Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Hundreds of thousands without power as wildfires tear across California

Los Angeles county fire chief Anthony Marrone announced Wednesday that firefighters from multiple states have arrived or are en route to assist with the ongoing fires.

Marrone reported that 60 teams are coming from Oregon, 45 from Washington, 15 from Utah, 10 from New Mexico, and numerous teams from Arizona.

Residents and business owners in Los Angeles County affected by recent storms can now apply for federal assistance. The White House announced the approval of federal funding to help with recovery efforts.

The funding will provide resources for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Additional programs will also be available to aid individuals and businesses in their recovery.

Those who suffered losses in the designated areas can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or through the FEMA app.

At least five people have lost their lives, and thousands have been displaced as wildfires in Los Angeles continue to rage. Additionally, more than 1,000 buildings, including homes, businesses, and landmarks, were destroyed.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the fires burned through affluent neighbourhoods such as Pacific Palisades and Calabasas, home to celebrities and multimillion-dollar homes. Entire blocks were levelled, with luxury cars reduced to husks and swimming pools filled with ash. Palisades Village lost major grocery stores, banks, and even a library.

The flames spread so rapidly that many people had little time to escape. Police officers took refuge in their patrol cars, while residents of a senior living centre were hurried to safety in wheelchairs and hospital beds, navigating the streets in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles.

Strong winds driving Southern California wildfires lessened Wednesday afternoon, offering a temporary reprieve. However, fire danger persists, and stronger winds are forecast to return Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s a long duration event,” said Devin Black, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, California.

Wind speeds decreased across Los Angeles and Ventura counties Wednesday afternoon after gusts reached up to 60 mph. Overnight gusts reached 80 mph, and nearly 100 mph in the mountains. Forecasters predict winds will continue to decrease Wednesday evening.

Shifting winds pose another concern. Meteorologist Andrew Rorke warned that northeast winds could push the Palisades fire westward towards more buildings. Swirling wind patterns, called eddies, are also impacting fire behavior, potentially causing unpredictable fire spread.

Near Pasadena, the Eaton fire, which rapidly spread on Tuesday due to high winds, has prompted evacuation notices for 100,000 people. Authorities confirmed at least five deaths related to this fire. Firefighters continue to work to contain the blazes.

On Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles County supervisor Kathryn Barger announced the loss of several county facilities, including the Eaton Canyon nature center and a senior center. “Los Angeles County has lost several facilities to fire, including the Eaton Canyon nature center and a senior center,” Barger said. A sheriff’s station was also evacuated, but the extent of any damage remains unclear.

Strong Santa Ana winds are fueling multiple wildfires across the Los Angeles area, forcing residents to evacuate and destroying structures. Thousands of firefighters are battling at least three separate blazes, stretching from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. One fire is considered the most destructive in the city’s modern history.

On Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced the loss of several county facilities, including the Eaton Canyon nature center and a senior center. “Los Angeles County has lost several facilities to fire, including the Eaton Canyon nature center and a senior center,” Barger said. A sheriff’s station was also evacuated, but the extent of any damage remains unclear.

Near Pasadena, the Eaton fire, which rapidly spread on Tuesday due to high winds, has prompted evacuation notices for 100,000 people. Authorities confirmed at least five deaths related to this fire. Firefighters continue to work to contain the blazes.

Wind-driven wildfires continued to expand on Wednesday, overwhelming fire crews as they struggled to contain at least three major blazes that claimed the lives of at least five people and devastated some of Los Angeles' most scenic neighborhoods.

The fires shrouded the city in a dense layer of smoke and ash, destroying homes across the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, the site of the iconic Rose Parade.

One of the wildfires, described as the most destructive in LA's modern history, left grocery stores, banks, and entire blocks reduced to rubble.

Despite thousands of firefighters battling the infernos, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued an urgent call for assistance from off-duty personnel and firefighters from other states. High winds temporarily grounded water-dropping aircraft, but operations resumed as conditions allowed.

A prolonged dry spell, combined with strong winds, has created the "perfect conditions" for wildfires to spread uncontrollably across Los Angeles. Experts say it’s too early to pinpoint exactly how much climate change has contributed to this, but they agree that rising temperatures are making these fire-prone conditions more frequent.

