LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles is facing severe wildfires that have led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The fires are driven by strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and ongoing drought, resulting in a disastrous situation.
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes.”
My view of downtown LA right now. Never seen anything like this. Can’t even begin to process the scale of the devastation here.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen.bsky.social) January 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
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Four major wildfires—the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, and Woodley Fire—are currently affecting Los Angeles County, and none of these are contained.
The Palisades Fire started north of Malibu and has burned over 5,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. The Eaton Fire in Altadena has burned over 2,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures, with at least two civilian fatalities reported. The Hurst Fire is burning north of San Fernando and has scorched about 500 acres. Finally, the Woodley Fire is a smaller fire that has burned around 75 acres.
“We are not out of danger,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters during an afternoon briefing. “The National Weather Service has predicted that the winds are going to pick up and get worse.”
LA this morning. Wait for the camera to pan. (Via @andrewkimmel on X)
— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath.bsky.social) January 8, 2025 at 10:26 AM
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Tens of thousands of people have left their homes, and the National Weather Service has warned of strong winds reaching 100 mph in some places. More than 320,600 utility customers in California are without power, with about 226,000 outages in Los Angeles County.
“This could be the difference in someone’s life or death if we can get people safely evacuated,” Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesperson Margaret Stewart told CNN affiliate KABC.
Emergency services are working nonstop to control the fires and keep residents safe. Firefighters are fighting the flames with all their resources, but strong winds and dry conditions are making it very difficult.
“Doug [my husband] and I are praying for our fellow Californians who have evacuated, and we are thinking of the families whose homes, businesses, and schools remain in harm’s way,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a released statement. “We are deeply grateful for the heroic first responders who are risking their own safety to fight the flames and help keep communities safe.”
This morning’s sunrise over Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/QhQEeJVrMk
— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel) January 8, 2025
Wildfires have affected daily life in Los Angeles. Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk are closed because of strong winds and fire. The Screen Actors Guild canceled its annual SAG Awards nomination announcement, which was supposed to take place at the Shrine Auditorium.
“Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs,” President Joe Biden, who is in Los Angeles, said after receiving briefings on the rapidly spreading fires. “I encourage residents to heed evacuation orders and stay safe.”
FEMA has a text system to help those affected find shelter. Residents are encouraged to follow local officials’ instructions and evacuate if necessary. Officials said that the safety of residents and emergency responders is the main focus as the city tries to control these wildfires.
