Hollywood Hills burning: Los Angeles wildfires have claimed five lives, destroyed hundreds of properties, forced mass evacuations

The Los Angeles wildfires that started on Jan 7 have claimed five lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and forced thousands to evacuate, including celebrities.

The fires initially ripped through the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood in California, home to Hollywood, the nation's film and television industry.

By the end of Jan 8, there were more than three major blazes in the area.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said, "Unfortunately, it's grown to five as we continue through this area.”

“And remember, this is still a very fluid situation; there's zero containment on this fire. I'm really praying we don't find more, but I don't think that's going to be the case," he added.

The wildfires are mainly affecting Pasadena, Altadena, and the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.

The Eaton Fire has ravaged over 16.5 square miles (42.7 square kilometers) and remains uncontained, with between 200 to 500 structures either damaged or destroyed.

Around 100,000 people have received evacuation notices as the flames spread rapidly. At least five school campuses in Altadena have suffered significant fire damage.

The fire intensified on the night of Jan 7, when embers carried by winds reaching speeds of 70 mph ignited multiple fires, consuming block after block.

Currently, around 750 firefighters are working to control the blaze, with more on the way. Additionally, more than 250 pets have been taken in by the Pasadena Humane Society in the last 24 hours.

The White House announced on Jan 8 that President Joe Biden had officially approved a major disaster declaration for California, which would provide federal resources for survivors.

"Today, President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for California, allowing survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery," the White House said in a fact sheet outlining the federal response to the wildfires.

"Additionally, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to reimburse California for firefighting costs last night," the statement added.

Sharing a post on X, Biden wrote, "We're prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to contain the Southern California fires and help reconstruct. But we know it'll be a hell of a long way. The federal government is here to stay as long as you need us."

To focus on the federal response to the wildfires in Los Angeles, Biden canceled his planned trip to Italy on Jan 8.

"After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire, and emergency personnel, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

On Jan 9, Vice President Kamala Harris' Los Angeles home was ordered evacuated as a fast-moving wildfire pushed thousands of residents to escape their homes in southern California.

Over 70,000 people have been evacuated from Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles districts of California in the last 24 hours due to more than three major fires that remain uncontrolled due to high wind speeds in the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst areas.

Tech giant Elon Musk announced that SpaceX will distribute free Starlink terminals to affected parts of Los Angeles on the morning of Jan 10.

Musk made the statement in response to a post on X claiming that TV crews were using SpaceX's Starlink to broadcast live fire coverage in Los Angeles.

"The only reason you're able to see us right now is because of Starlink. There's absolutely no cell service at all in this whole area," reads the post.

The regular rains that usually end the fire season are being delayed, allowing fires to continue into the winter months.

Furthermore, dry winds like the 'Santa Anas' have exacerbated the region's already hot weather, with Southern California receiving little rain since early May.

These circumstances have contributed to dangerously high winds, with gusts of up to 80 mph and possibly surpassing 100 mph in the mountains and foothills, worsening the wildfires.

Los Angeles is fighting the largest fire in its history despite water and firefighting shortages. A state of emergency has been proclaimed in the area, and Washington is sending assistance to help control the situation.

Retired firefighters with firefighting experience have been contacted for assistance.

A state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection chief said that the wildfires burning through the Pacific Palisades have left Los Angeles with an "apocalyptic" scene.

“Talking to the firefighters out here on the line, they’re exhausted. You can see it in their eyes, but they’re not leaving here until they have relief, so with no relief, they’re going to keep fighting. They know they’re in it for the long haul,” Battalion Chief Brent Pascua said.

Saluting the firefighters involved in operations, President Joe Biden posted on X, “To the brave men and women who ran toward danger over the past 24 hours in Southern California, I want you to know your president, and the rest of the country, is with you.” He continued, "You suited up and risked your lives to save the lives of your fellow Americans. We are indebted to you.”

Visuals from Los Angeles have surfaced on social media, depicting heartbreaking scenes in the city that houses America's film and television industries.

One such video was shared on X with the caption: "This is by far the craziest video from the fire in Los Angeles. This guy is filming huge walls of fire surrounding a house they're in, and there's another person and a dog. I have no idea why they didn't evacuate or what happened to them. Let's hope they're okay."

Fires erupted in America's second-largest city, destroying over 1,000 buildings and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The situation remains tense in the affected areas, with a cloud of smoke dominating the skies. The president received a briefing from his team on the situation overnight, a White House official said.

