2 deaths are reported as uncontrolled wildfires ravage Southern California
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At least two people have been killed and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed as major wildfires tear through communities in southern California, according to Anthony Marrone, LA County fire chief. A significant number of serious injuries have also been reported, as the largest fires remain at 0% containment.
Tens of thousands have already evacuated their homes in Los Angeles County — some of them on foot — after fires erupted near residential areas. The largest fires — the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst — continue to expand, triggering a cascade of evacuation orders and school closures.
Marrone said those individuals who suffered serious injuries were of those who failed to follow evacuation orders.
Firefighting teams continued battling winds up to 100 mph overnight as they try to blunt the wildfires' fury; as of early Wednesday morning, all the fires in Southern California were at 0% containment.
As one key evacuation route faltered, people were "walking on Sunset Boulevard toward Pacific Coast Highway after being told by officers to abandon their cars and walk to safety," member station LAist reports. "Many were seen holding bags and pets as they made their way towards the ocean."
Anxiety grew as the fires spread, with residents sharing images of night skies glowing with flames and smoke. Officials say conditions won't get better on Wednesday.
"Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning and to heed local warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X. "Red flag parking restrictions will remain in effect until further notice."
Here's what we know so far.
The scope of the fires
The Palisades fire started west of Santa Monica around 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday; by early Wednesday, it had burned 2,921 acres of land.
Further inland and to the north of Pasadena, the Eaton fire broke out shortly after 6 p.m. local time and has now burned 2,227 acres of land, forcing evacuation orders from Pasadena and Altadena to Arcadia and Sierra Madre.
Later Tuesday night, the Hurst fire was reported in the Sylmar neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, leading the LA Fire Department to issue evacuation orders near where Interstate 5 meets the 14 and 210 freeways. The fire has burned 500 acres as of Wednesday morning.
➡️ This is why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
At least 19 school districts are totally or partially closed around LA County and several nursing homes were evacuated.
The causes of all four fires are still being investigated.
Danger posed to neighboring counties
An evacuation order signals the fire poses an "immediate threat to life" and mandates evacuations, while an evacuation warning carries a "potential threat to life and/or property" and suggests that those with pets and livestock, and those who would need more time to evacuate, do so, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire.
➡️ Evacuation terms can be confusing. Here's what they mean and how to sign up for alerts
➡️ Trying to stay safe in a wildfire? There's an app that can help
The fires could spread to neighboring areas, such as Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Wildfire season in Southern California typically runs from the late spring to the fall, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
"This time of year traditionally has not been fire season, but now we disabuse any notion that there is a season," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a video posted to X. "It's year-round in the state of California."
Local, state and federal government responses
Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday, as did Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Additionally, five Los Angeles schools will be closed Wednesday, and a sixth school has temporarily relocated and joined with another. The district said it is waiting to make a decision about whether to close the impacted schools Thursday.
Flames reached two schools, the structure of Palisades Charter Elementary, and the playing fields of Palisades Charter High School, according to The Los Angeles Times. The latter school "is currently not in session," the district said.
More than 300,000 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were without power Wednesday morning, according to poweroutage.us. Firefighting authorities will typically turn off power lines, as a downed line can cause sparks that escalate to flames.
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that's creating extreme fire risk – and we're not out of the woods," Newsom said. "We're already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes."
He said Tuesday that California had secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which will reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs authorities have taken on to suppress the fires.
President Biden said his team is in touch with state and local officials in California and that he is receiving frequent updates.
"My Administration will do everything it can to support the response," he said. "I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials."
Weather conditions in the area
Critical fire conditions are expected in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Thursday. The fires are forecasted to be exacerbated by low humidity, dry vegetation and strong winds between 50 and 100 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said.
The agency has issued wind advisories for the area.
More on how to stay safe
➡️ Trying to stay safe in a wildfire? There's an app that can help
➡️ LAist's very short guide to driving in high winds and fire danger
➡️ How to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke
➡️ High winds and fires mean power outages. Here's how to prep
The California Newsroom is following the extreme weather from across the region. Click through to LAist's coverage for the latest.
