Los Angeles County wildfires updates

Our live coverage of the Los Angeles County wildfires has moved here.

A burned-out car sits among rubble in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, California, on January 8.

The City of Pasadena has issued an urgent alert concerning unsafe drinking water in areas impacted by recent evacuations due to the Eaton Fire.

The Pasadena Water and Power system may be compromised by “debris and elevated turbidity,” prompting officials to advise residents against consuming tap water, according to a statement from the city.

Residents are advised to rely solely on bottled water for all consumption, including drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and pet care. Attempts to treat the water — whether through boiling, filtering, or adding disinfectants — are deemed ineffective and unsafe.

Pasadena Water and Power will monitor the situation and provide any updates, according to the statement. The timeline for resolution remains uncertain, dependent on the ongoing fire and wind conditions.

Firefighters work from a deck as the Palisades Fire burns a beach front property in Malibu, California on Wednesday.

Firefighters have spent days doing whatever possible to fight fires across the county as strong winds and low humidity made for difficult conditions.

Here is where the fires stand, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection:

Palisades Fire: At least 15,832 acres and 0% contained.

Eaton Fire: At least 10,600 acres and 0% contained.

Hurst Fire: At least 855 acres and 10% contained.

Lidia Fire: At least 348 acres and 40% contained.

Sunset Fire: At least 60 acres and 0% contained.

With wind speeds easing, helicopters were able to get back in the air and drop water and fire retardants on Wednesday in an effort to contain the fires and protect property, having previously been disrupted by high winds.

A building goes up in flames in the Studio City neighborhood, northwest of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

A fire erupted late Wednesday night within a Studio City residence, extending to nearby structures before being put out by firefighters.

The blaze ignited around 8:52 p.m. at a four-story house located at 3656 N. Sunswept Drive, and quickly spread to adjacent brush, prompting a swift response from over 50 firefighters, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

By 10:00 p.m., they had knocked down the blaze, which created small spot fires and caused damage to neighboring buildings. No injuries were reported.

The fire initially damaged the stilts supporting one of the homes leading it to collapse onto the hillside, according to CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS. Embers scattered onto the adjacent brush as crews worked swiftly to extinguish them with water.

Aerial footage from CNN affiliate KABC shows two neighboring structures ablaze as multiple fire department ground units douse the buildings with water. KABC’s aerial pilots have also reported a smaller fire approximately one hundred yards away from the original Studio City incident.

Homes and businesses along the Pacific Coast Highway near Tuna Canyon, California on October 20, 2024.

Homes and businesses along the Pacific Coast Highway near Tuna Canyon on January 8, 2025, after the Palisades fire broke out.

The Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades has been completely evacuated and is now a “ghost town,” CNN’s Leigh Waldman reported from the scene. “Everyone keeps saying ‘apocalyptic,’ but that doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Waldman told CNN’s Polo Sandoval that a few hours ago, an art gallery and another business in the affluent area were still standing –– now, they are left in rubble.

Firefighting crews from Nevada have been deployed to help California rescuers but crews are spread “so incredibly thin,” she said, adding that winds were too aggressive Wednesday morning for an effective aerial response.

With a clear emphasis on prioritizing lives and homes, Waldman said, places of work “simply can’t be spared,” leaving people’s “livelihoods in ruins.”

“Thankfully, we haven’t been able to talk to anyone because they’ve gotten somewhere safe.”

Tony Espinoza speaks during an interview with CNN affiliate KSNV.

A family who fled their homes in Pasadena on Wednesday is now staying with family in Las Vegas, as wildfires continue to burn homes and businesses throughout parts of metro Los Angeles.

They only had time to bring essentials, he said.

“We couldn’t breathe anymore,” he told KSNV. “We had all the filters going in the house, the HEPA filters and nothing seemed to work.”

Espinoza fled with 13 other family members, and will stay with relatives in Las Vegas until the fires ease.

“We packed our bags only for about three days. Because we all have jobs to go to. We have rent to pay. Bills are still due,” he said.

This screenshot from a video taken at Sunset Boulevard shows rows of vehicles leaving the area as first responders rush to the scene.

An evacuee racing away from the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills described the situation to CNN Wednesday night as “chaotic.”

Videos taken by Dill on Sunset Boulevard show rows of vehicles leaving the area as first responders rush to the scene. In other videos shared by Dill, bright orange flames can be seen lighting up the night sky.

Dill – who is now sheltering at a friend’s house – said he and his neighbors started evacuating before they received alerts on their phones.

“We could see flames and smoke from our building,” he said, adding that he saw helicopters and other aircraft dropping water on the fire.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a Wednesday night post on social media, “We are deploying LAPD officers to respond to Hollywood to help alleviate evacuation traffic. We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire.”