"The Biden-Harris Administration has been in constant communication with California Governor Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Bass, their teams, affected counties, and other local officials throughout the night," the official added.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a flight ban near the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, as stated in a federal bulletin to pilots.

The restriction was implemented at the request of the Los Angeles Fire Department to ensure a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations.

The temporary flight restriction, in effect until Jan 21, spans an area starting one mile north of Santa Monica Airport and covers locations including Pacific Palisades, Hollywood Hills, Calabasas, the Santa Monica Mountains, the National Recreation Area, Malibu Beach, and the Getty Center.

Flights are prohibited up to 7,000 feet above sea level within this region.

In the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, hurricane-force winds churned up fireballs that jumped from home to home, destroying a large portion of California's most sought-after real estate, favored by Hollywood stars.

Firefighters were unable to extinguish new spot fires as quickly as they started because of gusty winds that drove the flames hundreds of meters.

"We're doing the very best we can. But no, we don't have enough fire personnel in LA County between all the departments to handle this," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. “A large number of people who did not heed warnings to leave have suffered significant injuries,” he added.

The water supply in the area was dropping, and hydrants were drying up as a veil of dark smoke hung over Los Angeles.

Following the depletion of water hydrants in Pacific Palisades, Janisse Quinones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, urged residents to conserve water.

"We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging," she said.

On Jan 8, President-elect Donald Trump claimed on social media that the state's environmental policies were to blame for the scarcity of water.

However, the truth is that a large portion of the water used in Los Angeles originates from the Colorado River, and most of the water entering Southern California is used for farming, not for residential purposes or firefighting.

Trump slammed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, describing the fires as "virtually apocalyptic" and accusing him of limiting the amount of water supplied south from Northern California due to state regulations protecting endangered species.

He also demanded the resignation of the Democratic leader. Musk, a close ally of Trump, shared a screen grab of his Truth Social post on X, echoing the comments of the incoming president.

Through a doorbell camera, a wildfire victim observed the destruction the fires wrought near her home.

“My daughter reminded me to check my Ring camera. When I opened the app, I saw the plants on fire and my neighbor’s stuff burning behind our home. The home next to me, which is under construction, looked like it was burning down,” the woman said.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be closed until Jan 13 due to its location within the Eaton Fire's mandatory evacuation zone, according to a statement released on Jan 8.

"Currently, JPL facilities, labs, and hardware are secured and protected. Deep Space Network operations, normally conducted at JPL, have been moved offsite to a backup operations center," JPL said.

In a press release issued on Jan 8, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen said that its relief team is now in southern California, delivering meals to first responders and families affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles region.

According to the non-profit, its relief team has been organizing throughout the Los Angeles area to deliver "comforting meals" to individuals affected by the wildfires.

Numerous out-of-control fires have engulfed the entertainment capital, and while firefighters battle flames in hurricane-force winds, Hollywood events like a glitzy awards show and a Pamela Anderson movie premiere have been canceled.

While other infernos sprang up throughout the city's north, hundreds of homes were destroyed in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, a favorite of celebrities where multimillion-dollar homes are nestled on picturesque slopes.

Singer and “This Is Us” actor Mandy Moore posted on Instagram to inform her followers that she had escaped with her kids and pets from the path of a fire that had left her neighborhood in Altadena "leveled."

"My sweet home. I am devastated and gutted for those of us who've lost so much. I'm absolutely numb," she wrote, alongside footage of the destruction.

As he prepared to leave, Emmy-winning actor James Woods uploaded a video on X showing flames consuming trees and plants near his Pacific Palisades home.

Shortly after, he said that all the fire alarms were going off. "I couldn't believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one," Woods said.

“Star Wars” star Mark Hamill told followers on Instagram that he had fled his Malibu home with his wife and pet dog, escaping down a road flanked by active fires.

"Our beloved neighborhood is gone," Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Instagram after being forced to escape as well. "Our house is secure. Numerous other people have lost everything."

To allow Academy members impacted by the fires additional time to vote, the Oscar nominations announcement scheduled for next week was rescheduled to Jan 19.

The wildfires in the affluent Pacific Palisades have been described as the most devastating in Los Angeles history, with official damage estimates indicating significant destruction.

Reports from the Associated Press suggest that around 1,000 structures were destroyed in the coastal neighborhood, making it the deadliest fire in the city’s history.

The damage surpasses that of the Sayre Fire in Nov 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of Los Angeles, according to the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city's fire department and MySafe:LA.