The Devastating Los Angeles Fires in Pictures
On the morning of January 7, the first of Los Angeles’ vast wildfires broke out in a forested area near Topanga State Park on the northwest edge of the city. Conditions allowed the blaze to spread very quickly: 100 mph winds, very low humidity, and a landscape primed to burn after months without rainfall together sent the fire tearing through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, located between Santa Monica and Malibu.
About 40 kilometers away in the Eaton area in Altadena, a second fire broke out. Along with several other smaller fires, the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires have since burned more than 30,000 acres of land in Los Angeles County, destroying thousands of buildings and forcing 130,000 people to evacuate their homes.
As of Thursday morning, conditions in the Los Angeles area continued to present a high risk for blazes starting and spreading. Fires have engulfed entire neighborhoods, and flames are now threatening some of the city’s famous landmarks, including its iconic Hollywood sign. Thousands of firefighters have been working to try to tame the flames.
Several movie premieres—such as those of the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, the Jennifer Lopez vehicle Unstoppable, and Wolf Man, starring Julia Garner and produced by Ryan Gosling—have been canceled due to dangerous conditions. On Thursday, California authorities ordered the evacuation of the Hollywood neighborhood after a fire broke out a few hundred yards from Hollywood Boulevard. The out-of-control situation has also led the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to postpone the announcement of the Oscar nominations by two days.
US president Joe Biden is receiving real-time information on the situation and has offered “all federal assistance needed” to put out the fires. “FEMA—the Federal Emergency Management Agency—has approved a fire-management grant to support the affected areas and help reimburse the State of California for the immediate costs of fighting the fires,” the president said in a statement on Wednesday. The fires have been declared a major disaster by the president.
Despite efforts, the largest fires—Eaton and Pacific Palisades—are still zero percent contained as of Thursday, with firefighters running low on water. Although wind speeds have slowed from their highs of earlier in the week, it’s expected that the fires will continue to spread and cause more devastation. They are already the most destructive in California’s history.
- Photograph: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images01
Smoke rising from burning homes in Pacific Palisades
Los Angeles is battling five major wildfires, with the largest—the Palisades Fire in the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu—starting on Tuesday. - Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images02
The Palisades Fire extends
By Thursday morning, the Palisades Fire had spread extensively and had burned more than 17,000 acres, according to California’s state fire agency.
- Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images03
Firefighters at the Palisades Fire
Fires burning in front of the Chabad Jewish Temple in Pacific Palisades, on Sunset Boulevard. The two largest fires in Los Angeles—the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, near Pasadena—had burned at least 2,000 structures by Thursday morning. - Photograph: Robyn Beck/Getty Images04
A house completely engulfed in flames
Entire neighborhoods have been lost to the fires, and 130,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
- Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images05
Destroyed dwellings in Pacific Palisades
The rapidly expanding wildfires have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and drought conditions in Southern California. - Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images06
Firefighters try to put out flames at Theatre Palisades
Firefighters have been battling the Palisades Fire since Tuesday. As of Thursday, it is still zero percent contained.
- Photograph: Brian van der Brug/Getty Images07
The wooded hills of Pacific Palisades in flames
Firefighters watch the fire expand at the end of Orlon Avenue in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. - Photograph: Eric Thayer/Getty Images08
The destruction spreads
Hundreds of homes have been enveloped in flames. The fires are already the most destructive in Californian history and have shown no signs of slowing down.
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Powerlines in Pacific Palisades on fire
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power, either because of power lines being destroyed or being shut off to prevent new fires starting. Sparks from fallen power lines are a risk for starting wildfires. - Photograph: VCG/Getty Images10
Winds spreading fire near Eaton Canyon on January 7
Santa Ana winds, seasonal winds that blow through Southern California from inland, have been exceptionally strong this year, reaching hurricane-level strength on January 7.
- Photograph: Brian van der Brug/Getty Images11
Firefighters on El Medio Avenue, Pacific Palisades
Fire containment efforts have been hampered by firefighters running low on water. - Photograph: Josh Edelson/Getty Images12
A house destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Pasadena
The second-largest blaze is burning in the Eaton area in Altadena, about 25 miles from Pacific Palisades.
- Brian van der Brug/Getty Images13
A resident walks along El Medio Avenue, Pacific Palisades
Air quality warnings have been issued to millions of Californians. In areas with poor air quality, but where evacuation has not been ordered, authorities are asking people to stay indoors. - Photograph: MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images14
Houses on fire in Malibu
Firefighters battle winds and flames as several beach houses catch fire along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. In places, fire has burned all the way from the wooded hills down to the seafront.
- Photograph: Josh Edelson/Getty Images15
Firefighters trying to extinguish a burning building in Pasadena
Fire crews on the ground have been joined by aircraft dropping water and flame retardants—though these have at times been grounded due to high winds. - Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images16
A fire truck braving wind, embers, and flames
Strong winds, though slower than they were earlier in the week, are continuing to fuel and spread the wildfires in LA.
- MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images17
A house engulfed in flames in Pasadena
One of hundreds of homes destroyed by flames on Woodlyn Road, near Washington Boulevard in Pasadena. The fires are destroying some of LA’s wealthiest neighborhoods. - Photograph: Eric Thayer/Getty Images18
California governor Gavin Newsom visiting Pacific Palisades
Governor Gavin Newsom visits the Pacific Palisades downtown business district on January 8 as fires continue to rage.
- Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images19
Firefighters at work
LA County has called for anyone with firefighting experience to step forward to help with fire-containment efforts. - Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images20
The coast in flames
The fires have released huge volumes of dangerous smoke.
- Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images21
Thousands have left the city by car
Parts of Los Angeles have been gridlocked by residents evacuating their properties. In places, bulldozers have been used to move abandoned cars blocking roads. - Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images22
A abandoned car destroyed by the fire
Thousands have had their cars and other possessions incinerated.
- Photograph: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images23
The winds have slowed but are still spreading fires
Higher precipitation over the past two years has filled the landscape with vegetation. Recent drought conditions have turned the land into a tinderbox. High winds have then combined with these conditions to drive up the fire risk. - Photograph: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images24
An incinerated children’s bicycle
As well as houses, the fire has consumed businesses, schools, and libraries.
- Photograph: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images25
Streets shrouded in fire in Pacific Palisades
Southern California has received very little rainfall over the past eight months, leaving lots of vegetation dry and easy to ignite. - Photograph: Genaro Molina/Getty Images26
Forests in flames in Pacific Palisades
Five people have died and more than 30,000 acres and counting have been burned.
- Photograph: Genaro Molina/Getty Images27
Another night of fire
Although winds have slowed, high-risk fire conditions remain. The larger fires in LA are still completely uncontained.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.
