PASADENA, Calif. − Fire crews are actively fighting several destructive wildfires that have erupted throughout Los Angeles, painting a catastrophic picture as people evacuate from the intense flames.

Currently, at least five wildfires are burning in Los Angeles County, devastating more than 40 square miles, as reported by Cal Fire. The largest fires, the Palisades Fire located in the coastal Pacific Palisades community and the Eaton Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, are both at 0% containment.

During a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Karen Bass praised the “heroic” efforts of firefighters, supported by aerial units, who are making strides against the flames.

“Unprecedented winds coupled with severe drought conditions have created a crisis, forcing people out of their homes, destroying property, and taking lives,” Bass stated. “This firestorm is historically significant, but we are fully committed to the fight.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna indicated that it’s premature to determine the exact number of fatalities. He confirmed that nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with an additional 200,000 under evacuation advisories. Moreover, Luna mentioned that 20 individuals have been arrested for looting.

“It’s unacceptable for anyone to take advantage of those suffering from this disaster,” Luna commented. “If you’re in an area where you aren’t supposed to be, expect to be arrested.”

Winds from the Santa Ana weather system have complicated firefighting efforts, causing the flames to spread since their outbreak earlier this week. While conditions improved slightly on Thursday, officials warned that critical fire weather could persist through Friday.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reported that firefighters are in a “much improved position” to tackle the wildfires on Thursday. Preliminary assessments estimate that thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed.

“The Palisades Fire is likely one of the most devastating natural disasters in Los Angeles history,” Crowley declared.

Fire updates:

∎ As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire has expanded to cover 27 square miles, with over 300 homes and businesses destroyed and more than 13,000 at risk, according to Cal Fire.

∎ The Eaton Fire, located near Pasadena, has spread to over 16 square miles and is currently 0% contained, with the cause still under investigation, Cal Fire noted.

∎ The Hurst Fire has expanded to 855 acres and is currently 10% contained, Cal Fire reported.

Casualties from the LA Fires

Authorities have previously confirmed at least five deaths related to the fires. Sheriff Luna mentioned that it is too soon to give an accurate death toll, but he expects it to rise.

One victim of the Eaton Fire, identified on Wednesday, was found by his family on the roadside near their home, still holding a garden hose. His sister shared with KTLA-TV that, despite the danger, he had tried to save their family home of over 50 years.

Mass Power Outages

Southern California Edison reported on Wednesday that over 413,000 customers are experiencing power outages. Additionally, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power indicated that more than 135,000 customers were without power as of late Wednesday.

Pasadena Water and Power has implemented a Do-Not-Drink Water order for certain areas affected by the Eaton Fire, highlighting that the water supply might be compromised by debris and high turbidity levels. Residents in Pacific Palisades, north of San Vicente Boulevard, have also been advised to utilize bottled or boiled water for all drinking and cooking purposes.

The Los Angeles Unified School District announced that all schools will be closed on Thursday. It is the second-largest school district in the U.S., accommodating nearly 436,000 students as of 2021.

Defense Department Joins Firefighting Efforts

As directed by President Biden, the Pentagon is mobilizing firefighting resources and personnel, including aircraft, to help combat the wildfires in California. The California National Guard is dispatching two Modular Airborne Firefighting System units, according to Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary. The Nevada National Guard is also supplying two additional units. These systems are designed for C-130 airplanes, converting them into aerial tankers.

Additionally, the Navy is deploying 10 helicopters equipped to drop water on the blazes.

“Several U.S. military bases nearby contain personnel and equipment ready to support firefighting efforts against these devastating fires,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated during a meeting with allies in Germany.

On the ground, the California National Guard has activated two fire-fighting teams and four military police units to support local law enforcement and emergency responders, according to Maj. Jennifer Staton, a Pentagon spokesperson.

− Tom Vanden Brook

Celebrities Express Grief Over Lost Homes

The fires have obliterated at least 1,000 homes, businesses, and other structures, as reported by Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. Actor Billy Crystal lamented the destruction of his Pacific Palisades residence, where he and his wife, Janice, lived since 1979, saying, “We are heartbroken of course, but the love of our family and friends will help us through this tough time.”

Media sensation Paris Hilton expressed being “heartbroken beyond words” after witnessing her Malibu beachfront property “burn to the ground on live TV.”

Upon returning to their neighborhoods, some residents saw only brick chimneys standing over piles of debris and charred vehicles. Oliver Allnatt, 36, donned ski goggles and a face mask while capturing images of the devastation.

“I had just left my family home where my mother’s house had been reduced to ashes,” Allnatt recounted. “Then I came to my house, and it was the same story. Just dust everywhere.  It feels like something out of a movie.”

