Los Angeles wildfires ravage city.
Multiple wildfires tore through Los Angeles County on Wednesday, killing at least two people and destroying more than 1,000 structures in what officials are calling the most destructive fire event in the city’s history. The blazes, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds and drought conditions, have forced over 37,000 residents to flee their homes.
The Palisades Fire, which has consumed more than 15,800 acres, leads four major fires currently burning across the county with zero containment. The Eaton Fire has spread to 10,600 acres, while the smaller Hurst and Woodley fires have burned 505 and 30 acres respectively. A fifth fire, the Olivas Fire, is active in neighboring Ventura County.
“We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” said Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The agency reported that water demands reached four times normal levels, causing fire hydrants to run dry in some areas.
President Biden, who was in Los Angeles for an unrelated visit, approved a major disaster declaration Wednesday and pledged additional federal support. “We’re prepared to do anything and everything as long as it takes to contain these fires,” Biden said during a briefing at a Santa Monica fire station alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Defense Department is deploying ten Navy helicopters and additional National Guard units to support firefighting efforts. Oregon has also committed 240 firefighters and 60 engines to assist their California counterparts.
The crisis has paralyzed much of the city’s infrastructure, with over one million residents losing power. The Los Angeles Metro has suspended fares due to widespread outages affecting payment systems. The entertainment industry has ground to a halt, with major studios including Warner Bros., CBS, and NBCUniversal shutting down productions.
Actor James Woods, who evacuated his Pacific Palisades home, tearfully recounted helping ensure his 94-year-old neighbor with dementia was safely evacuated before the house burned down. “I’m sorry, it’s just one day you’re in the pool and the next it’s all gone,” Woods told CNN.
Fire officials warn that conditions could worsen, with wind gusts up to 60 mph expected to continue through Thursday. The fires are being driven by a combination of factors, including moderate drought conditions, unusually strong Santa Ana winds, and the broader impacts of climate change.
“We pushed the system to the extreme,” Quiñones said, as firefighters struggled with diminished water pressure and grounded air support due to dangerous wind conditions. Late Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that aerial operations had finally resumed.
The Palisades Fire has now surpassed the 2008 Sayre Fire as the most destructive in Los Angeles history. That blaze destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, a number already eclipsed by the current disaster.
Officials urge residents to remain vigilant and comply with evacuation orders as firefighters work to establish containment lines around the fires. Updates on evacuation zones and emergency services can be found on the Los Angeles Fire Department’s website.
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