The area is home to several attractions for visiting tourists, including the TCL Chinese Theatre and part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Actor documents his return to pile of ashes where his home once stood

02:09 • Source: CNN

Actor documents his return to pile of ashes where his home once stood

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Actor and television host Cameron Mathison described to CNN seeing videos of his neighborhood ablaze, then immediately driving to his house early Wednesday to find his residence of 13 years “totally decimated.”

“We loved and cherished this house. We raised our kids in this house,” Mathison told CNN’s Laura Coates. “Four days ago, my daughter said she wanted to raise her kids in this house.”

A video the “All My Children” and “General Hospital” star shared on social media shows houses in Altadena burnt to the ground, with other remaining structures and surrounding palm trees scorched. In the background of the video, Mathison lets out a shrill scream.

While he is grateful that he and his family are safe, nothing will be able to replace the “childhood mementos and kids’ projects” that have burned with the house, along with “Christmas ornaments we’ve gathered from all around the world,” Mathison said.

“You think you have compassion for these stories when you hear them on the news, and you see them, and then you go through it and you’re like, oh, I had no idea. I had no idea,” he said.

Looters, scammers and individuals targeting fire victims “will not go unpunished” and will be prosecuted to the “fullest extent of the law,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has warned.

“While the community rallies to support one another, we are also aware of the individuals who are targeting vulnerable victims to preying on this misfortune, seeking to exploit the vulnerability of those who have already endured so much,” Hochman said late Wednesday.

Two people have been arrested for looting, according to the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff Robert Luna.

The public has been urged to stay away from impacted fire areas and authorities have tried to reassure residents not to worry about their homes if they are ordered to evacuate.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has issued an urgent advisory for residents in Pacific Palisades, as well as parts of Topanga State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains — collectively covered by zip code 90272 — and surrounding areas.

The advisory comes in response to low water pressure resulting from increased demand during the Palisades Fire.

What to do if you’re in the area: Residents are urged to only use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking. Tap water should be boiled for at least one minute before consumption for safety, authorities said. The precaution extends to water used for brushing teeth and food preparation, including washing produce.

Potential contaminants in the water supply pose health risks, including nausea, cramps, diarrhea and headaches.

The advisory will remain in place for at least 48 hours, in accordance with public safety protocols, until water quality tests confirm the supply is safe for consumption. LADWP officials said that crews are working to re-pressurize the water distribution system and conduct safety testing.

Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles on January 8.

Los Angeles resident Ken Robinson told CNN Wednesday the Sunset Fire “came up so quickly” in the Runyon Canyon.

“It swept fast like lightning,” he said.

Robinson recorded a video showing the glow of the Sunset Fire consuming parts of Runyon Canyon. The canyon is a popular destination for locals to go hiking and walk their dogs, he said.

The fire has burnt at least 50 acres near the Hollywood Hills, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as of Wednesday night.

A Pacific Palisades local has been left jobless after fires burned down the cafe where he was employed. Speaking to CNN on Wednesday, Chris Groel said he wanted to see firsthand if the building was still standing after “hearing a lot of rumors that it might be gone.”

His first reaction upon arriving at the site was “devastation,” and Groel said “the magnitude and the speed of it is really the biggest shock.” The cafe was established more than two decades ago.

“Café Vita is an incredibly special restaurant for the Palisades,” said Groel.

Groel attended Palisades High School, which also burned down. He said he is now focused on “thinking about now how we’re going to move forward” and “rebuild up this community.”

The National Weather Service has released a specific forecast for the newest notable fire, the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills.

Northerly winds are expected through the overnight for the area, gusting to around 25 mph through the canyons and up to 35 mph over the nearby ridges.

Winds will remain northerly and continue to decrease into Thursday morning, gusting as low as 15 mph. Winds should remain around 15 mph through the day, shifting to the east and dropping to 5-10 mph.

California Governor Gavin Newsom tours the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn in Los Angeles, California on January 8.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state will deploy up to 140 water tenders, each capable of carrying 2,500 gallons, to aid in the fight against the Eaton and Palisades fires.

By late Wednesday, several trucks ordered by CAL FIRE were en route to fire incident command posts, with additional units anticipated to be dispatched overnight, bringing the total to 23 water tankers on-site. Earlier on Wednesday, Newsom has mobilized over 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel to safeguard communities.

Newsom also issued an executive order that takes measures to support those affected by the fires. The move comes soon after Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration to bolster federal assistance. On Tuesday, Newsom declared a state of emergency, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

Key agencies coordinating efforts:

Four emergency shelters are currently operational, providing refuge for about 500 evacuees. State officials are urging residents to remain vigilant as conditions evolve.

Joe Biden attends an event in Washington, D.C., on December 9, 2024.

President Joe Biden will no longer travel to Rome, Italy, the White House announced, canceling the trip scheduled for the final days of his presidency to instead monitor raging wildfires across the Los Angeles, California area.