Fleeing the LA Fires: Harrowing Tales from Families

Leaving their homes is a heart-wrenching ordeal for residents with no alternatives. Karen Maezen Miller, who has cared for a century-old Japanese garden in Sierra Madre for nearly 30 years, rushed away with her husband as flames flickered in their rearview mirror. As a Zen Buddhist priest, she was unsure of her home’s fate. As they drove away, they confronted the ferocity of the windstorm that had raged through the area, producing 100 mph gusts that scattered debris everywhere.

“I didn’t even want to look back because it moved so fast. All I could think was for my husband to keep driving,” Miller said. “You’re trying to escape a fire, but the roads were impassable.” Read more here.

− Trevor Hughes, N’dea Yancey-Bragg, Elizabeth Weise, Terry Collins

Firefighters Making Progress with Sunset Fire

Fire activity has subsided, and some evacuation orders have been lifted for the Sunset Fire, which started Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills. The blaze was rapidly expanding, putting additional strain on firefighting efforts in Southern California.

The Los Angeles Fire Department issued an evacuation order just after 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday for parts of the celebrity-filled area in central Los Angeles. By 9:45 p.m. that night, the fire had consumed at least 60 acres and was reported as 0% contained by Cal Fire.

“Fire activity has DECREASED,” stated the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s West Hollywood Station on X early Thursday morning. “The fire’s size has been updated to 60 to 100 acres and is primarily burning within the perimeter established by LAFD.” Read more here.

− Josh Peter

Wildfires in the Los Angeles Area May Cost Billions

The catastrophic fires have ravaged numerous homes, businesses, and structures, with preliminary estimates indicating potential damages nearing $10 billion.

Even before more homes and apartments were lost, the largest wildfire – the Palisades Fire – was rapidly climbing the list of California’s most devastating fires, with over 1,000 structures destroyed.

While the acreages burned are considerably less than those in the state’s largest wildfires, the property values in Southern California’s affected areas have resulted in significant damage, according to Char Miller, a Pomona College environmental analysis and history professor and author of Burn Scars, a recent history of fire suppression in the U.S.

An independent study by J.P. Morgan projected that insured losses from the Palisades fire could approach $10 billion, with most economic impacts affecting homeowners’ insurance.

− Dinah Voyles Pulver

Nurse steps up to help evacuees: ‘Sometimes we need a helping hand’

PASADENA, Calif. — Christianna Gutierrez answered an urgent call for medical professionals at an evacuation center. While browsing TikTok on Wednesday, she came across a post from someone at the Pasadena Convention Center requesting assistance from medical staff.

“In just five minutes, I changed into my scrubs and headed right into the storm,” said Gutierrez, a West Hills resident who has been a nurse for around three years and currently works in a private school.

Uncertain about what awaited her, she expressed her eagerness to support the evacuees.

“In nursing school, we learn about disaster response, but this is my first instance of feeling compelled to take action,” Gutierrez shared. “So I thought, ‘Why not lend a hand?'”

When she wasn’t attending to patients at the nurses’ station, she also helped organize beds and gather supplies for residents evacuating their homes. Common health issues she and other volunteers addressed included asthma, respiratory troubles, eye irritations, wound treatment, and pain relief, often relying on donations for necessary materials.

− Michelle Martinelli

Ways to assist communities affected by wildfires

As multiple fast-expanding wildfires jeopardize neighborhoods, some organizations are accepting contributions to aid victims.

• GoFundMe has created a page featuring verified fundraisers dedicated to supporting those impacted by the wildfires.
• GlobalGiving’s California Wildfire Relief Fund is collecting donations to directly support wildfire response and recovery efforts in the area.
• The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund focuses on providing assistance to the most vulnerable communities severely affected by the destructive fires.
• The California Fire Foundation offers support not only to firefighters battling the flames but also to their families and the communities they serve.

− Anthony Robledo

Los Angeles fires worsen amid limited water supply

Firefighters reported that the million-gallon tanks they relied on to combat the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles ran out of water, leaving them unable to effectively fight the raging fires, officials revealed on Wednesday. This has raised concerns among residents as they question how the wildfires, whose origins remain under investigation, have spiraled out of control, causing widespread devastation.

“We faced an immense demand on our water supply… we stretched the system to its limits,” stated Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the LA Department of Water and Power, at a press conference. “People need to conserve water,” she emphasized.

Water shortages have hit Pacific Palisades the hardest, according to Quiñones, who noted that this area, elevated west of downtown Los Angeles, experienced a demand for water that was four times higher than usual for 15 consecutive hours.

Efforts to refill the tanks fell short, and officials could not restore sufficient pressure in the system to supply water to elevated areas, she further explained. Read more here.

− Michael Loria

Contributing: Reuters