Kristina Dahl, vice president of science at Climate Central, explained, “The clearest climate signal for these fires is the heat, and right now, southern California is experiencing extreme dryness and strong winds.” She added that temperatures in the region have increased by up to 2°C since 1895.

While it’s still unclear what started the fires, Patrick Gonzalez, a climate scientist at UC Berkeley, noted that human-caused climate change has intensified heat levels, which fuel wildfires. 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record both in the U.S. and globally, adding to the region's vulnerability.

The recent blazes were fueled by short-term extreme weather conditions, including a drought following heavy rainfall earlier this year. “Precipitation whiplash,” another effect of climate change, has made southern California dry and ready to ignite. Additionally, strong Santa Ana winds have further dried out the already-parched vegetation, creating an ideal situation for wildfires to spread rapidly.

Small embers carried by the wind can easily ignite new areas, making it difficult for firefighters to control the flames. Rory Hadden, a fire science expert, explained that these fires are overwhelming emergency crews and making escape difficult due to poor visibility.

Scientists, including Apostolos Voulgarakis from Imperial College London, say California’s fire season is "widening," thanks to climate change. Attribution studies are needed to pinpoint how much human-driven warming is fueling these fires, but the consensus is clear: rising temperatures are making fire-prone conditions more frequent.

The UN has also warned of a potential global increase in extreme fires—14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by the century's end.

Johnny Eusebio, general manager of the Altadena Golf Course, confirmed the course was lost to the fire. A video shared on social media shows smoldering buildings surrounded by debris and flames. Meanwhile, the planned premiere of Pamela Anderson’s film, The Last Showgirl, at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood has been canceled due to worsening wildfire conditions across Los Angeles. Anderson, known for her role in Baywatch, stars as an aging Las Vegas showgirl. The film is still set to debut in theaters nationwide this Friday.

Firefighters raced to defend homes from the fast-advancing flames. One firefighter carried a hose in front of a house already engulfed, while another, perched on the roof of a smoldering home, sprayed water downward. Above, a helicopter hovered and dropped water over an area where hills and homes intermingled with flames. Nearby, a woman stood in front of her garage, her hand on her head, watching as a firetruck sprayed water onto a neighboring house.

As the fire spread, thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes. Authorities prioritized evacuating the most vulnerable, including those in a senior center. One elderly woman, wrapped in a blanket, was wheeled out in a wheelchair, her face showing exhaustion. Another woman, also in a wheelchair, wore a mask, her eyes filled with fear.

The aftermath revealed the scale of the destruction. A burned-out car sat on the street, thick smoke clouding the sky so heavily that the sun barely shone through. An outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by blackened palm trees, stood eerily amid the ruins. A headless statue lay on a street, surrounded by debris from burned houses. In the distance, the iconic Hollywood sign—a symbol of glamour—was obscured by the grey haze of smoke.

The devastation from this wildfire has left communities reeling, with homes destroyed and lives disrupted. Emergency services are working tirelessly to contain the flames and assist those forced to evacuate.

Los Angeles County officials are calling on residents to conserve water as firefighters continue to battle wildfires across the region. Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, highlighted the challenges of using urban water systems to combat wildfires.

“Municipal water systems are not designed to fight wildfires,” Pestrella explained. He added that air support, typically crucial in such efforts, has been hindered by strong winds and poor visibility. “County and city reservoirs are ready for use in aerial firefighting once it’s safe to fly,” he said.

Fire officials emphasised the importance of public cooperation during this crisis. “We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” said Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Residents are being urged to limit water usage to ensure enough resources are available for firefighters working tirelessly to contain the flames.

The wildfires, fuelled by high winds and dry conditions, have already caused significant damage and forced thousands to evacuate. With resources stretched thin, every drop of water counts in the fight to protect lives and property.

The Eaton Fire, which started Tuesday north of Pasadena, is on track to become California’s largest wildfire in January in over four decades. The fire has already burned more than 16.5 square miles (42.9 square kilometers), according to state fire officials.

Since 1984, only six January wildfires in California have burned more than two square miles (5.18 square kilometers). The largest, the Viejas Fire, scorched 17.1 square miles (44.3 square kilometers) in 2001 in the mountains east of San Diego.

More recently, the Colby Fire in 2014 burned just over 3 square miles (8.2 square kilometers) near Glendora.

