California wildfires live: more than 1,400 firefighters tackling three separate fires around LA

By Guardian - Martin Belam/Philip Wen/Cecilia Nowell -Wed 8 Jan 2025

California’s governor says emergency services are ‘all hands on deck’ as wildfire spreads through Pacific Palisades

• Celebrities among thousands to flee homes as LA wildfires rage
• Explainer: the Santa Ana winds spreading the wildfires
• Wildfires in California – in pictures

LIVE VIDEO Updated 1m ago

• 3h agoGov Newsom: more than 1,400 firefighters deployed to fight 'unprecedented' fires
• 5h agoSouthern California wildfires: what we know so far …
• 6h agoFamilies tell of last-minute escape from California wildfire
• 8h agoWhat are the Santa Ana winds?
• 8h agoWhy are the fires in Los Angeles so bad right now?
• 8h agoEvacuations ordered in fast-growing Eaton fire
• 9h agoBiden says his administration will do 'everything it can' to support Palisades fire response
• 9h ago'It's everywhere' - locals describe the scene
• 9h agoSummary
• 10h agoPalisades wildfire explodes to nearly 3,000 acres
• 11h agoGavin Newsom, the California governor, urges residents to heed evacuation orders
• 11h agoSouthern California Edison, the utility company, cuts power to nearly 15,000 customers
• 11h agoFire reaches the grounds of the Getty Villa museum, a branch of the Getty Center
• 12h agoPalisades fire threatens more than 13,000 structures as residents evacuate

Martin Belam (now); Philip Wen and Cecilia Nowell (earlier)Wed 8 Jan 2025 12.44 GMTShareThe Guardian’s expert news coverage is funded by people like you, not a billionaire owner. Will you help us keep our independent journalism free and open to all today?Support usShow key events onlyFrom 3h ago09.51 GMT

Gov Newsom: more than 1,400 firefighters deployed to fight 'unprecedented' fires

California’s governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statement on social media saying that California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighters in its attempts to quell the wildfires in the state.

Describing the fires as “unprecedented”, Newsom said “Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives.”

Local fire officials have said firefighters are working on three separate major fires, which between them cover nearly 4,500 acres of land.

Tens of thousands of California residents have been placed under evacuation orders, with six emergency shelters in operation.

Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley had earlier told a press conference that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were threatened, and the city of Malibu has warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate at short notice.

Numerous buildings have been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades area between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu.

Share3m ago12.44 GMT

The president of the California professional firefighters union, Brian Rice, has told US media that in the current situation is “at the mercy of the wind.”

Speaking to CNN he said “gusts that are reported into the 60s, 70s and 80s, you’re not going to control that. These men and women are going to put in 24, 36, 40, 48-hour shifts. They are not going off the fire line anytime soon.

He continued “Everyone is at the mercy of the wind right now. And until we see a shift in the wind, or a drop in the wind, it’s just not going to let up.”

Earlier Rice said there had been no fatalities among the firefighters but some injuries had been sustained including “strains, sprains, eye injuries, smoke inhalation.”

Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, is currently out of the US, having attended the inauguration of the new president of Ghana on Tuesday. She has nevertheless warned that the situation is expected to worsen, posting several updates to social media to say:

Emergency shelters are open for Angelenos who have been evacuated due to these devastating fires.

Our fire and police teams continue to work overnight to protect Angelenos affected by fires

Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning and to heed local warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe.

Red flag parking restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.

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32m ago12.15 GMT

Here are some of the latest images sent over the newswires showing the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, where the Aveson School of Leaders elementary school is among the buildings affected.

Share40m ago12.07 GMT

US media is reporting that significant local landmarks, community buildings and businesses have been damaged or destroyed by the fires.

The Palisades Charter High School, which has been used as a filming location multiple times including appearing in Carrie, Teen Wolf and Freaky Friday has been damaged, while the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center has also suffered damage.

Malibu’s 36-year-old Reel Inn seafood restaurant has been destroyed, and the owners of Malibu Feed Bin, a pet store, have posted to social media to say that it has been lost.

Share1h ago11.47 GMT

The Hurst fire, the third major wildfire to have broken out in California, is now threatening the city of Santa Clarita, according to a warning from the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department.

ShareUpdated at 12.42 GMT1h ago11.38 GMT

Speaking to CNN, David Acuna from CAL Fire said “We are having new fires pop up as we speak,” and that evacuating people was the priority at the moment.

He told the news network:

Once the winds have died down … and we have made sure that all the people are out of the way, then we can devote all of our resources towards containing – and then eventually, completely extinguishing the fire

Share2h ago11.09 GMT

The PowerOutage.us website reports that about 250,000 customers of the Los Angeles department of water and power and Southern California Edison are without power in California.

Share2h ago10.57 GMT

Here is a map illustrating the locations of the three fires being fought in California near Los Angeles.

Governor Gavin Newsom has described the fire outbreak as “unprecedented”, and NBC News has reported that at least 49,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.

There are reports of some people being treated for, and at least one firefighter has been injured. There are, as yet, no reported fatalities.

