The wildfires in Southern California are out of control, leaving devastation in their wake. At least five people have died, and over 179,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. The fires, including the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, are scorching thousands of acres across Los Angeles neighborhoods. Flames are spreading fast, and firefighters are fighting hard to stop the destruction.
Palisades fire: the largest threat
The Palisades Fire is the biggest fire currently raging in Los Angeles. It broke out on Tuesday morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Since then, it has burned over 17,000 acres. The fire grew quickly, especially on Wednesday, as strong winds fueled the flames. Entire blocks in the area are threatened, and evacuation orders have been issued for large parts of the neighborhood.
Eaton fire: a close second
Not far behind, the Eaton Fire has burned at least 10,600 acres in northern Los Angeles County. This fire also exploded in size on Wednesday, causing havoc in the region. As of now, five people have been killed by this blaze. Many others have suffered serious injuries. The fire continues to spread rapidly, forcing evacuations in multiple areas.
Other fires: Sunset, Hurst, Lidia, and Woodley
The Sunset Fire erupted Wednesday evening in the Runyon Canyon area of Hollywood Hills. It has already burned dozens of acres, and evacuation orders were quickly issued. The Hurst and Lidia Fires are also burning fiercely, though firefighters have managed to partially contain them. These two fires are among the few that have shown signs of containment, with 10% of the Hurst Fire under control by Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the Woodley Fire broke out Wednesday inside a Los Angeles nature reserve. Fortunately, this fire was quickly contained by fire crews, and no evacuations were necessary. Officials have confirmed the fire is fully under control.
Evacuations and destruction
Evacuation orders are pouring in as the fires spread. At least 179,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. The Palisades Fire alone has triggered a large portion of these evacuations. In total, the fires now threaten over 60,000 structures across the county.
Reports on the number of homes lost vary, but experts believe at least 300 structures have been destroyed in the Palisades neighborhood. Some estimates go as high as 1,000 destroyed homes. The destruction is widespread, and residents are scrambling to find safety.
Fire maps: stay updated
To track the progress of the fires, fire officials are updating evacuation maps regularly. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, provides a detailed map showing which areas are under mandatory evacuation (marked in red) and which are under warning (marked in yellow). These maps are critical for residents who are trying to navigate the ever-changing fire situation.
SoCal fires perimeter map
The evacuation orders have even reached the home of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose spokesperson confirmed that her family’s Los Angeles property is in one of the affected areas.
Hurst fire spreads to 850 acres
The Hurst Fire, which started late Tuesday night in the Sylmar neighborhood, quickly grew to 850 acres by Thursday morning. This fire prompted more evacuations as it spread rapidly through the area. However, firefighters have managed to contain 10% of the fire as of Thursday morning, which gives some hope for containment in the coming days.
Sunset fire forces Hollywood Hills evacuations
The Sunset Fire, which started in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon, sparked new evacuations. Residents in the areas between Laurel Canyon Drive and Mulholland Boulevard were urged to evacuate immediately. The fire continues to burn through acres of vegetation, and officials are working to get it under control.
Woodley fire: under control
The Woodley Fire, which started in a Los Angeles nature reserve, was a smaller blaze compared to the others. Despite initial fears of it spreading quickly, the fire was fully contained by the end of Wednesday. It did not prompt evacuations, and firefighters are being praised for their quick response to prevent it from getting out of hand.
Stay informed: Cal fire’s updates
For the latest evacuation information, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection continues to update its website. The department provides real-time data on all active fires, including the location of evacuation zones, fire containment efforts, and additional warnings. Residents are encouraged to check these updates frequently to stay informed about the status of the fires.
SoCal fires evacuation map
