LOS ANGELES, CA – A series of wildfires continue to sweep through Los Angeles County, destroying homes and forcing many residents to evacuate. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, the fires have burned over 27,000 acres and resulted in at least five fatalities.
“The fire came right down to the road, and the fire department came up and said, ‘Get out of your cars now,’ because the fire was right up against the cars,” Pacific Palisades resident Marsha Horowitz told CBS.
The Palisades Fire started in the Pacific Palisades area, burning over 17,000 acres and becoming the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. The Eaton Fire in Altadena-Pasadena and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar also caused damage, with the Hurst Fire rapidly growing from a brush fire to 500 acres.
Click on a fire bellow for statistics on each blaze.
1. Palisades Fire
- Location: Pacific Palisades neighborhood
- Size: Over 17,000 acres
- Status: 0% contained
- Impact: This fire is the worst in Los Angeles history, destroying more than 1,000 buildings and forcing many residents to evacuate.
2. Eaton Fire
- Location: Altadena
- Size: Over 10,600 acres
- Status: 0% contained
- Impact: The fire has resulted in at least five deaths, significant property damage, and widespread evacuations in the San Gabriel Valley.
3. Hurst Fire
- Location: Sylmar, northern San Fernando Valley
- Size: 855 acres
- Status: 10% contained
- Impact: The Hurst Fire has damaged parts of Sylmar and led to evacuations.
4. Lidia Fire
- Location: Acton, north of Los Angeles
- Size: Almost 350 acres
- Status: 40% contained
- Impact: The Lidia Fire is slightly contained but still threatens nearby areas.
5. Sunset Fire
- Location: Hollywood Hills
- Size: 60 acres
- Status: Under control
- Impact: A fire near Runyon Canyon threatened tourist spots like the Hollywood sign. Firefighters have made good progress in controlling it.
The New York Times has mapped the fires and their corresponding evacuation zones here.
“You just can’t believe that from 8 until now, all this damage has happened. And then as you’re driving through the community, it’s the same thing,” Brizona Kraft, longtime Los Angeles resident, told NBCLA. “I’m saying 70 percent of the business gone, 30 percent of the houses for sure gone, and it may be closer to 50 percent, but I tend to want to air on the side of being cautious.”
These fires have collectively burned thousands of acres, destroyed numerous homes and businesses, and displaced tens of thousands of residents. Firefighters and emergency responders are working around the clock to contain the blazes and protect the community.
View on Threads
More than 100,000 people have evacuated their homes, many leaving on foot or by car as flames spread through neighborhoods. The fires have destroyed over 1,000 buildings, including homes and businesses. Notable places like the Hollywood Hills and Universal Studios are affected, with Universal Studios closing due to severe fire conditions.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is taking significant actions to support state and local response efforts for the wildfires in Los Angeles, California,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “We are mobilizing life-saving and life-sustaining resources across the region.”
Local authorities and firefighters are working hard to contain the fires and keep residents safe. The community is supporting those affected, with neighbors helping each other and strangers offering rides to safety. Celebrities like Mandy Moore, Michael Rosenbaum and Mark Hamill have also had to evacuate their homes.
Firefighters are controlling flames with progress in some areas, but instability remains; the Los Angeles Fire Department advises residents to stay indoors due to poor air quality and unsafe water and reminds residents to evacuate when called upon to do so.
