Los Angeles Wildfire. Los Angeles County has been devastated by two deadly wildfires that have become some of the most destructive in California history.
The Palisades and Eaton fires both erupted on Jan. 7, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds.
Dozens of people are believed to have died in the fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities, including in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and Pasadena. More than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the two fires, with the Eaton Fire the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
Sunday night in Los Angeles changed my understanding of what a natural disaster can do to a modern city. The wildfires created conditions that made the familiar streets feel like another world entirely. When I heard how bad things were getting, I loaded thousands of @AmericanaHQ… pic.twitter.com/dTjULuzJb7
— ERIK FINMAN (@erikfinman) January 15, 2025
- With the fires continuing to rage, the full scope of the lives lost and destruction remains to be seen.
- While working to contain the Palisades and Eaton fires, firefighters also have had to contend with several smaller fires that have ignited amid the hazardous fire conditions. Here’s a look at how the deadly blazes unfolded.
The Palisades Fire was 21% contained after consuming 37 square miles , Cal Fire said in an update Wednesday evening. The Eaton Fire has decimated over 22 square miles of Pasadena and Altadena and was 45% contained. The fire was expected to remain “within its current footprint,” Cal Fire said.
∎ Firefighters made significant progress on the Hurst and Auto fires. The Hurst Fire was 98% contained, according to CalFire. The Auto Fire has burned 61 acres and was 85% contained, Cal Fire said. Forward progress on the fire that began Monday evening in Ventura County was stopped ,the department said.
Cooler temperatures and a reduced fire threat are expected for the Los Angeles area the rest of this week, but the chances of red flag warnings for L.A. and Ventura counties jump back up to 60% Monday, the weather service said.
∎ Hilton and American Express announced Wednesday that they will make 20,000 hotel room nights available “at no charge” for people displaced by the wildfires in Los Angeles County. Hilton said it is working with 211 LA, a local non-profit organization, to coordinate the distribution of rooms.
∎ A coalition of Los Angeles arts organizations and philanthropists, led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, announced the creation of the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund to help artists and arts workers impacted by the wildfires, starting with a $12 million endowment.
- Containment: The fire was 21% contained as of Wednesday night, up from 19% early Wednesday. It has burned 23,713 acres.
- Damage: Officials have confirmed 2,747 structures are destroyed and 484 damaged, with totals expected to rise.
- Lives lost: Officials have confirmed that nine people are dead from the Palisades fire.
- Evacuations: As of Wednesday, the mandatory evacuation area encompassed Pacific Palisades, portions of Topanga and portions of Malibu. This zone stretched roughly from Las Virgenes Road on the west to the 405 Freeway on the east and from the coastline on the south to Calabasas and the Encino Reservoir to the north. Get more details on closures, evacuations, shelters.
Photographer @WallySkalij captures the fire along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Read all the latest coverage here: https://t.co/PDf8LS63Cp pic.twitter.com/aDFapni9VT
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 8, 2025
- Containment: The fire was 45% contained as of Wednesday night, up from 35% early Tuesday. It has burned 14,117 acres.
- Damage: Officials have confirmed 5,356 structures destroyed and 613 damaged, with totals expected to rise.
- Lives lost: Officials have confirmed 16 are dead from the Eaton fire.
Thanks for Visiting to me…..👍👍❤️❤️