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Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Eaton wildfire grows to over 8 square kilometers
Firefighters battling the Eaton Fire in Pasadena are focusing their efforts on containing the blaze within specific boundaries—north of the 210 Freeway, east of Angeles Crest Highway, west of Santa Anita Avenue, and south of Mount Wilson. This strategy is outlined in the incident action plan for Wednesday's operations.
The fire expanded quickly overnight, scorching more than 3.13 square miles (8.11 square kilometers) as strong winds and low humidity created hazardous fire conditions.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Red flag warnings are highlighting extremely critical fire weather conditions
The National Weather Service has reported winds reaching up to 80 mph (129 kph) this morning, with mountain and foothill areas potentially experiencing gusts topping 100 mph (160 kph). These high winds are driving extremely critical fire weather conditions, characterized by dangerously low relative humidity levels, according to meteorologist Peter Mullinax. Mullinax warns that these powerful winds are expected to persist through Thursday, offering little relief and further escalating the fire risk.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: 'Plan like you’re going on a trip for seven days,' says fire chief
“Plan like you’re going on a trip for seven days. Have clothes, toilet paper, toothbrush, soap, a towel in there,” said Jesse Torres, a battalion chief for the California department of forestry and fire protection, or Cal Fire, said.
It should also include a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water per person, as well as food and water for any pets. N95 masks can help filter out many of the particles in wildfire smoke, and an extra cellphone battery or charger can also be helpful.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Residents flee wildfires, abandoning vehicles on streets
Multiple wildfires broke out in the Los Angeles region, intensified by powerful Santa Ana winds. The emergency situation led to numerous vehicles being left behind on streets, with their engines running and headlights illuminated, as residents departed urgently to ensure their safety.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: 'Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck,' says governor Newsom
More than 1,400 firefighting staff and numerous "prepositioned assets " were mobilised across California to tackle the blazes. Throughout the night, emergency services personnel, fire crews and first responders remain fully engaged, working tirelessly to safeguard the population, said governor Gavin Newsom.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: 'Windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning,' says mayor Karen Bass
Tens of thousands of people near Los Angeles fled their homes on Wednesday as three out-of-control wildfires, fueled by hurricane-force winds, tore through the city’s suburbs, leaving destruction in their wake. One firefighter was injured while battling a blaze near the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where several residents suffered burns. Vicious gusts fanned the flames, whipping red-hot embers hundreds of meters, sparking new spot fires faster than firefighters could contain them. As dawn broke, a vast plume of smoke covered Los Angeles, the acrid smell of burning filling the air. Mayor Karen Bass warned in a post on X that the "windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning." Firefighters in the Palisades were facing water shortages at hydrants, as the blaze has consumed nearly 3,000 acres so far.
At the Eaton fire in Altadena, north of Los Angeles, emergency workers rushed elderly patients out of a care facility. A third fire burned around Santa Clarita, and the Pacific Palisades blaze has already claimed dozens of homes in one of California’s most desirable spots. Emmy-award-winning actor James Woods shared a video showing flames near his home as he evacuated. Events throughout the area, including a premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film, have been canceled. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fires and offered federal aid. The fire coincided with seasonal Santa Ana winds, which meteorologists predict could develop into one of the worst windstorms in a decade, with gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour.
Devastating wildfires swept across Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing residents to make desperate escapes from their burning homes amidst intense winds and thick smoke clouds.A fire that began on Tuesday evening near a nature reserve in the northeastern LA foothills expanded so quickly that staff at an elderly care facility had to evacuate dozens of residents.
