires tearing across Los Angeles died trying to protect his home from the flames, his sister said on Wednesday, describing the moment she had to leave him behind.
Victor Shaw ignored firefighters’ pleas to flee as fire began tearing through the Altadena area, Shari Shaw told local broadcaster KTLA.
The 66-year-old, who lived with his sister and had serious health issues, told her he wanted to stay behind and fight the flames as she made the heartbreaking decision to leave their family home.
“I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm,” she said. “I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
Al Tanner, a friend of Shaw’s, later found his body in the driveway of the burned property.
“It looked like he was trying to save the home that his parents had had for almost 55 years,” he told KTLA.
California's fires – in pictures
From a windstorm of embers obscuring the ocean, to the smouldering remains of houses – dramatic pictures continue to emerge from Los Angeles tonight, where multiple wildfires continue to rage, and a new blaze has broken out in the Hollywood Hills.
Check out the series here.
Nearly 400 incarcerated firefighters deployed to battle fires
The California wildfires have become so destructive that hundreds of incarcerated firefighters have been deployed to help battle the blazes that are rapidly spreading across southern California as a powerful windstorm devastates the region.
The California department of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) said on Wednesday that it had deployed 395 imprisoned firefighters across 29 crews, while the county fights multiple out-of-control blazes fueled by extreme winds and dry conditions.
“The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated,” said CDCR secretary Jeff Macomber.
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Before and after the California fires - in pictures
A series of new satellite images show the scale of destruction from the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires. By Wednesday evening, six fires were burning from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, most of them uncontrolled.
See here for the revealing before and after images.
A hind wind warning remains in place for parts of greater Los Angeles, including the Malibu coast and the Santa Monica Mountains, according to the National Weather Service, which means dangerous fire conditions will likely persist overnight.
Winds of up to 40 mph could impact affected areas, with gusts of up to 60mph forecast.
Red flag warnings, which indicate higher fire risk and include a combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, are likely to remain in effect across parts of Southern California through to Friday.
Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has taken to X to say that over 7,500 firefighters are currently on the ground, fighting the five blazes in and around Los Angeles.
He asked southern California residents to “please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you’re near impacted areas.”
In another post, he listed the resources currently being put to work, including 1,162 fire engines, 23 water tenders, 6 air tankers, 31 helicopters and 53 bulldozers.
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You can also read Gabrielle Canon’s latest from on the ground in Los Angeles at the link below:
A host of celebrities have lost their homes in the fires, including Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes and Eugene Levy.
Crystal in particular said he was “heartbroken” after losing his family home of 46 years in the fires that have so far destroyed 1,100 buildings.
You can read more on the celebrity homes lost here:
Sunset fire expands
The Sunset fire in Hollywood Hills has expanded, now stretching out to over 50 acres, according to the Cal Fire’s latest update.
Around 2 hours ago, it was 20 acres, so the fire is expanding quickly.
The blaze is burning southward, heading toward Hollywood Boulevard. In an update posted to X, the LA County Sheriffs said the most intense fire activity was on the “southwestern side”, and that helicopters were “actively engaged.”
They said the perimeter is holding firm on the eastern side, “thanks to a fire road and ground crews in place.”
An evacuation centre for those impacted has been established at the Pan Pacific Recreational Center.
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LAPD deployed to alleviate evacuation traffic
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has taken to X to announce that the Los Angeles Police Department has been enlisted to provide support in the efforts to deal with the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills.
Police will be helping people evacuate, direct traffic, close roads near the fire and expand street access for firefighters, the mayor said:
We are deploying LAPD officers to respond to Hollywood to help alleviate evacuation traffic. We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire.
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One of the fires currently burning, the Lidia fire in Acton, has now grown to 348 acres, in a major expansion of the blaze.
Only a couple of hours ago, the fire was only 50 acres, and was around 30% contained. According to the Angeles National Forest, the fire is currently 40% contained.
Acton is just north of the forest, close to the Antelope Valley, with a large area south and west of the town under evacuation orders from Wednesday evening.
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President Biden cancels trip to Italy
The Associated Press is reporting that President Joe Biden has cancelled a trip to Italy, choosing instead to remain in Washington and monitor the LA Fires.
