Los Angeles, surrounded by wildfire: The city wakes up to three fires, two dead and 70,000 evacuated

The night offered no respite in Los Angeles County. Devastating fires and winds exceeding 100 miles per hour have swept away everything in their path: cars, shrubs, houses, and entire neighborhoods that have vanished, consumed by the flames. Three areas are the most concerning: the first, the Palisades Fire, where it all began, in Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles between the Pacific coast and the mountains; the second, the Eaton Fire, which affects two towns northeast of the city, Pasadena and its northern counterpart, Altadena, and has claimed two lives so far; the third, the later-declared Hurst Fire in the Sylmar area.

More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed. The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has declared a state of emergency, and Los Angeles City Police Chief Jim McDonnell has urged residents to heed evacuation orders. “That makes the difference between living and not,” he said at a news conference on Wednesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, emergency services ordered the evacuation of more than 37,000 residents of the Pacific Palisades area, where approximately 3,000 acres (more than 1,200 hectares) have burned. The first fire broke out there around 10:30 a.m. and spread both north and south along Topanga Canyon, an area that quickly rises into the mountains from the beach. Authorities urged residents to flee as quickly as possible. Traffic jams w immense, causing some to abandon their cars in the middle of the roads and flee on foot. In this area, the fire continued eastward and neared the popular town of Santa Monica, prompting evacuation orders on Tuesday evening. Many of the schools in the area — those that survived the blaze — will be closed on Wednesday at least.

This is where the situation is most out of control. According to LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone, the Pacific Palisades Fire is “0% contained,” with more than 15,000 structures affected. As reported on local news, firefighters are unable to extinguish the house fires and are instead focusing on preventing the flames from jumping to other houses, in order to protect surrounding neighborhoods. The strong winds have also been preventing helicopters and seaplanes from flying in to drop water from above. According to the Los Angeles Times, this area is facing problems because the hydrants are running out of water. The water department is working to restore supply. Those familiar with the area and its infrastructure note that this is a common issue, due to outdated systems and structures that have not been updated in years.

Pacific Palisades is also known for being home to many well-known names in the entertainment world. It is a picturesque area with stunning views, nestled between the mountains and the sea. Less touristy than Malibu and Santa Monica, it offers access to both nature and the beach. Because of its appeal, several celebrities have been evacuated, including actors Ben Affleck and Mark Hamill, J.J. Reddick, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, actor Eugene Levy (who told local media how he was trapped by smoke in the Temescal Canyon area), actress Jamie Lee Curtis (“My family is safe,” she said), and actor James Woods, who has shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he left with nothing and does not know if his house has survived. In total, 37,000 residents have been evacuated from the areas of Palisades, Calabasas, and LA, with 15,000 structures now at risk.

The second-largest fire in terms of severity and scope is in Pasadena and Altadena, two towns northeast of Los Angeles, surrounded — as is typical in the county — by abundant vegetation and mountains. The Eaton Fire, as it was initially named, is located near both towns, with evacuation orders also affecting the Arcadia and Sierra Madre areas. A total of 32,000 residents have already been evacuated, and 13,000 structures are at risk. Picturesque Pasadena, known for its museums and architecture, has seen more than 2,200 acres (approximately 890 hectares) burn. It is in Pasadena that two deaths were confirmed by authorities in a press conference Wednesday morning.

The third most serious fire is in Hurst County, which is particularly affecting the city of Sylmar and has already burned 500 acres (over 200 hectares), according to the county fire department. Hurst is located to the north, in San Fernando County, and all firefighters in the area are working tirelessly to extinguish the flames.

The fires have led to widespread road closures across Southern California, and authorities have warned people not to leave unless absolutely necessary. Among the affected roads is the famous Pacific Coast Highway, which links the entire Pacific coast, and portions of Interstate 10, 210, and I-5. Universities such as Pepperdine University in the Palisades have suspended classes, and the announcement of nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which was scheduled for Wednesday, has been canceled.

The cause of the fires remains unknown, but a series of factors have contributed to their spread. December and January are typically among the rainiest months in Los Angeles County, home to approximately 10 million people, yet hardly a drop of rain has fallen. The months preceding this period have seen similar dryness, leading to extreme aridity in the lush vegetation of Los Angeles and surrounding cities. Furthermore, since Tuesday morning, winds have reached extreme speeds, gradually exceeding 40, 50, 60, and even 90 miles per hour. Despite the proximity to the Pacific coast, the relative humidity remains very low, causing each small spark to ignite much more easily.

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