Southern California is under siege. Los Angeles is in flames—literally and figuratively—as wildfires consume entire neighborhoods, leaving firefighters without the water they need to fight back. Across Pacific Palisades and beyond, hydrants have run dry, and desperation is setting in.Winds roaring at nearly 100 mph have unleashed ferocious wildfires, tearing through neighborhoods, reducing homes and businesses to rubble, and engulfing cities in choking smoke. The night sky turned blood red as storms of embers rained down, spreading destruction with terrifying speed.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Power outages and traffic jams, made worse by wildfires, add to the ongoing chaos
Wildfires tore through Los Angeles on Wednesday, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, burning homes and displacing thousands. Evacuations were issued as flames spread rapidly from the foothills to coastal neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades. Power outages and traffic jams added to the chaos, with emergency responders working tirelessly to contain the blazes amid red flag warnings.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Winds reaching up to 100 mph fuel devastating wildfires
Los Angeles faced devastation on Wednesday as wildfires engulfed neighbourhoods, fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds reaching up to 100 mph. Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and foothills northeast of the city saw homes consumed by flames, forcing thousands to flee. Residents abandoned vehicles on gridlocked roads, while first responders struggled to contain the infernos in critical fire weather conditions. Officials warned of worsening fire seasons due to climate change, with extended dry periods leaving the region vulnerable even in winter months.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Elderly evacuated amid inferno as fires encircle senior living centre
Northeast of Los Angeles, a senior living centre became the scene of a harrowing rescue as staff pushed elderly residents—some as old as 102 years—out of harm’s way in wheelchairs and hospital beds. Flames erupted near a nature preserve, spreading rapidly as embers fell around the facility, painting the night sky a menacing red. Residents in nightclothes huddled in a parking lot until ambulances, buses, and even construction vans arrived to transport them to safety. The dramatic evacuation unfolded under the unrelenting force of Santa Ana winds that pushed flames dangerously close.
Pacific Palisades Wildfire Live: Fires leap Sunset Boulevard, forcing desperate evacuations
The affluent Pacific Palisades neighbourhood witnessed harrowing scenes as residents abandoned their cars, clutching pets and children while fleeing the rapidly advancing fire. Flames jumped across Sunset Boulevard, razing multimillion-dollar homes and even parts of Palisades Charter High School, a popular Hollywood filming site. Emergency vehicles struggled to navigate blocked roads as bulldozers cleared abandoned cars.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Thousands of LA residents face blackouts and water shortages amid firestorm
More than 200,000 people in Los Angeles County remain without power as the fires strain the city’s resources. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported challenges in refilling water tanks due to high-elevation blazes. Fire crews have been working tirelessly to protect lives and property, with reinforcements arriving as off-duty firefighters respond to an urgent plea for help.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Governor Gavin Newsom declares emergency as blazes rage across California
California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as fires burned through 13,000 structures and forced 30,000 evacuations. The Pacific Palisades fire alone consumed 4.5 square miles and threatened the iconic Malibu coastline. President Joe Biden cancelled a scheduled visit to Riverside County to address the crisis from Los Angeles, where smoke was visible from his hotel.
Los Angeles Wildfire Live: Santa Ana winds stoke LA Wildfires beyond control
Strong Santa Ana winds exceeding 80 mph have propelled the flames across Los Angeles, with gusts potentially hitting 100 mph in higher elevations. Meteorologists have warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions," as firefighters contend with a relentless inferno. The winds, coupled with exceptionally dry conditions, have hampered aerial firefighting efforts and heightened destruction across multiple neighbourhoods.
Strong Santa Ana winds fuelled devastating wildfires across Los Angeles on Wednesday, engulfing multiple neighbourhoods, including Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Sylmar. Flames tore through homes, nature preserves, and iconic landmarks like Temescal Canyon and Sunset Boulevard, displacing over 30,000 residents and threatening 13,000 structures. Emergency responders faced extreme challenges as erratic winds and widespread smoke complicated firefighting efforts.
Residents, some unaware of the fires until flames were at their doorsteps, fled their homes amid chaos. Roadblocks and abandoned vehicles added to the difficulty of evacuations, prompting bulldozers to clear paths for emergency services. Many sought refuge along the Pacific Ocean or in parking lots, with harrowing accounts of people evacuating in wheelchairs and hospital beds.
Firefighting aircraft were grounded due to high winds, leaving responders reliant on ground efforts. Over 1,400 personnel battled the flames, and a state of emergency was declared by governor Gavin Newsom, who confirmed significant damage to properties.
The fires have burnt thousands of acres with zero containment. President Biden postponed a Riverside County visit and approved federal aid for California’s firefighting costs. High winds are expected to persist, prolonging critical fire conditions and hampering relief efforts.
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