Wildfires in January have been rare in California since 2014, with the exceptions of 2021 and this year, per CalFire data. If conditions persist, the Eaton Fire could surpass the Viejas Fire, setting a new benchmark for winter wildfires in the state.

Aircraft have resumed operations over Pacific Palisades, California, dumping water on the wildfires spreading across Los Angeles.

Mayor Karen Bass announced the update on X, noting that hundreds of firefighters are also on the ground battling the flames.

Helicopters, grounded Tuesday night due to strong winds, are now back in action, tackling fires in multiple areas across the city, Bass said.

For over 15 hours, Los Angeles water systems faced demand nearly four times higher than usual, leading to reduced water pressure and some fire hydrants running dry, according to the LA County Department of Public Works.

In the Palisades area, three one-million-gallon tanks that maintain pressure for hydrants couldn’t keep up. One tank ran out Tuesday afternoon, another in the evening, and the third early Wednesday morning.

To assist, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is deploying about 20 mobile water tankers and refilling trucks at pressurized hydrants. Refilling each 4,000-gallon truck takes about 30 minutes, said LADWP chief engineer Janisse Quiñones.

Officials are urging residents to conserve water to ensure enough supply for firefighters.

“Municipal water systems aren’t designed for wildfire fights,” said Mark Pestrella, LA County’s Department of Public Works director. He added that air support is crucial but has been delayed due to strong winds and low visibility.

Once conditions improve, reservoirs will supply water for aerial firefighting efforts, Pestrella said. “We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” Quiñones noted.

The Hollywood premiere of Pamela Anderson’s latest film, The Last Showgirl, was canceled due to the ongoing wildfires affecting Los Angeles.

The event was set to take place at the iconic Chinese Theatre but was called off as the city grapples with severe conditions caused by the fires.

Anderson, famous for her role in Baywatch, plays an aging Las Vegas showgirl in the film. Her performance has already earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Despite the canceled premiere, The Last Showgirl will still hit theatres nationwide this Friday.

Air quality across the Los Angeles metropolitan area has reached hazardous levels due to ongoing wildfires, according to AirNow.gov.

On Wednesday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 300 in many parts of the city, a level deemed dangerous for the general population. Residents have been advised to remain indoors and limit physical activities to minimise health risks.

The president-elect, in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform on Wednesday, used a mocking nickname for Newsom and renewed previous criticisms of the governor for refusing a plan to send more water to California’s agricultural Central Valley. Newsom had concerns that such a move could harm endangered species.

Trump has long sided with farmers over environmentalists in the ongoing dispute over California’s limited water supply, though it’s unclear how his plan would have helped to ease the fire situation in the Los Angeles area.

“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump said in his post. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”

His comments came after several fire hydrants across Los Angeles County ran out of water during the overnight firefighting efforts. Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works said the issue stemmed from an overwhelming demand on the city’s water system, which wasn’t designed to handle such heavy use for firefighting.

The California wildfires have caused widespread destruction, turning once peaceful neighborhoods into scenes of chaos and despair. Thick gray smoke fills the air, as strong winds drive flames through residential areas, igniting homes and spreading rapidly. Emergency responders race against time, their sirens blending with the crackling of the fire and the rustling of palm trees.

In the worst-affected zones, headlights of vehicles glow long after dawn, struggling to cut through the thick haze. A firefighter stands on top of a truck, watching helplessly as a home burns to the ground. Nearby, an abandoned recycling bin smolders in the heat, surrounded by scattered litter—each piece a potential spark in the growing inferno.

Images of the devastation showed luxurious homes reduced to rubble as flames swept through, with the tops of palm trees bending under the weight of the glowing red sky.

“This morning, we woke up to a dark cloud over Los Angeles. But it’s darkest for those most directly affected by these fires. It’s been a deeply painful 24 hours,” said LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

At least 70,000 people were ordered to evacuate — a figure that kept changing as new evacuation orders were continually issued, according to officials. The flames have been moving toward densely populated and wealthy neighborhoods, home to California’s celebrities. Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and James Woods, have been among those forced to leave their homes.