The trip was meant to be his final overseas trip as president, and was cancelled just hours before he was set to depart for Rome and the Vatican.
Biden was scheduled to leave Thursday afternoon after eulogizing former President Jimmy Carter at a memorial service in Washington. He was expected to meet with Pope Francis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
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Good evening, Mostafa Rachwani with you to take you through updates as they come.
Today So Far
Thank you for joining us today in our coverage of the wildfires and windstorm wrecking havoc across southern California. Here are the top takeways from the day:
Six wildfires are currently raging across Los Angeles county. The largest and most devastating so far have been the Palisades fire, at 15,832 acres, and Eaton fire, at 10,600 acres, but other blazes – particularly the growing Hurst fire and Hollywood Hills-based Sunset fire – are continuing to worry Los Angeles residents. Approximately 100,000 people are under evacuation order, though the number continues to shift, and 1,500 structures have been destroyed. Five fatalities have been reported.
One additional wildfire is burning in neighboring Ventura county.
All schools across the Los Angeles unified school district will be closed on Thursday. In order to continue providing school meals to students who rely on them, superintendent Alberto Carvalho said, “we are activating eight different centers for the distribution of food to a grab-and-go product for students of Los Angeles Unified that will begin early tomorrow morning.”
President Joe Biden has formally signed off on a federal disaster declaration. The White House says the declaration allows for federal funding to be made available to affected individuals in Los Angeles county for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs aimed at helping individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Various celebrity residents of the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas have lost their homes to the Palisades fire, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton. A sign of Los Angeles’ importance to the entertainment industry, the Academy Awards extended the deadline for voting for Oscar nominations and the Critics Choice Awards has been postponed.
Firefighters from across US western states are traveling to California to aid in the fight against the Los Angeles area fires, including 60 units from Oregon, 45 from Washington, 10 from New Mexico, 15 from Utah, and others from Arizona.
AirBnB and Uber are offering free services to LA residents impacted by the southern California wildfires.
Uber is offering free rides up to $40 to active evacuation centers using the code WILDFIRE25, according to LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath.
Meanwhile, Airbnb.org is working with 211 LA to offer free, temporary housing to LA country residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires.
Guardian reporter Lois Beckett, who lives in Los Angeles, has been covering the wildfires devastating southern California. As we head into the second night of these vicious storms, here she is reflecting on last night:
Los Angeles firefighters were already stretched thin on Tuesday night, as a ferocious, fast-moving fire engulfed mansions and businesses in the Pacific Palisades, one of southern California’s most luxurious coastal neighborhoods.
Then, just after 6 pm local time, a second fire broke out, this one on the opposite side of the city, near Pasadena, home to universities such as CalTech and Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Furious gusts of wind, some moving as fast as 60 to 70mph (96 to 112km/h), drove both fires to spread quickly across the bone-dry landscape. The wind was fast enough that it threatened to rip an open car door off its hinges, and so full of dirt and debris that it was painful to the eyes.
At around 10.30pm local time, a third major fire broke out, this one in the San Fernando valley, north-west of the city.
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The Los Angeles Fire Department has ordered an immediate evacuation of parts of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood where the Sunset fire broke out at about 5.50pm on Wednesday evening.
The order encompasses parts of the neighborhood surrounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and down to Hollywood Boulevard to the south
Fire crews are responding to the fire, which currenly encompasses about 20 acres, with 20 additional fire engines, LAFD public information officer Margaret Stewart told ABC News Los Angeles.
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The Hurst fire, which is located in the Sylmar neighborhood, grew to 850 acres Wednesday evening. The blaze, which previously encompassed 700 acres, is still the third largest of six wildfires ongoing in Los Angeles County.
President Joe Biden has formally signed off on a federal disaster declaration.
The White House says the declaration allows for federal funding to be made available to affected individuals in Los Angeles county for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs aimed at helping individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff of California led 47 members of the state’s congressional delegation in asking Biden to grant California governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the wildfires and windstorm event in southern California earlier today.
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Actor and comedian Billy Crystal and his wife Janice have lost their home to the Palisades fire, the couple confirmed in a joint statement Wednesday.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,” the couple said. “Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”
The couple is just one of many celebrity families to have lost homes in the wealthy California community. Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton have also reported that they lost homes to the Palisades fire.
“Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family,” Moore said on Instagram, posting a video of devastated streets in the Altadena neighborhood near Pasadena. “Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control,” the actor-singer wrote.
Hilton said a Malibu home where her young son took his first steps was among those lost to the flames. “The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking,” she wrote.
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Here are some Pacific Palisades residents speaking about the fires:
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Sixth fire to break out in Los Angeles named as Sunset fire
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has named a new brushfire in the Hollywood Hills the Sunset fire. According to Cal Fire, the Sunset fire currently encompasses 50 acres and broke out about 5.57pm.
The fast-moving fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, threatening some of of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks. The Sunset Fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The streets around Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds were packed with stop-and-go traffic as sirens blared and low-flying helicopters soared by on their way to dump water on the flames. People carrying suitcases left hotels on foot, while some onlookers walked toward the flames, recording the fire on their phones, according to the Associated Press.
The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west - all iconic addresses for the entertainment industry.
Within that area is the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held.
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Sixth fire breaks out in Los Angeles
Another brushfire has broken out in Los Angeles, this time in the Hollywood Hills.
“We have a new brush fire that has just broken out within the last five minutes in the Hollywood Hills,” LAFD fire chief Kristin Crowley announced at a press conference this afternoon, before excusing herself to respond to the event.
CBS News Los Angeles first reported the fire just after 5.30pm in the 2300 block of N Solar Drive.
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All schools across the Los Angeles unified school district will be closed on Thursday, superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced at a press conference on Wednesday evening. In order to continue providing school meals to students who rely on them, he said, “we are activating eight different centers for the distribution of food to a grab-and-go product for students of Los Angeles Unified that will begin early tomorrow morning.”
He added that the district is preparing to locate students of schools that were damaged by the wildfires when schools resume in-person learning.
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Newsom compares LA fires to deadliest wildfire in California history
Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Altadena on Wednesday evening, California governor Gavin Newsom compared the wildfires current raging around Los Angeles to the Camp fire, the deadliest wildfire in state history which devastated the town of Paradise.
“Just complete and utter devastation, and I’ve been to a lot of these fires, a lot, going back to Paradise. This approximates Paradise,” he said. “It’s not numeric. It’s just the feeling – the sense of loss, place, belonging.”
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Firefighters from across the west are aiding California in its fight against the Los Angeles area wildfires.
“At this time, the state of California is exercising their emergency compacts with the western states of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington for additional firefighting resources and personnel to come to Los Angeles county to assist us with this widespread fire emergency,” LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference this evening.
“One data point is that we have 60 units responding from Oregon, 45 units responding from Washington, 10 units responding from New Mexico, 15 units responding from Utah, and numerous units responding from Arizona.”
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Landing at LAX this afternoon was an uncomfortable experience.
Social media users have been posting upsetting photos of the flames as seen from the air as they landed. But as my flight from New York approached the city, visibility out my window was virtually zero, as if we were stuck in a cloud. Starting about an hour outside Los Angeles, there was significant turbulence, and many passengers around me were vomiting and one was in tears.
To add to the distress, once we were close to the city, alarms started going off. At first I almost panicked, assuming it was some sort of mechanical warning. But as the same sound continued at random intervals up and down the cabin, I realized it was just people’s phones warning of fire conditions. After about 45 minutes of jitters, we landed safely.
When I checked my email, I saw that 15 minutes after we’d taken off, the airline had offered anyone flying to LA the opportunity to change their booking for free.
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More than 100,000 people are now under mandatory evacuations as wildfires continue to rage across southern California. As many as 1,500 structures, mostly homes and businesses, have been destroyed in the metropolitan area.
At a press conference this afternoon, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass spoke about the devastation wrought by the wildfires proliferating across southern California, just hours after she returned from an international trip to Ghana.
“I stand here today with incredible sympathy and concern about the devastation and the tragedy that our city and county are facing, and I definitely want to send my condolences to the families and neighborhoods who lost property,” she said. “This firestone, firestorm is the big one in magnitude. Hurricane-force winds are usually accompanied by rain storms, but these are hurricane-force winds that are combined with extremely dry drought conditions.”
