Los Angeles wildfires live: Hollywood landmarks threatened as firefighters continue to battle deadly blaze
Death toll continues to climb as more than 7,500 firefighting personnel are deployed across California, with three of the most ferocious fires at zero percent containment
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Your support makes all the difference.At least five people have been killed as several fast-moving wildfires sweep across the Los Angeles area, leaving thousands of firefighters attempting to extinguish the blaze.
The death toll climbed to five as of Thursday morning after the Eaton fire raged through Altadena and Pasadena, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed to The New York Times.
The Palisades fire, now the one of the most destructive L.A. has seen, is burning more than 17,200 acres, while the Eaton fire has scorched some 10,600 acres. The Sunset fire in Hollywood has engulfed 60 acres. All three fires are at zero percent containment.
An estimated 2,000 buildings have been scorched and 130,000 residents ordered to evacuate, including more than 60,000 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. More than 330,000 people are without power throughout the region, according to PowerOutage.us.
On Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that more than 7,500 firefighting personnel and almost 1,200 fire trucks have been deployed across Southern California. He also thanked President Joe Biden, who announced the approval of a major disaster declaration and ordered federal assistance to bolster response efforts.
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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.”
All Los Angeles Unified School District schools closed on Thursday
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed Thursday amid the fires devastating Southern California.
“As the Los Angeles region continues responding to this unprecedented crisis, the health and safety of our students and employees are of the utmost importance,” the district said in a statement. “All Los Angeles Unified schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. The confluence of factors – wind, fire, and smoke – have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities. Select essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors regarding potential work duties.”
Paris Hilton’s Malibu home burns down
Paris Hilton’s Malibu, California home burned down amid the devastating wildfires on Wednesday.
“Heartbroken beyond words,” Hilton wrote on X. “Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience.”
Several other celebrities — including Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Diane Warren — have also lost their homes to the blazes.
President Biden cancels final foreign trip of presidency to focus on California fire response
President Joe Biden has canceled his upcoming trip to Italy to ensure he can focus on the federal response to the devastating California wildfires, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday evening.
It was set to be the final foreign trip of his presidency.
“After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the historic fires raging in the area and approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead,” she said in a statement.
New blaze sparked in Hollywood Hills
Yet another wildfire has broken out in southern California, this time in the Hollywood Hills area. The fire is quickly spreading and has already prompted new evacuation orders.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley announced the new blaze during a Wednesday evening news conference.
“I don’t have a lot of information,” Crowley said.
“I can tell you we’re throwing all of our available resources at it as we speak,” she added.
The blaze has burned at least 10 acres as of Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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