Southern California is grappling with fierce wildfires, fueled by hurricane-strength winds, as neighborhoods—once home to serenity and luxury—are consumed by flames. Among those in danger are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, whose Montecito mansion, valued at $29 million, now teeters on the edge of disaster. The Sussexes, along with many others in the region, anxiously await news as Southern California Edison warns of possible power shutoffs. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’s Los Angeles neighborhood has been placed under evacuation orders. With power outages, bone-dry hydrants, and chaotic evacuations, families are forced to abandon their homes and flee on foot. As the fire edges closer to Montecito, Harry and Meghan may soon face evacuation orders, adding to the growing fear and uncertainty for residents across the region.

Fire hydrants in Palisades have struggled to supply enough water due to extremely high demand, leaving them barely functioning. Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, explained that the system was pushed to its limits, with demand reaching four times the normal level for 15 hours straight, causing water pressure to drop significantly.

The utility was pumping water from its source, but the demand was so great that it couldn’t fill three, one-million-gallon tanks used to maintain pressure in the area. One tank ran dry at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, another at 8:30 p.m., and the third at 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

Officials are now urging residents across the region to conserve water to ensure there’s enough for firefighters battling the ongoing wildfires. “We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” Quiñones said.

US vice president Kamala Harris' Los Angeles neighborhood was placed under an evacuation order Tuesday night, according to a spokesperson. Ernesto Apreza, in a post on social media platform X, confirmed that no one was at the residence at the time.

Officials are battling the fierce blazes that have engulfed more than 1,000 buildings. The relentless fires, driven by hurricane-force winds, have turned swathes of the city, including the upscale Pacific Palisades, into a scene of devastation. Fireballs leap from home to home, destroying some of California’s most sought-after real estate, leaving tens of thousands of residents displaced. With more than 5,000 acres burned and zero containment, firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but the threat remains dire as embers continue to spark new fires.

Ampaging wildfires have claimed at least two lives and caused numerous serious injuries across Los Angeles, as officials battle the fierce blazes that have engulfed more than 1,000 buildings. The relentless fires, driven by hurricane-force winds, have turned swathes of the city, including the upscale Pacific Palisades, into a scene of devastation. Fireballs leap from home to home, destroying some of California’s most sought-after real estate, leaving tens of thousands of residents displaced. With more than 5,000 acres burned and zero containment, firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but the threat remains dire as embers continue to spark new fires.

More than 180,000 customers in Southern California are without power, the majority of them in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us, which monitors outages across the country.

A full incident management team has been activated to address the wildfires. According to David Acuña, a battalion chief with Cal Fire, it’s only the third time in 30 years this has happened in January. Such a team, made up of officials from various agencies, is only deployed during major and complex events.

“This is a rare occurrence to see incidents like this in January,” Acuña said, noting that wildfires have become so frequent that fire officials no longer refer to them as “fire seasons.”

“We now talk about ‘fire years,’” Acuña added. “We’ve had wildfires start as early as December, and now we’re seeing these fires in early January.”

Firefighters battling the Eaton Fire in Pasadena are focusing their efforts on containing the blaze within specific boundaries—north of the 210 Freeway, east of Angeles Crest Highway, west of Santa Anita Avenue, and south of Mount Wilson. This strategy is outlined in the incident action plan for Wednesday's operations.

The fire expanded quickly overnight, scorching more than 3.13 square miles (8.11 square kilometers) as strong winds and low humidity created hazardous fire conditions.

The National Weather Service has reported winds reaching up to 80 mph (129 kph) this morning, with mountain and foothill areas potentially experiencing gusts topping 100 mph (160 kph). These high winds are driving extremely critical fire weather conditions, characterized by dangerously low relative humidity levels, according to meteorologist Peter Mullinax. Mullinax warns that these powerful winds are expected to persist through Thursday, offering little relief and further escalating the fire risk.

“Plan like you’re going on a trip for seven days. Have clothes, toilet paper, toothbrush, soap, a towel in there,” said Jesse Torres, a battalion chief for the California department of forestry and fire protection, or Cal Fire, said.

It should also include a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water per person, as well as food and water for any pets. N95 masks can help filter out many of the particles in wildfire smoke, and an extra cellphone battery or charger can also be helpful.