“I’ve been in constant contact with our fire commanders, with county, state and federal officials. I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane, which facilitated our communications, so I was able to be on the phone the entire time of the flight,” she added, speaking about her journey home after the fires broke out on Tuesday morning.
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The Eaton fire burning north of Pasadena, California, has damaged or destroyed between 200 and 500 structures, Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
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Here’s more on the water situation.
As firefighters battled three wildfires raging across Los Angeles in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the water tanks supplying Pacific Palisades – where the largest of the fires broke out – ran dry.
Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer and CEO of the Los Angeles department of water and power, told reporters that by 3am Wednesday, the three 1m-gallon tanks serving the Palisades had been depleted.
“We had a tremendous demand on our system in the Palisades. We pushed the system to the extreme,” Quiñones said during an early Wednesday morning press conference. “Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure.”
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At a press conference hosted by Los Angeles county earlier, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents Pacific Palisades, said: “This morning, we woke up to a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles, but it is darkest for those who are most intimately impacted by these fires.” Here are some more pictures from the area:
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Some more images from the fires:
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As five wildfires blaze in Los Angeles county, which is home to an estimated 75,312 people experiencing homelessness, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has issued the following statement from its CEO, Va Lecia Adams Kellum:
Since Friday, LAHSA outreach teams have been providing proactive fire education and awareness for people experiencing homelessness, especially in high-risk fire zones.
When the winds picked up on Tuesday, LAHSA moved into high alert, ready to support first responders in both the City and County of Los Angeles as they address emergency situations. LAHSA staff have also been assisting people experiencing homelessness to access motel rooms through the Augmented Winter Shelter Program, which has been activated in both the City and County of LA. While LAHSA outreach teams have not yet been cleared to go into any of the current fire zones, we stand ready to act and help additional people find shelter.
LAHSA is monitoring evacuation zones and power outages and is actively working with service providers who operate interim housing sites impacted by this emergency to ensure client safety at these facilities and relocation coordination as needed. We are also working to distribute masks to front line staff and people experiencing homelessness in areas with poor air quality.
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As the Palisades fire grew to 15,832 acres this afternoon, photographers across the Los Angeles area captured the devastation.
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The Academy Awards has extended its deadline for members to vote for the upcoming Oscars due to the fires blazing across Los Angeles.
The deadline for Oscar nomination voting, which was set to close on Sunday 12 January, has been extended to 14 January.
In an email announcing the extension, Academy CEO Bill Kramer wrote, “So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”
The movie industry – which brought fame to Los Angeles’ Hollywood and other neighborhoods – has cancelled film premiers and postponed awards shows as six wildfires rage in southern California.
Here’s more from Gabrielle Canon in Los Angeles:
I am at the beach now, it’s rough over here. Sending this while I have service: very thick smoke. Santa Monica is being quickly evacuated. Driving through from Brentwood you can see the aftermath of the wind even in areas that haven’t burned. Large trees buckled across roads, piles of palm fronds, and cars smashed by fallen debris.
Another loud “evacuate now” siren is sounding from phones as the evacuation area continues to grow. Authorities have issued an evacuation order in Santa Monica for all areas north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street.
But there are still private security guards standing in the affluent neighborhoods or positioned in vehicles, there to monitor the abandoned homes.
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Law enforcement have blocked off several streets in the north of Santa Monica, saying homes are burning, reports my colleague Gabrielle Canon.
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Death toll from Los Angeles fires rises to five
The death toll from wildfires in the Los Angeles area has risen to five, according to the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department. The Associated Press reported the news, confirming earlier reports from ABC Los Angeles station KABC.
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Five wildfires blaze in LA county
Five wildfires are now raging across Los Angeles county, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. They include the 15,832 acre Palisades fire and the 10,600 acre Eaton fire, as well as the smaller Hurst (at 505 acres), Lidia (at 50 acres) and Woodley (at 30 acres) fires.
In neighboring Ventura county, firefighters are also responding to a blaze named the Olivas fire.
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Here’s my colleague Gabrielle Canon:
Two enormous plumes billowing out from mountains to the north east and the west side of Los Angeles had joined in an immense grey haze on Wednesday afternoon, as the fires producing them continued to rage.
The Palisades fire, mapped at more than 15,800 acres, pushed deeper into the densely covered dry hillsides, closing in on communities and homes that dot the picturesque area overlooking the Pacific.
