Millions of California residents have been forced to abandon their homes as wildfires ravage Los Angeles County.
Over 100,000 residents of Los Angeles County have been ordered to evacuate as wildfires rage across the region. Red flag warnings are in place for Los Angeles and much of Ventura County, and they will be extended through Thursday.
At least five people have lost their lives, California Governor Gavin Newsom said, as multiple wind-driven wildfires across Los Angeles County remain largely uncontained. The latest blaze, the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills, has prompted evacuation orders in the area.
A fire broke out in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday morning, marking the first of several significant blazes that rapidly spread across the Greater Los Angeles area under strong Santa Ana winds. The Eaton and Hurst fires soon joined the Palisades fire, destroying structures and triggering widespread evacuations. On Wednesday, another major blaze, the Woodley fire, erupted, accompanied by several smaller fires.
Hurst Fire
The Hurst fire in the north has spread across more than 800 acres and remains at 10 percent containment as of January 8. A multi-agency response is underway, with resources deployed from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, United States Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Cal Fire.
A red flag warning, indicating heightened fire danger due to dry and windy conditions, is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday.
Shelters are available at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima. Large animals are being accommodated at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.
Palisades Fire
The Palisades fire, which ignited near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7, has already scorched more than 15,800 acres and remains 0 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire has destroyed numerous homes, businesses, and landmarks in Pacific Palisades, and continues to spread westward along the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu.
Residents who have been displaced can seek shelter at the following locations: Westwood Recreation Center, El Camino Real Charter High School, and the Pasadena Convention Center.
Eaton Fire
The Eaton fire, which ignited to the northeast, has scorched over 10,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The fire has been burning in the Altadena/Pasadena area of Los Angeles County. The fire, which started on January 7 at approximately 6:18 PM, has already scorched an estimated 10,600 acres and is being managed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Pasadena Fire, and the United States Forest Service. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Red flag conditions are expected to persist until Thursday evening.
Multiple structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Both the Palisades and Eaton fires rapidly expanded within hours, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation resulting from a lack of rainfall.
Meanwhile, the Woodley fire, now contained, started in the Sepulveda Basin of the San Fernando Valley. Firefighters have contained 40 percent of the Lidia fire, which broke out in Antelope Valley Wednesday afternoon.
California residents are urged to remain informed and heed evacuation orders to ensure their safety.
“We are putting all available resources behind fighting these wildfires, including leveraging local and federal assets. California has thousands of boots on the ground working to combat these fires. The state is leaving no stone unturned to protect California communities,” Newsom said in a statement.
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