Palisades fire live updates: Five dead as wind-fueled wildfire deemed most destructive in LA history
Signifcant injuries are reported as the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and other fires rage over more than 27,000 acres in southern California, leaving schools closed and more than 1.5 million without power
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Your support makes all the difference.Wildfires continue to rage over more than 27,000 acres in Southern California as crews struggled to contain the blazes.
So far, five people are dead, countless are hurt and more than 1,000 structures are in ruin as the blazes devastate Southern California. The Pacific Palisades Fire is now the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
The Palisades Fire is now more than 15,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has scorched over 10,000 acres.
The blazes have forced the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents, including more than 30,000 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Homes have been destroyed across the LA area, including those owned by several celebrities. Dramatic pictures and videos from the scene show people scrambling to save personal belongings or use whatever resources they can find to try and salvage their residences.
Dangerous wind conditions were not expected to let up until the end of the week, which will hamper efforts to control the fires.
“We have a number of hospitals threatened, and if they have to be evacuated, it could become a crisis,” Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told the Associated Press.
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Critics Choice Awards postponed due to wildfires
The Critics Choice Awards have been postponed due to the wildfires in Southern California, Deadline reported.
Pasadena residents sob as they learn they’ve ‘lost everything'
Outside the Pasadena Convention Center, an evacuation center, a man reportedly told his wife that their home had been destroyed and they had lost everything.
The woman fell to her knees, sobbing, as her husband embraced her, The New York Times said.
They sat on the ground, crying, and strangers asked if the woman needed help.
“We lost everything,” the man shouted back.
Five football fields a minute: How a perfect storm of extreme weather set off Los Angeles wildfires
Five football fields a minute: A perfect storm of extreme weather set off LA fires
Rising temperatures have created the ideal conditions for “extreme, high severity wildfires that spread rapidly,” according to the California Air Resources Board
Trump hits Governor Gavin Newsom on wildfire response ‘This is not Government'
As of this moment, Gavin Newscum and his Los Angeles crew have contained exactly ZERO percent of the fire. It is burning at levels that even surpass last night. This is not Government. I can’t wait till January 20th!
Aircraft return to dropping water on Los Angeles wildfires
Aircraft are beginning to drop water on Los Angeles wildfires again after being grounded by winds.
President Biden meets with wildfire officials
President Joe Biden was being briefed by Los Angeles fire officials on Wednesday.
“I’ve never seen the winds in my 25-year career,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told Biden.
“What we saw here in the last 24 hours is unprecedented,” Police Chief Jim McDonnell added.
“It’s astounding what’s happening,” Biden told them. “There’s only one piece of good news. My son lives out here and his wife. They got a notification yesterday their home was probably burned to the ground. Today, it appears that maybe still standing but I’m not sure. But the good news is I’m a great grandfather as of today.”
Altadena Golf Course is destroyed
Johnny Eusebio, general manager of the Altadena Golf Course, said it was lost to wildfire flames.
The Eaton Fire stands to become the largest wildfire to burn in California during the month of January in the past 41 years.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Footage shows smoke in Los Angeles County during Palisades Fire
The Woodley Fire is now just 30 acres
Cal Fire revised an assessment of the size of the Woodley Fire, downgrading it from 75 to 30 acres.
“The Woodley Fire started 1/8/2025 and was initially reported at 75 acres. Incident Command reports the Woodley Fire is being monitored and has been revised to 30 acres. Firefighters are still working diligently to contain the fire and protect structures in the affected area,” the agency said.
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