Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

New wildfire rips through Hollywood Hills triggering fresh evacuations as blazes sweep across LA: Live

At least five people have been killed and more than 150,000 are under evacuation orders

Julia Musto,James Liddell,Katie Hawkinson
Thursday 09 January 2025 08:04 GMT
Comments
Firefighters battle Pacific Palisades wildfires as huge flames and smoke sweep hillside

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Wildfires continue to rage across more than 27,000 acres in Southern California – with one of the fires now the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles – as crews battled the blazes, with more than 150,000 people evacuated.

A new blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, prompting further evacuation orders. At least five people have been killed, countless are hurt and more than 1,000 structures are in ruin as the blazes devastate Southern California.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called on residents to “conserve water to the extent that you can” as firefighters battle the historic blaze. She said: “But make no mistake, Los Angeles will rebuild stronger than ever.”

The Palisades Fire is now the most destructive LA has seen, burning more than 15,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has scorched some 10,600 acres.

The fires have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, including more than 60,000 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. More than 450,000 people are without power throughout the region, according to PowerOutage.us. Homes have been destroyed across the LA area, including those owned by several celebrities.

Hollywood stars react as California wildfires engulf neighborhoods

Hollywood stars have asked for “prayers and strength” as they react to the fast-moving wildfires in Los Angeles.

Read on:

Hollywood stars react as California wildfires engulf neighbourhoods

Chris Pratt, Paris Hilton, Billie Eilish, and Khloe Kardashian are among the stars who have reacted to the blaze

Chris Stevenson9 January 2025 08:04

Palisades fire: Malibu restaurants and local landmarks destroyed in catastrophic blaze

Tens of thousands of Southern California residents have been forced to evacuate as wildfires rip through the region, devouring homes, restaurants, and local landmarks, and killing at least five people and injuring countless other area residents.

The Palisades fire, the largest among them, erupted at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Read more:

Palisades fire: Malibu eateries and local landmarks destroyed in catastrophic blaze

The Palisades fire, the largest among the four wildfires burning around Los Angeles, has destroyed more than 1,000 structures

Kelly Rissman9 January 2025 07:50

‘All Gone’: Actor James Woods breaks down in tears recounting destruction of home in California fire

Actor James Woods cried Wednesday while recounting the destruction of his home by the deadly California wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area.

Woods, 77, told CNN he lost his home in California’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood as devastating wildfires ripped through the region. Woods said his wife’s 8-year-old niece offered up her piggy bank to help rebuild their home.

“One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone,” Woods said as tears came to his eyes.

Read more:

‘All Gone’: Actor James Woods breaks down in tears talking of home destroyed by fire

At least five are dead and thousands of structures are in ruin as several wildfires burn through Southern California

Katie Hawkinson9 January 2025 07:34

Gleeful young adults spotted grinning for selfies while deadly California wildfires rage behind them

A group of young adults were pictured smiling as they posed for selfies in front of a raging Southern California wildfire that has devastated the area.

The group, who have not been identified, were pictured by Getty photographer David McNew on Tuesday in an evacuation zone in Pasadena as the Eaton fire ripped through people’s homes.

At least five people have died as a result of the Eaton fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed, which has so far spread to 27,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 150,000.

Keep reading:

Young adults grin for selfies while deadly California wildfires rage behind them

The group, who have not been identified, were pictured in an evacuation zone in Pasadena as the Eaton fire ripped through people’s homes

Rhian Lubin9 January 2025 07:18

Hollywood actor rushes to help fire first responders evacuate panicked LA residents

Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg reporting for duty.

As wildfires blazed through the celebrity enclave of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the 66-year-old actor was seen lending a hand to fire crews battling the blaze.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after a massive wildfire erupted and sparked others on Tuesday, quickly growing to engulf more than 27,000 acres, leading to the evacuations of more than 150,000 residents.

Keep reading:

Hollywood actor rushes to help fire first responders evacuate panicked LA residents

‘Police Academy’ actor has lived in the area for 30 years

Louis Chilton9 January 2025 07:00

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face evacuation and power outages at Montecito home amid LA wildfires

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be ordered to evacuate their home in Montecito, California amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.

Read more:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face evacuation and power outages amid LA wildfires

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave in Montecito with their two children, Archie and Lilibet

Amber Raiken9 January 2025 06:00

Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Diane Warren among celebrities whose homes burned in LA fire

Diane Warren, Anna Faris, and Adam Brody and his wife Leighton Meester are among the many celebrities to have reportedly lost their homes in the wildfires still burning across Los Angeles.

The fires have also led to the suspension of multiple television productions.

Read more:

Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Diane Warren among stars to lose homes in LA fire

Several celebrities have issued updates as wildfires continue to devastate some LA neighborhoods

Kevin E G Perry9 January 2025 05:01

Trump blames Governor Newsom for fires and criticizes him over failure to sign fake document

President-elect Donald Trump has baselessly claimed Governor Gavin Newsom is to blame for the California fires because he failed to sign a “water restoration declaration.”

However, such a document does not exist.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Newsom “refused to sign the water restoration declaration,” which he claims would have “allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California.”

“I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA,” Trump wrote. “He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”

There is no such thing as a “water restoration declaration,” Izzy Gordon, Newsom’s communications director, told CalMatters on Wednesday. Gordon went on to call the claim “pure fiction.”

Katie Hawkinson9 January 2025 04:45

Watch live: New fire erupts in Hollywood Hills as mandatory evacuations ordered

Katie Hawkinson9 January 2025 04:30

LAPD helps direct Hollywood evacuation traffic

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has directed the city’s police department to help direct heavy evacuation traffic out of Hollywood.

“We are deploying LAPD officers to respond to Hollywood to help alleviate evacuation traffic,” Bass wrote on X. “We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire.”

The Hollywood Hills blaze sparked this afternoon, city officials said late Wednesday.

Katie Hawkinson9 January 2025 04:15

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in