Firefighters battled early Thursday to contain a series of major fires in the Los Angeles area that killed five people, devastated communities and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes.
The latest flames erupted Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, striking closer to the heart of the city and the roots of its entertainment industry, posing a threat to densely populated neighborhoods during extremely windy and dry conditions.
It happened as firefighters struggled to contain three other major blazes that killed five people, ordered 130,000 people to evacuate and devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena.
The Sunset Fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and about a mile from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Fierce winds that sparked flames and caused chaotic evacuations had calmed down and were not expected to be as strong on Thursday, although they could pick up again early in the weekend. The respite could allow firefighters to make progress in containing wildfires that have gripped a wide region, including huge ones in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas.
Winds abated slightly Wednesday, a day after hurricane-force winds whipped embers into the air, setting fire to block after block, and hundreds of firefighters from other states arrived to help.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said they were able to get the fire under control because “Mother Nature was a little nicer to us today than she was yesterday.”
The most destructive Palisades fire in Los Angeles history
Earlier fires, which consumed a total of approximately 108 square kilometers, showed that the danger is not over yet.
Hurricane winds carried embers into the air, setting fire to block after block in the seaside neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, as well as in Altadena, a community near Pasadena. Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed in the fires – known as the Palisades and Eaton fires – and that number is expected to grow.
More than half a dozen schools in the Los Angeles area were damaged or destroyed.
The Palisades fire is already the most devastating in Los Angeles history in terms of damage, although five deaths recorded in Los Angeles fires so far were caused by the Eaton fire.
US President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration after arriving at a Santa Monica fire station for a briefing with Governor Gavin Newsom, who has deployed National Guard troops to help.
According to the latest data, warmer temperatures and less rainfall mean a longer fire season. California's wildfire season is starting earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and less rainfall related to climate change.
“Somewhere That Isn't Really Anymore”
In Palisades Village, the public library, two major grocery stores, two banks, and several boutiques were destroyed.
“It's really weird coming back to a place that doesn't really exist anymore,” said Dylan Vincent, who returned to the area to retrieve some items only to find his elementary school burned down and entire blocks razed.
Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said the city's water system was stretched and further hampered by power outages, but even without those problems, firefighters would have been unable to contain the blaze because of strong winds fanning the flames.
“These erratic gusts of wind kicked up embers for miles in front of the fire,” he said.
Aerial footage obtained by KNBC early Thursday shows the extensive Palisades Fire, one of five major blazes in the Los Angeles area.
As flames spread through his neighborhood, Jose Velasquez sprayed water on his family's Altadena home and embers rained down on the roof. He managed to save their home, but others were not so lucky.
“So we had to call a few people and then we sent them messages asking if their house was still standing,” he said.
“We had to tell them that wasn't the case.”
Blackened swimming pools, burnt sports cars
The fast-moving flames didn't give much time to escape.
Police sought shelter in police cars, and residents of a senior center were herded in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street to safety.
Outside the burned areas, residents worked in N95 masks, unable to escape the toxic smoke rising over huge parts of the city.
The scale of the destruction became increasingly clear: block after block of California Mission Style houses and bungalows had been reduced to nothing, only charred remains dotted with stone fireplaces and blackened arched entryways. An ornate iron balustrade wrapped around the smoldering frame of one house.
Apocalyptic scenes stretched for many kilometers. Swimming pools were blackened with soot and sports cars fell on melted tires.
Actors lost their homes
The flames marched toward densely populated and affluent neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, homes of California's rich and famous.
Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said they lost their homes on Wednesday.
Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost the home they had used for 45 years in the Palisades fire.
“We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our home was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cannot be taken away,” Crystals wrote in a statement.
Nadia Williamson, a Canadian living in Los Angeles, fled her home as a massive fire approached. “Before I knew it, the entire Palisades was gone.”
Several Hollywood studios have suspended production and the Critics Choice Award ceremony has been postponed from Wednesday to January 26 and Universal Studios closed their theme park between Pasadena and Pacific Palisades.
In sports, the disaster forced the NHL to postpone Wednesday's home game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames.
The NBA's Lakers still hosted Thursday night at home against Charlotte.
The NFL said it was assessing the potential impact of the fires on the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams will host the Minnesota Vikings in a game scheduled for Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.