Tens of thousands of people near Los Angeles fled their homes on Wednesday as three out-of-control wildfires, fueled by hurricane-force winds, tore through the city’s suburbs, leaving destruction in their wake. One firefighter was injured while battling a blaze near the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where several residents suffered burns. Vicious gusts fanned the flames, whipping red-hot embers hundreds of meters, sparking new spot fires faster than firefighters could contain them. As dawn broke, a vast plume of smoke covered Los Angeles, the acrid smell of burning filling the air. Mayor Karen Bass warned in a post on X that the "windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning." Firefighters in the Palisades were facing water shortages at hydrants, as the blaze has consumed nearly 3,000 acres so far.

At the Eaton fire in Altadena, north of Los Angeles, emergency workers rushed elderly patients out of a care facility. A third fire burned around Santa Clarita, and the Pacific Palisades blaze has already claimed dozens of homes in one of California’s most desirable spots. Emmy-award-winning actor James Woods shared a video showing flames near his home as he evacuated. Events throughout the area, including a premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film, have been canceled. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fires and offered federal aid. The fire coincided with seasonal Santa Ana winds, which meteorologists predict could develop into one of the worst windstorms in a decade, with gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour.

Devastating wildfires swept across Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing residents to make desperate escapes from their burning homes amidst intense winds and thick smoke clouds.A fire that began on Tuesday evening near a nature reserve in the northeastern LA foothills expanded so quickly that staff at an elderly care facility had to evacuate dozens of residents.

Southern California is under siege. Los Angeles is in flames—literally and figuratively—as wildfires consume entire neighborhoods, leaving firefighters without the water they need to fight back. Across Pacific Palisades and beyond, hydrants have run dry, and desperation is setting in.Winds roaring at nearly 100 mph have unleashed ferocious wildfires, tearing through neighborhoods, reducing homes and businesses to rubble, and engulfing cities in choking smoke. The night sky turned blood red as storms of embers rained down, spreading destruction with terrifying speed.

Wildfires tore through Los Angeles on Wednesday, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, burning homes and displacing thousands. Evacuations were issued as flames spread rapidly from the foothills to coastal neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades. Power outages and traffic jams added to the chaos, with emergency responders working tirelessly to contain the blazes amid red flag warnings.

Los Angeles faced devastation on Wednesday as wildfires engulfed neighbourhoods, fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds reaching up to 100 mph. Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and foothills northeast of the city saw homes consumed by flames, forcing thousands to flee. Residents abandoned vehicles on gridlocked roads, while first responders struggled to contain the infernos in critical fire weather conditions. Officials warned of worsening fire seasons due to climate change, with extended dry periods leaving the region vulnerable even in winter months.

Northeast of Los Angeles, a senior living centre became the scene of a harrowing rescue as staff pushed elderly residents—some as old as 102 years—out of harm’s way in wheelchairs and hospital beds. Flames erupted near a nature preserve, spreading rapidly as embers fell around the facility, painting the night sky a menacing red. Residents in nightclothes huddled in a parking lot until ambulances, buses, and even construction vans arrived to transport them to safety. The dramatic evacuation unfolded under the unrelenting force of Santa Ana winds that pushed flames dangerously close.

The affluent Pacific Palisades neighbourhood witnessed harrowing scenes as residents abandoned their cars, clutching pets and children while fleeing the rapidly advancing fire. Flames jumped across Sunset Boulevard, razing multimillion-dollar homes and even parts of Palisades Charter High School, a popular Hollywood filming site. Emergency vehicles struggled to navigate blocked roads as bulldozers cleared abandoned cars.

More than 200,000 people in Los Angeles County remain without power as the fires strain the city’s resources. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported challenges in refilling water tanks due to high-elevation blazes. Fire crews have been working tirelessly to protect lives and property, with reinforcements arriving as off-duty firefighters respond to an urgent plea for help.

California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as fires burned through 13,000 structures and forced 30,000 evacuations. The Pacific Palisades fire alone consumed 4.5 square miles and threatened the iconic Malibu coastline. President Joe Biden cancelled a scheduled visit to Riverside County to address the crisis from Los Angeles, where smoke was visible from his hotel.

Strong Santa Ana winds exceeding 80 mph have propelled the flames across Los Angeles, with gusts potentially hitting 100 mph in higher elevations. Meteorologists have warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions," as firefighters contend with a relentless inferno. The winds, coupled with exceptionally dry conditions, have hampered aerial firefighting efforts and heightened destruction across multiple neighbourhoods.