By that time, many residents in Topanga Canyon, the artistic and rural enclave that has grown accustomed to navigating chaotic fire disasters, had already evacuated. The roads winding through the canyon were empty save for the remaining few that chose to stay and those on their way out. Small groups paused at overlooks to watch as the fire ripped through the area they had just fled from.
Among them, Matt and Joseph Brown, father and son, who’d collectively spent several decades living in this part of southern California. They marveled at the last 24 hours. Joseph had been part of a frantic and chaotic evacuation out of the Palisades when the fire first erupted. He then helped Matt and his family as they rushed to gather up animals – horses, dogs, and mini donkey – before the flames reached them. Chickens and bunnies in a coop, Matt said with sadness, had to be left behind.
Neighbors who stayed, protected by privately hired fire crews, gave him the news shortly after that the coop and its inhabitants along with their guest house was consumed by the fire.
Further down the road, Jane Connelly was still working to save her horse Louie who had been so frightened in the chaos he’d refused to get into a trailer. She decided to walk him out on a lead instead. “I had to get the dogs, cats, and child out first,” she said, breathing heavily as she quickly walked along the side of the sloping road. After 15 years living in this area, this was a sad first.
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Death toll in Eaton fire rises to five – report
Five people have died in the Eaton fire in Altadena, an increase from the two reported deaths earlier today, Los Angeles county sheriff Robert Luna told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.
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Here are some of the latest images from the newswires from the wildfires raging though Los Angeles County.
More than 20 patients were treated at UCLA Health hospitals for fire-related injuries as of Wednesday 11am local time, NBC is reporting, citing officials.
One patient remained hospitalized in critical condition, it said.
Patients suffering from asthma and heart attacks are showing up in emergency rooms at a time when hospitals are already full because of flu season, Dr Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County fire department, said.
“We have a number of hospitals threatened, and if they have to be evacuated, it could become a crisis,” said Gupta, Associated Press reported.
The Hurst fire, which began last night in the San Fernando valley, has now grown to more than 700 acres, according to the Angeles National Forest.
The fire is 0% contained. At least 3,000 residents have been evacuated, according to fire officials.
Even in a state that’s become grimly accustomed to severe conflagrations, the rapid surge of wildfire that has torched the Los Angeles area has been shocking, triggering mass evacuations that have left behind charred suburban homes.
Along with strong winds reaching up to 100mph (161 km/h), recent conditions in southern California have added literal fuel to the fire.
This winter has been exceptionally dry, with much of southern California locked in drought. This means that there are plenty of trees, grasses and shrubs to catch fire and most of them are parched of water, meaning they combust more readily.
LA mayor says impact of fires 'devastating'
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, described the impact of the fires and winds affecting the area as “devastating”.
In a statement posted to X, Bass said she spoke to the president, Joe Biden, where they discussed an “urgent path forward towards recovery for the thousands of families impacted”.
Bass has come under criticism for being out of the country as wildfires tear through parts of southern California.
She was part of a US delegation to Accra for the inauguration of the president of Ghana, John Mahama.
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The Los Angeles metro has suspended fares for the remainder of the day.
In an update posted a short while ago, LA County supervisor Janice Hahn said metro services have been impacted by evacuation orders near the Easton fire.
“Given the extraordinary demands on the power grid and sporadic outages in numerous areas, we recognize it is difficult for many customers to buy and load their TAP cards at stations,” she said.
Residents of Los Angeles fled deadly wildfires engulfing the city’s suburbs, as firefighters struggled to contain the flames overnight amid fears they would worsen.
Tanner Charles posted this footage to X, saying it showed “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,” Charles wrote.
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More than 1.5m homes without power in California
About 1.5 million residents are without power in California, with nearly a million of them in Los Angeles county, according to PowerOutage.us, as wildfires continue to rage across the region.
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Palisades fire grows to more than 15,000 acres
The Palisades fire, which is the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles’ history, 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.
It is one of a number of fires raging in the Los Angeles area – stretching the resources of firefighting teams.
The US president, Joe Biden, has approved a major disaster declaration for California – directing the Department of Defense to deploy extra firefighting personnel to tackle the life-threatening blazes.
Here’s a recap of what else has happened today so far:
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 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.
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.
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.
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