A rapidly spreading fire erupted in the Hollywood Hills late Wednesday, endangering one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable areas while firefighters struggled to manage three other significant fires that have resulted in five fatalities, forced 130,000 residents to evacuate, and wreaked havoc across regions from the Pacific Coast into Pasadena.
Known as the Sunset Fire, this blaze was raging near the Hollywood Bowl, approximately one mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The streets around Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds were congested with traffic as emergency sirens sounded and helicopters flew above, dumping water on the raging flames. While some evacuees departed hotels by foot with luggage, a number of onlookers approached the flames, documenting the scene with their smartphones.
Although winds subsided somewhat on Wednesday, following hurricane-strength gusts that had previously cast embers across neighborhoods and ignited fires block by block, firefighters from various states have come to assist. Nonetheless, the four active fires reflect that the crisis is still far from over. Several schools in the vicinity have been either damaged or destroyed. Among them is Palisades Charter High School, which has appeared in numerous Hollywood productions, as well as the University of California, Los Angeles, which has canceled in-person classes for the week.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted that air operations were actively trying to contain the fires. However, she cautioned that they still faced unpredictable winds, although not as severe as those on Tuesday evening, when many aircraft had to be grounded and significant destruction ensued.
In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin reported that the Eaton Fire, ignited Tuesday night, has caused damage to between 200 and 500 structures. He indicated that the city’s water resources were stretched thin and hindered by power outages, confirming that even in prime conditions, suppressing the fire would have proven challenging due to the powerful winds pushing the flames onward.
On the Pacific Coast, a destructive fire flattened entire city blocks in the Pacific Palisades, an affluent area known for its celebrity residences and featured in the Beach Boys’ classic, “Surfin’ USA.” This fire has been noted as the most devastating to strike Los Angeles, with at least 1,000 structures reduced to ashes.
The full extent of the destruction is only beginning to emerge, with numerous California Mission-style homes and bungalows reduced to mere charred remnants, marked by stone chimneys and scorched archways. Once-ornate properties now stand surrounded by soot-covered swimming pools and luxury vehicles with melted tires.
As flames threatened his neighborhood, Jose Velasquez fought to protect his family’s Altadena residence from embers falling onto the roof. He succeeded in safeguarding their home, which also serves as the family business selling churros, a traditional Mexican dessert. Unfortunately, many of his neighbors were not as fortunate, losing their homes while away at work. “We had to reach out to several people as they inquired about their homes’ statuses,” he shared. “It was heartbreaking to inform them that theirs had burned down.”
Beyond the fire-affected zones, residents were seen wearing N95 masks to shield themselves from the overwhelming smoke smothering parts of the city. The inferno threatened densely populated, high-value neighborhoods such as Calabasas and Santa Monica.
Among the celebrities affected are Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, and Paris Hilton, who revealed the loss of their residences on Wednesday. Additionally, Billy Crystal and his wife lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire, expressing in a statement the everlasting love and memories tied to their residence, which has been a cornerstone of their family life.
The casualty count continues to grow, with public structures like libraries, grocery outlets, banks, and local boutiques in Palisades Village also devastated by the flames. Dylan Vincent, who returned to the site to collect belongings, noted the profound change as he discovered his former elementary school had been destroyed amidst the widespread obliteration.
The wildfires have devoured approximately 42 square miles (108 square kilometers) of land, measuring close to the size of San Francisco itself. The flames’ swiftness left many individuals little time to evacuate. Reports indicated police officers sought refuge in their vehicles while residents from senior care facilities were escorted to safety in wheelchairs and hospital beds.
With the urgency to escape from areas like Pacific Palisades, streets quickly became impassable as numerous individuals abandoned their cars and fled on foot. California’s wildfire season is extending earlier and stretching later due to rising temperatures and dwindling rainfall associated with climate change, as reported by recent studies. The expected rain that typically serves as a fire season cap has been delayed, allowing blazes to potentially continue through winter as indicated by the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
California has faced particularly dry winds, including the infamous Santa Ana winds, leading to higher-than-average temperatures in Southern California. Reports from the National Weather Service indicated winds escalating to speeds of 80 mph (129 kph) on Wednesday. Forecast predictions indicate gusts of 35 to 55 mph (56 to 88 kph), possibly increasing further in elevated areas, with fire conditions expected to persist through Friday.
In response to the ongoing crisis, President Biden has enacted a federal emergency declaration after meeting with Governor Gavin Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station briefing, with the Governor deploying National Guard troops for assistance. Multiple film studios have halted production, and Universal Studios has closed its theme park located between Pasadena and the Pacific Palisades.
By Wednesday evening, over 456,000 residents in Southern California were without electrical power, according to data compiled by a tracking website. Significant landmarks sustained severe damage, including the Reel Inn seafood restaurant in Malibu, which owner Teddy Leonard hopes to rebuild. “Ultimately, as long as your family is safe and everyone’s alive, that’s what truly matters,” she said, reflecting on the situation amid the devastation.