Share2h ago10.51 GMT

NBC News has spoken to Eliza Leonchenko, 25, who was visiting a friend in Santa Monica. She told the news network:

If people are not feeling the fire and are just seeing it, they might think it’s not getting closer and not getting more dangerous. During the day we were like ‘Oh my god, it’s so far’, but then suddenly it was so close. I’ve never seen something like this movie. This is like a horror movie.

Another eyewitness, Rachel Spencer, a Pasadena resident who fled her home on Tuesday evening, was in touch with CNN. She told them:

I opened the door, looked out the front door, and the whole freaking parking lot over there is on fire. We all had to get out. It was just a mess. Embers were flying all over the front yard and on top of the bungalows. You couldn’t breathe, and going to the freeway there was just like debris all in the street, from the trees and just everywhere.

I’ve had several family members were evacuated from their homes tonight. We don’t know if our homes are still standing. We are just all devastated and in disbelief.

Share

2h ago10.38 GMT

Here are some of the latest images sent over the news wires from the wildfires in California. Emergency services are battling three separate fires near Los Angeles, which are being fanned by high winds. NBC News reports that at least 49,000 people have been forced to evacuate.

Share2h ago10.33 GMT

The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department has said in a statement that Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl stadium has been opened as an evacuation centre which can take large animals.

ShareUpdated at 12.44 GMT2h ago10.23 GMT

The Los Angeles Times reports that there have been problems with water supply to fire hydrants in one of the areas affected by the fires.

It quotes Rick Caruso, the owner of Palisades Village, saying “There’s no water in the fire hydrants. The firefighters are there and there’s nothing they can do. We’ve got neighborhoods burning, homes burning, and businesses burning. It should never happen.”

The paper also cites reports on internal firefighter communications that water hydrants in Pacific Palisades were down, with the Department of Water and Power acknowledging reports of diminished water flow. Earlier firefighters had to ground their firefighting planes due to the high winds.

Share3h ago09.55 GMT

Here is some video footage of the fires as a family have captured their dramatic escape from a coastal neighborhood in Los Angeles county, with cellphone footage showing them driving through the darkness and the side of the road and power lines on fire.

Share3h ago09.51 GMT

Gov Newsom: more than 1,400 firefighters deployed to fight 'unprecedented' fires

California’s governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statement on social media saying that California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighters in its attempts to quell the wildfires in the state.

Describing the fires as “unprecedented”, Newsom said “Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives.”

Local fire officials have said firefighters are working on three separate major fires, which between them cover nearly 4,500 acres of land.

Tens of thousands of California residents have been placed under evacuation orders, with six emergency shelters in operation.

Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley had earlier told a press conference that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were threatened, and the city of Malibu has warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate at short notice.

Numerous buildings have been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades area between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu.

Share3h ago09.42 GMT

CAL Fire says it is responding to three separate wildfires in California. The Palisades fire it puts at a size of 2,921 acres, and the Eaton fire at 1,000 acres. The third fire, in Sylmar, which it has dubbed the Hurst fire, it puts at 500 acres. The CAL Fire website reports 0% containment on all three.

Reuters reports that highways were jammed with people fleeing, and that Pacific Palisades resident Cindy Festa said that as she evacuated, fires were “this close to the cars,” demonstrating with her thumb and forefinger.

“People left their cars on Palisades Drive. Burning up the hillside. The palm trees – everything is going,” Festa said from her car.

Share4h ago09.06 GMT

Officials in Malibu have warned all residents to be prepared to evacuate. In an update on its website, the city government said:

The city of Malibu urges all residents not currently under evacuation orders to be prepared to evacuate. If you require additional time to evacuate, or if you have pets or livestock, consider making preparations to leave now.

It says that six evacuation shelters are in operation, three of which can take people with animals.

• Westwood Recreation Center (LA City Shelter)
• Pasadena Convention Center
• El Camino Real Charter high school
• Agoura animal care center (small animals)
• LA Equestrian center (large animals)
• Pierce College equestrian center (large animals)

It adds that the Palisades fire is estimated at 2,921 acres.

Share4h ago08.47 GMT

Local media reports that evacuation orders have now been expanded in Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia.

Pasadena resident Bobbie Oliver spoke to CNN, and told the news network:

The smoke was unbearable even with windows closed. We could see the fire and our house was full of smoke. Then a cop car went around saying evacuate now in a bullhorn. It was frantic and downed trees and branches all in the streets.

The fires and evacuation orders have forced the cancellation of several high profile events in the area.

Earlier the Screen Actors Guild Awards has cancelled its live in-person nominations announcement that were scheduled for tomorrow, and Reuters reports that premiere or of the movies Wolf Man, Unstoppable and the US premiere of Robbie Williams biopic Better Man have all been cancelled.

Share5h ago08.12 GMT

As a consequence of the Eaton fire officials have declared schools in Pasadena, San Marino, Glendale, Alhambra, Burbank and South Pasadena will remain closed on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Share5h ago07.55 GMT

Reuters is carrying some reports of injuries from the fires. Citing local television station KTLA, it reports “several people were injured, some with burns to faces and hands.”

An official added that one female firefighter had sustained a head injury.

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