Biden was scheduled to travel to Rome on Thursday, where the White House said he’d meet with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

A brush fire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills.

The Sunset Fire, which has sprung alive on the top of the iconic Hollywood Hills, is forcing evacuations, and people nearby should be prepared to leave, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott said.

Aerial video from CNN’s affiliate KABC shows pockets of fire raging on top of the hills with firefighters desperately working to put out the blaze as it moves south towards Hollywood.

“You need to evacuate early. Don’t wait to be told,” he said. “Right now, people are very awake to the potential, and if you see smoke, you smell smoke, get into that ready-set-go.”

The hills are home to some of Los Angeles’s most legendary iconography – the Hollywood sign. The Griffith Observatory, which has been open since 1935, is also nearby. Other landmarks within the evacuation area include the Hollywood Bowl, as well as the Dolby Theatre and the TCL Chinese Theatre, which are based in a bustling mall.

Their centralized location make the glowing embers visible across the city, a daunting reminder of what the area has faced in the last 48 hours, and what there is left to face.

UCLA’s chancellor, Julio Frenk, said the university would “curtail campus operations” because of the ongoing fire – canceling undergraduate classes and moving graduate courses to remote instruction until Friday.

In an email to the campus community, Frenk asked supervisors to work with employees to meet any “critical staffing and operational needs on campus” while emphasizing they should be “understanding and flexible.”

Frenk wrote there is currently no immediate fire danger to the campus, located south of Sunset Boulevard, but changes in wind patterns are expected.

“I ask that you do everything you can to stay safe and, if you are able, to look out for those around you,” he wrote.

Buildings and cars destroyed by the Palisades fire lay along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on Wednesday,m January 8.

Six fires are now burning in Los Angeles County, where firefighters are battling “some of the most historic fire conditions on record,” and about 130,000 people have been impacted by evacuation orders.

Strong winds will continue throughout the night while the fires rage on, and residents have been urged to help first responders by staying informed, being prepared to evacuate, and staying away from impacted areas.

Here’s the latest from the past few hours:

Sixth fire: A new brush fire called the Sunset Fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon Wednesday evening. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for Laurel Canyon Boulevard (on the west) to Mulholland Drive (on the north) to 101 Freeway (on the east) down to Hollywood Boulevard (on the south).

Evacuation orders: About 130,000 people are impacted by evacuation warnings or orders due to Eaton and Palisades fires, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Over 70,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings from the Eaton Fire, and about 60,000 people from the Palisades Fire.

Power restored to many: A little over 120 customers with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are without power as of 5 p.m. PT after crews were able to restore 133,000 other customers, CEO and chief engineer Janisse Quiñones said. Over 39,600 Southern California Edison customers were without power in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us.

Where the major fires are: The Palisades Fire has burned over 15,800 acres with 1,792 personnel assigned to fight the blaze, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. Over 700 acres have been impacted by the Hurst Fire, with 260 personnel assigned. And the Woodley Fire has now been controlled at approximately 30 acres. The Eaton Fire is currently at 10,600 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Lidia Fire near Acton has burned over 340 acres.

Historic fire conditions: The extreme fire weather in Southern California has ignited fires throughout the region, according to Crowley. Strong and erratic winds and low humidity continue to exacerbate conditions. The Palisades Fire “continues to demand significant local, regional, state and federal resources,” said Crowley, describing the incident as “very dynamic.”

As winds continue to decrease across Southern California, the National Weather Service has expired all the “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warnings for the region.

Winds over the fires in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, which were gusting from 60 to 80 mph earlier Wednesday, have improved to gusts of 15 to 35 mph as of Wednesday evening.

Winds should continue to lighten into the overnight hours with gusts expected to reach up to 30 mph. All high wind warnings are expected to expire by 10 p.m. PST Wednesday (1 a.m. Thursday ET).

The historic former home of American humorist Will Rogers was destroyed by the Palisades Fire overnight, according to a Wednesday news release from California State Parks.

Photos show Rogers’ ranch house, built in 1929, and other buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park burned to the ground. Only two chimneys remain standing.

The fire also impacted parts of Topanga State Park, including the historic Topanga Ranch Motel once owned by William Randolph Hearst, the release says.

Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park were closed as a precaution shortly after the Palisades Fire began Tuesday morning. State Parks was able to evacuate the horses and some of the cultural and historical artifacts ahead of the fire, the release says.

California State Parks says the fire rolled onto its property later that evening, resulting in more than 30 structural losses.

Rogers, who died in a plane crash in 1935, was one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Hollywood in the mid-1930s, according to the release. His widow donated the ranch to State Parks in 1944 and it became a historic park.

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Drone video shows wildfire destruction in Pacific Palisades

00:39 • Source: CNN

Drone video shows wildfire destruction in Pacific Palisades

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