Los Angeles, Jan 8: A series of massive wildfires raged through the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction by damaging over 1,000 structures and resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals. As residents desperately sought safety, they were engulfed in flames, fierce winds, and thick smoke.
Three major fires were actively burning across the metropolitan region, stretching from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, which is known for its iconic Rose Parade. Thousands of firefighters were already on the scene battling the flames, and the Los Angeles Fire Department issued a call for off-duty personnel to assist. However, strong winds hindered firefighting aircraft operations, complicating efforts to combat the fires. Officials remained hopeful that air support could be deployed later in the day.
In addition to the confirmed fatalities, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported numerous injuries and highlighted that at least 28,000 structures were under threat from the flames.
Photographs of the devastation revealed upscale homes reduced to ash and rubble amid swirling embers, while palm trees swayed against a fiery sky.
“This morning, we woke up to a dark cloud covering all of Los Angeles. But the darkest impact is felt most by those directly affected by these fires. It has been an incredibly painful 24 hours,” stated LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
Evacuation orders affected at least 70,000 people, a number that fluctuated as new alerts were issued continuously, according to officials. The flames approached densely populated and affluent neighborhoods frequented by celebrities. Among those forced to leave were Hollywood figures like Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and James Woods.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence was also in an evacuation zone, although a spokesperson confirmed no one was present at the time.
“We are prioritizing lives above everything else,” Sheriff Robert Luna declared.
Jennie Girardo, a 39-year-old producer and director from Pasadena, recounted her shock when a neighbor arrived to check on her amidst the chaos.
“When I opened my door, it smelled like I was inside a fireplace,” she described, noting the sight of ash falling like rain, a phenomenon she had never witnessed before.
The initial outbreak of flames occurred Tuesday evening near a nature preserve in the foothills northeast of LA, spreading so quickly that staff at a senior living facility had to urgently evacuate residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to safety, waiting in bedclothes as embers fell around them until help arrived.
Another fire, which ignited earlier that day, tore through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, an area known for its scenic views and celebrity homes, famously referenced in the Beach Boys’ classic “Surfin’ USA.” As residents fled, many abandoned their vehicles, taking to the streets on foot, some loaded with suitcases.
Sheriece Wallace was not aware of the blaze until her sister alerted her just as a helicopter was dumping water over her home.
“I thought it was raining,” she recalled. “But she said, no, your neighborhood is on fire. You need to evacuate immediately.”
Traffic congestion hampered emergency responses, prompting responders to deploy a bulldozer to clear the roads of abandoned cars. Video footage captured alongside the Pacific Coast Highway displayed extensive damage to buildings and businesses along the iconic route.
Kelsey Trainor, a resident of Pacific Palisades, stated that the only access road was blocked, while ash rained down and flames blazed on either side.
“People were exiting their cars with their dogs and children, carrying whatever bags they could. It was chaotic, with many crying and screaming,” Trainor recounted.
A third wildfire erupted Tuesday evening, leading to evacuations in Sylmar, the northernmost neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Wildfire season in California typically runs from June to October, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, but January wildfires aren’t unusual. Previous years saw similar events, including one in 2022 and ten in 2021, as noted by CalFire.
A changing climate has contributed to extending wildfire seasons, leading to warmer temperatures and less rainfall, according to recent reports. Rainfall that usually helps extinguish fires has often been delayed, allowing fires to persist into the winter months.
“This could be the most destructive windstorm we’ve witnessed since the 2011 event that caused significant damage in Pasadena and the nearby San Gabriel Valley foothills,” the National Weather Service warned in a red-flag alert issued on Wednesday.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced via social media that California had mobilized over 1,400 firefighting personnel to combat the wildfires and had called in National Guard troops for additional support.
Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin indicated that evacuation orders were in effect for much of the city as they awaited calmer winds to allow aircraft to start battling the blazes. Fire departments from across California dispatched additional crews to assist, as local firefighters were stretched thin, he explained to KABC television.
The flames advanced through Temescal Canyon, a popular hiking destination surrounded by expensive residential areas. Flames also jumped over the famed Sunset Boulevard, impacting parts of the Palisades Charter High School, which has featured in several Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror film “Carrie” and the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday.”
By early Wednesday, the Eaton Fire, ignited the prior day, had consumed approximately 3.5 square miles, while the Hurst Fire expanded to nearly a square mile, and the Palisades Fire grew to 4.5 square miles, as reported by Angeles National Forest officials. All fires remained at 0% containment.
Over 100 schools were closed due to fire threats, and power outages affected more than 180,000 residents, mainly in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us. Southern California Edison interrupted service as a precaution due to high winds and fire hazards, with over 500,000 customers possibly facing shutoffs depending on weather conditions, the utility reported.
Recent dry winds, including the notorious Santa Ana winds, have contributed to elevated temperatures in Southern California, which has seen minimal rainfall this season. The region hasn’t recorded more than 0.1 inches of rain since early May.
Winds reached speeds of 80 mph by early Wednesday, with expectations to exceed 100 mph in mountainous and foothill areas with scarce rainfall in recent months.
When fire threatened nearby, long-time Pacific Palisades resident Will Adams quickly went to pick up his two children from school. Sparks flew into his wife’s car during her attempt to evacuate.
“She had to abandon her running car,” Adams noted, as she and many others walked toward the ocean until it was safe.
Adams expressed disbelief at the extent of the fire, stating, “It’s unbelievable, it’s everywhere, reaching into every nook and cranny of the Palisades. One house is safe, and the next one is engulfed in flames.” (AP)
