California has been placed on a state of emergency and two people are reported to have died as a result of the wildfires that started on Tuesday through city of los angeles, to initiate migration and power outages.
The third largest state in the United States, California is often hit by wildfires, especially in the south.
Here's what we know about the fires, their effects and the latest news from around the world.
Where and when did the Los Angeles wildfires start?
At 10:30am (18:30GMT) on Tuesday, the first fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
This in an affluent arealocated between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it is 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of Los Angeles.
What areas in LA have been affected by the wildfires and how much area has been burned?
About 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) had burned in the first Pacific Palisades fire by Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Around 6:00 pm (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday, a second fire, called the Eaton Fire, broke out 50 kilometers away near Pasadena, and doubled in size to 162 hectares (400 acres) in just a few hours.
A third fire, the Hurst Fire, also broke out in Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles.
Together, the three fires have burned 2,285 hectares (5,648 acres).
How many people were killed in the LA fire?
On Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney said two people were killed in the Eaton fire and “a significant number of serious injuries” in the Palisades fire.
A fire official told KTLA television that a female firefighter suffered a head injury in the Palisades fire.
No deaths have been reported as a result of the Palisades fire.
Are the LA wildfires spreading far and wide?
Yes, it seems so. US reporters say the fire has already spread north, burning homes near Malibu.
Malibu began evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon and Santa Monica Tuesday evening.
Is every building damaged?
The Palisades fire burned trees and vegetation at the Getty Villa museum, one of the richest museums in the world, which houses art and culture from ancient Greece and Rome.
In a press release on X, the museum said that no buildings were on fire, and that “staff and collections are safe”.
The Eaton fire burned the McDonald branch and the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, but staff members were evacuated with their holy books, including Torahs, Melissa Levy, the temple's director told The New York Times.
American artist James Woods reported on the damage to his Pacific Palisades home.
All the smoke detectors are coming out of our house and sending to our iPhones.
I couldn't believe our lovely little house in the mountains had lasted this long. It feels like losing a loved one.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 8, 2025
Are Santa Ana winds causing California fires?
Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire. However, winter wildfires are not uncommon in California due to the region's “Santa Ana” winds, which dry out vegetation and cause it to burn more.
These are the dry, warm and strong winds that occur in Southern California during the winter months due to changes in atmospheric pressure and the cold weather.
The Santa Ana winds are formed when high pressure over the Great Basin, a large, dry region in the western US, forces air to flow along the coast. When the air enters the mountains and valleys, it loses moisture, pressure and pressure, it gets hotter and faster.
The topography of this area, including the direction of the mountains and valleys, controls the winds in southern California and the Pacific Ocean coast.
Experts say this winter has been very dangerous.
“We've never seen a dry season like this followed by a wet season – all the grass and plants that are growing after such strong winds when it's still incredibly dry,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said Monday.
Santa Ana's strong winds have been linked to Southern California wildfires, including the Franklin fire in December 2024 that burned more than 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) of the Malibu area, damaging or destroying about 50 homes.
On Saturday, the National Weather Service issued the highest fire warning for Los Angeles County from Tuesday through Friday.
A Fire Weather Watch is in effect Tuesday-Friday for parts of LA/Ventura Counties. There is a possibility of damaging north to northeast winds, which should increase Tuesday-Wednesday.
Without much rain, the fire season will continue until the New Year! #CAWX pic.twitter.com/fahxe7RIpI
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 3, 2025
When will the fire stop?
Experts and government officials do not believe that the fire will end soon.
Forecasters say the storm could become the worst storm in a decade, with gusts of up to 160km/h (100mph) expected. In most cases, gusts of over 64km/h (40mph) can damage trees and infrastructure and cause disruption.
“It will be, I think, a difficult night. And what is happening now is just the beginning because the weather is going to get worse,” meteorologist Daniel Swain told the AFP news agency.
LA Mayor Karen Bass warned that “the storm is expected to intensify in the morning”, in a tweet on X early Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, Cal Fire said none of the three fires around Los Angeles were contained because the winds remained strong. Firefighters have been trying to cross the slopes of the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Mountains to reduce vegetation and keep the fire out.
So what will happen after that?
A red warning of “Extremely Dangerous Conditions” has been issued for 19 million people in southern California. This warning is usually issued only in “exceptional conditions where prolonged, intense and violent thunderstorms are possible,” according to the National Weather Service. It was last released on the December 2024 Franklin Fire which burned approximately 1,633 hectares (4,037 acres), damaged or destroyed 48 homes, and was fully contained as of December 18.
Amidst all this, power outages have also affected the city. CBS News reported that as of 12:30 a.m. local time (08:30 GMT) on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported that approximately 127,000 customers were without power. Data from PowerOutage.us showed more than 220,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County were without power Tuesday.
What is being done?
Thousands of people have been evacuated from the affected areas and schools have been closed. Some Hollywood events have been canceled.
More than 30,000 people have been evacuated, with many fleeing on foot after parked vehicles. Shelters are open for evacuations from the Palisades and Hurst fires, right animal habitat have been set up for the pets of people affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Emergency shelters are open to Angelenos displaced by these devastating fires.#PalisadesFire Accommodation:
Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd#HurstFire Accommodation:
Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 8, 2025
The Los Angeles Zoo will be closed Wednesday while 18 school districts are also closed, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The Screen Actors Guild Awards ended the ceremony on Wednesday.
31st Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nomination Announcements pic.twitter.com/v7dvzIQtc0
– SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) January 8, 2025
The National Weather Service urged people to stay indoors and away from windows during the storm.
California has sent over 1400 firefighters & hundreds of resources to fight the unprecedented fires in LA.
Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all on board overnight to do everything possible to save lives.
– Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced “all hands are on the ground” with more than 1,400 firefighters dispatched to battle the blaze. US President Biden has also agreed federal aid.