By The Associated Press’s Julie Watson, Christopher Weiner, and Jimie Ding
Los Angeles (AP) As terrified inhabitants fled through flames, fierce winds, and towering clouds of smoke, several large wildfires ripped across the Los Angeles area early Wednesday, destroying over 1,000 structures and killing at least two people.
From the inland Pacific Coast to Pasadena, the site of the renowned Rose Parade, at least four fires were raging throughout the metropolitan region. The Los Angeles Fire Department appealed for off-duty firemen to assist, as thousands of firefighters were already battling the fire. The battle was made more difficult by the stormy weather, which prevented firefighting aircraft from flying. Later on Wednesday, fire officials planned to get the flights up.
According to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, the fires endangered at least 28,000 properties and claimed the lives of two people in addition to injuring numerous others.
Overnight, pictures of the destruction surfaced, showing opulent residences that had fallen in a tornado of fiery embers. The sky was scarlet and glowed, and palm tree tops whipped against it.
Vehicles and buildings are burned by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Photo by Ethan Swope for AP)
According to officials, at least 70,000 residents were told to leave. The rich and famous of California lived in densely populated, opulent areas that were on the march of the flames. Among those compelled to evacuate were Hollywood celebrities James Woods, Mandy Moore, and Mark Hamill.
According to a spokesman, Vice President Kamala Harris’ Los Angeles residence was one of the evacuation zones, but no one was home.
“Life is our top priority,” stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. He said hundreds of deputies were responding to situations and assisting residents with evacuation.
Staff at a senior living facility had to move scores of people in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street to a parking lot after fire broke out Tuesday night in a nature preserve in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles. The fire advanced so quickly. As embers fell all around them, residents as elderly as 102 waited in their bedclothes until construction vans, ambulances, and buses came to transport them to safety.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Altadena, California, residents of a senior center are evacuated as the Eaton Fire draws near. (Photo by Ethan Swope for AP)
The city’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, a hillside enclave along the ocean that is home to famous residences and was immortalized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit song Surfin USA, was torn apart by another fire that began hours earlier. Roads became impassable as countless individuals abandoned their cars and fled on foot, some carrying suitcases, in the haste to reach safety.
Until her sister called just as a helicopter dropped water over her house, Sheriece Wallace had no idea that a fire was raging all around her.
“It’s raining,” Wallace observed, and I agreed. “No, it’s not raining,” she says. There is a fire in your area. You must leave.
She added, “It was like right there as soon as I opened my door.” I started by observing the trees to determine the direction of the wind. because I was struck by it. I was blown away by it. She was free to go.
Emergency vehicles were unable to get along Palisades Drive due to a traffic bottleneck, so a bulldozer was used to clear the area and push the abandoned automobiles aside. Widespread damage to residences and businesses along the renowned Pacific Coast Highway was captured on camera.
Sylmar, the northernmost suburb in Los Angeles and part of the San Fernando Valley, was evacuated immediately after a third wildfire broke out Tuesday night. Early on Wednesday, there were reports of a fourth fire in Coachella, Riverside County. Investigations were underway into the causes.
According to the National Weather Service, Santa Ana winds that reached 60 mph in some locations on Tuesday and 80 mph by early Wednesday were pushing flames. In foothills and mountains, including places that haven’t seen much rain in months, they might reach speeds of 100 mph.
Although January wildfires are not unusual, the Western Fire Chiefs Association states that California’s wildfire season normally starts in June or July and lasts until October. According to CalFire, there were ten in 2021 and one in 2022.
Weather reports
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