Southern California is being ravaged by wildfires exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds, with many parts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles under evacuation orders.
A windstorm affecting the region has merged with dry conditions and a lack of rainfall in several months to create conditions sufficient for an outbreak of wildfires. Here is what to know about the fast-spreading wildfires in the Golden State.
Where are the fires?
Four major fires, including the Palisades, Woodley, Eaton, and Hurst fires, are battering the Los Angeles area, affecting the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Sylmar areas of the city. At least two people have died from the infernos.
The Palisades fire is affecting the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood in the western part of Los Angeles, bordering Malibu. The fire is roughly 2,920 acres, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, and has devastated the neighborhood.
The Woodley fire erupted Wednesday near North Woodley Avenue but is only 30 acres in size, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Hurst fire is burning 700 acres in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The Eaton fire has burned roughly 10,600 acres north of Pasadena and threatens nearly 28,430 structures, authorities said.
How many people are under evacuation orders?
Evacuation orders have been issued for more than 70,000 people in the affected neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and more orders could come as the wildfires continue to burn and the winds remain strong.
What is the latest in firefighting efforts?
All four fires are 0% contained as of late Wednesday morning local time.
The Los Angeles Fire Department asked all off-duty firefighters to report their availability Tuesday night, as firefighters were overwhelmed by the quickly moving blazes. Firefighters from outside the greater Los Angeles area, including from northern California and Arizona, are being deployed to help contain the infernos.
Rick Caruso, a former commissioner of the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power, told the Los Angeles Times he received reports that some of the fire hydrants were dry. He blamed the problems on the city’s mismanagement and aging infrastructure.
What is causing the wildfires?
One of the main reasons for the wildfires’ sudden growth is the Santa Ana winds, along with low humidity and dry conditions. The dry winds bring air from the inland areas toward the coast, making the winds dry, unlike moist air, which flows from the coast into inland areas.
The winds have been associated with several infamous wildfires in Southern California. The current windstorm saw gusts of up to 90 miles per hour Wednesday. Wind conditions are expected to calm over the weekend.
Where are local leaders?
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) requested funding from the federal government and deployed the California National Guard to help with the firefight. He also stood beside President Joe Biden during a briefing in Santa Monica on Wednesday.
California is mobilizing an unprecedented number of local and state resources to fight the fires in Los Angeles.
— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2025
We're prioritizing every effort to protect the lives and communities in this critical state.
Follow emergency guidance and get alerts ➡️ https://t.co/gIKZPSxfln pic.twitter.com/JiSEQSnGtE
“California is mobilizing an unprecedented number of local and state resources to fight the fires in Los Angeles. We’re prioritizing every effort to protect the lives and communities in this critical state,” Newsom said in a post on X.
Newsom had planned to fly to Washington, D.C., to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service, along with other political business, but canceled those plans Wednesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received criticism for being in Ghana for the inauguration of the country’s new president when the fires erupted Tuesday. Bass will return to the city Wednesday.
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Bass and local officials also received criticism over a $17.6 million decrease in the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget for fiscal 2025 compared to the previous budget, with the scrutiny resurfacing due to the infernos.
Biden vowed that his administration would “do everything it can to support the response” from state and local officials.