LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.
Share This
LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom’s coverage of wildfire and breaking news. Support LAist by giving now.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire check the links under each fire.
More than 100,000 residents remain under evacuation orders across Los Angeles County as of early Saturday, as destructive fires continue to burn in Southern California.
Late Friday, public health officials declared a local health emergency for L.A. County, saying the fire had caused “significant health and safety risks for residents across the county.”
Authorities warn that weather conditions may get worse again heading into Saturday night, with higher winds forecast and humidity dipping again. Then, looking ahead to Tuesday, another Santa Ana wind event is possible.
The damage in the Palisades and Eaton fires already has been staggering.
We still do not have a clear understanding of how many homes have been destroyed — more than 10,000 structures have been reported lost. We know that many beloved local businesses have burned down.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced on Friday that the death toll had increased to 11 — five in the Palisades Fire, six in the Eaton Fire.
Few details have been released about the fatalities and coroner’s officials cautioned identification may take some time.
Like many in the region, we know friends and colleagues who saw their homes destroyed in an instant. The losses feel incomprehensible. Images and video from areas where the Palisades and Eaton fires roared through show whole neighborhoods flattened.
The end doesn’t seem to be near.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley made Thursday.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna, describing the fire zones, said it looked as though a bomb was dropped on them.
A curfew is in place n the Palisades and Eaton fire evacuation areas, from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday morning.
People looking for information on their loved ones can visit family assistance centers set up at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center (2551 Motor Ave., Los Angeles) and Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green St., Pasadena) on:
You can also call 800 675-5799 or visit redcross.org to fill out an inquiry form.
The order includes a ban on the use of leaf blowers, because they stir up ash and other potentially toxic debris. And it asks county residents to stay indoors to avoid exposure to wildfire smoke.
Some simple steps: Keep your windows and doors closed and avoid using fireplaces, candles, or vacuums.
Here’s what we know about the latest fire, and others burning now.
Watch CalFire for new incidents ▶
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The Eaton Fire has devastated whole neighborhoods of Altadena and forced mass evacuations from Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Glendale. The fire is at 3% containment as of early Saturday.
Officials report six deaths due to the fire and said many others were injured as the fire spread. The evacuation areas also are now under orders not to drink or use the water in the area for cooking due to debris from the fire.
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The Palisades Fire that broke out in the Santa Monica Mountains Tuesday morning sent thousands of residents fleeing, some of them on foot, as they tried to outrun advancing flames driven by extremely strong winds.
Five deaths have been confirmed as of Friday.
An estimated 5,316 structures may have been destroyed or damaged, decimating neighborhoods and businesses along PCH and throughout Pacific Palisades. More than 21,000 acres have burned, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Friday night, the L.A. Fire Department issued a quick series of evacuation orders and warnings on the eastern end of the fire, along the west side of the 405 Freeway.
The new orders underscored warnings that despite the Santa Ana winds dying down a bit, we’re not out of danger yet.
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The fire, which broke out in West Hills shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday near the Victory Trail Head, grew to 1,052 acres as of Friday evening and was 50% contained, according to the Ventura County Fire Department, who is working with L.A. County Fire.
Mandatory evacuation orders issued shortly after the fire started were downgraded to warnings a few hours later.
LAist coverage ▶
Note: there was initial confusion about both the name and location of this fire. The name was first given as Kennis and the the city alert listed the location as Woodland Hills, but mapped to the correct address in West Hills.
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The brush fire started at 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday at around the 2300 block of Solar Drive in the Hollywood Hills.
The fire quickly burned about 60 acres between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park. At 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, evacuation orders were lifted for the area and by the end of the day the fire was considered fully contained.
Resources stationed nearby and air support likely made a big difference. More than 150 firefighters were deployed to fight the Sunset Fire almost immediately, said Margaret Stewart, public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department, to our media partner KCAL News. Helicopters made water drops throughout Wednesday evening into Thursday.
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, a fire started above Olive View Medical Center and spread toward the 210 Freeway in Sylmar. The CHP received a report that a power line had exploded in the area and that the fire was moving toward homes in the area.
After quickly spreading to 100 acres, the fire grew to nearly 800 acres by Friday. That said, fire officials reported the fire was 37% contained and that firefighters were holding the perimeter within the planned containment lines.
All evacuation orders and warnings have lifted, officials said on Friday morning.
LAist coverage ▶
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The Lidia Fire broke out shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday off Soledad Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. It burned 395 acres, and was 98% contained as of early Saturday. The cause is under investigation.
The extreme fire threat prompted forest officials to close down the entire Angeles National Forest starting Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. through midnight Wednesday, Jan. 15.
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The Woodley Fire was reported near North Woodley Avenue and the Sepulveda Basin shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday. Fire crews were able to hold the fire to 30 acres, after initially reporting the size at 75 acres. It is now 100% contained. In the early hours of the fire, officials warned that it posed “a threat of crossing Burbank Boulevard.”
If you have to evacuate
If you have more time:
Things to consider
Navigating fire conditions
How to help yourself and others
Understanding how it got this bad
LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.