5 Dead, 100,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Fires Sweep Across Los Angeles
Los Angeles Closes All Schools as Fires Rage On
As wildfires continue to ravage communities across the county, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced Wednesday it will close all of its schools and facilities Thursday, citing the continued unpredictability of the crisis and persistent dangers—including multiple active fires and air quality conditions.
“After ample consultation with leaders, after clear examination of the data available and entering a second night of this crisis, it is prudent to announce that all schools across Los Angeles Unified will be closed tomorrow effective immediately,” LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said at a press conference Wednesday evening.
“We were hoping conditions would significantly improve, that winds would subside, that the number of active fires would decrease … that there would be a degree of stabilization.
Fast Moving Brush Fire Breaks Out in Hollywood Hills
LOS ANGELES—As multiple wind-driven wildfires continued to rage through tens of thousands of acres in different corners of Los Angeles County Wednesday evening, officials announced a new brush fire had erupted near a popular hiking trail in the Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a press conference that the fire had broken out “just in the last five minutes” near Runyon Canyon, as officials were in the process of briefing the public on other ongoing blazes.
“I don’t have a lot of information. I can tell you we’re throwing all our available resources at it as we speak,” she said.
Five people have been reported killed in the fast-moving Eaton Fire that has burned 10,600 acres in Pasadena and Altadena, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
The fire, which started at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Eaton Canyon, remained 0 percent contained and had destroyed between 200 to 500 structures by Wednesday afternoon.
Another 13,000 structures are at risk, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Smoke From California Fires Causes Health Concerns
Plumes of smoke from multiple destructive fires throughout Los Angeles County caused air quality to plummet on Wednesday, reaching “very unhealthy” levels, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) reported.
Walls of black smoke created by the Palisades and Eaton fires created apocalyptic scenes, turning the sun red and hovering over parts of Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties.
The air quality district issued a wildfire smoke advisory Wednesday that was expected to last until about 5 p.m. Thursday.
1.5 Million Without Power in California
More than 1.5 million Southern California customers are without power Wednesday as multiple fires continue to burn and dangerous wind gusts move through the region, according to poweroutage.us.
Southern California Edison (SCE), which serves 15 million people in central, coastal, and southern areas of the state, reported outages for more than 1.3 million customers.
Diane Castro, spokeswoman for SCE, said the utility was prepared for the storm.
LA Mayor Cut City Fire Department’s Budget by $17.6 Million
Recent budget cuts could be hampering the Los Angeles City Fire Department’s efforts to tame the wildfires threatening the city.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass approved more than $819.6 million in appropriations for the city fire department last June, slashing its budget by $17.6 million.
The reduction was slightly less than Bass’s initial proposal, which would have marked a $23 million cut from the previous year.
Pasadena Jewish Temple, Palisades Library Destroyed by Fire
Among the landmark buildings destroyed in the Los Angeles area fires are the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center in the Eaton fire, which has more than 100 years of history, according to temple officials. All of the buildings on the campus have burned to the ground, including the sanctuary, chapel, and classrooms.
"This news is beyond devastating and heartbreaking for us all," said representatives in a letter to the community.
The Palisades Branch Public Library has also been destroyed in the Palisades fire. The building had been damaged in an October 2020 fire and had closed for nearly two years for renovation before reopening again in 2022.
The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Palisades Fire Scorches More Than 15,000 Acres
A raging wildfire that originated on Palisades Drive in Los Angeles has expanded to engulf more than 15,800 acres.
The Palisades fire was the first of several to threaten Los Angeles County residents and businesses since Tuesday morning, prompting thousands to evacuate.
As of 1:23 p.m. local time on Wednesday, more than 300 structures have been decimated by the blaze. Another 13,300 are poised for destruction.
Firefighters work to extinguish the Palisades Fire burning near Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest 2 Suspects for Allegedly Looting Amid Fire
Two suspects were arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies Jan. 8 for allegedly looting in an area evacuated in the Eaton Fire, according to Sheriff Robert Luna.
The department was unable to identify the two people arrested Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s always sad when I have to say this, but part of our responsibility is to make sure no one loots or steals from our residents and community members,” Luna said in a morning news conference.
President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for California as the southern end of the state continues to battle multiple devastating wildfires.
The declaration will allow affected residents immediate access to funds and resources for their recovery efforts.
“As the fires continue to devastate communities, President Biden is focused on mobilizing life-saving and life-sustaining resources across the region,” the White House said in announcing the declaration on Wednesday.
High fire risk conditions prompted Southern California Edison to preemptively cut power to more than 153,000 customers as a safety precaution on Wednesday.
The widespread shutoffs stretched from the Santa Barbara area over to Lancaster and down to Temecula.
Another 69,000 customers were experiencing outages due to the fierce wildfires spreading throughout the region.
Los Angeles Area Records 100 mph Winds
Weather service meteorologists in Los Angeles recorded life-threatening and destructive winds reaching 100 miles per hour in the mountains on Mount Lukens Truck Trail Wednesday, amid multiple wind-fueled wildfires in the region.
Magic Mountain Truck Trail recorded its strongest wind gust at 90 miles per hour, while gusts at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport were recorded at 84 miles per hour.
Eaton Canyon, where the Eaton Fire continued to burn Wednesday, recorded gusts up to 70 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Schools Closed; Malibu Restaurant Destroyed in Palisades Fire
More than 20 school districts in Los Angeles County are closed Wednesday and possibly Thursday, including school campuses in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, according to the county Office of Education. Officials were expected to reevaluate conditions each day to determine when they might reopen campuses.
In Malibu, north of Pacific Palisades, Pepperdine University was also closed Wednesday.
Malibu City Hall was closed and all city programs were also canceled until further notice, according to an update posted by the City of Malibu on Facebook.
Harris Urges Vigilance as Neighbors Evacuate
Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday that she had been briefed on the wildfires and would continue to receive updates on containment efforts.
“President Biden and I are committed to ensuring that no community has to respond to this disaster alone. We have already mobilized federal resources to help suppress the fires, provide overhead support, and begin assisting those impacted,” Harris said in a statement, urging her neighbors to remain vigilant and cooperate with local authorities.
Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, own a home in Los Angeles. Their house is one of many under evacuation orders as firefighters work to extinguish the flames.
None of the 29 fire departments in Los Angeles County were prepared “for this type of widespread disaster,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters on Wednesday.
At a press conference with other local officials, Marrone said his department had pre-positioned personnel in the Santa Monica mountains and was prepared for “one or two major brush fires,” but not four.
“There are not enough firefighters in LA County to address four separate fires of this magnitude,” he said
LOS ANGELES—Fire officials have requested an additional 10 strike teams, including 50 fire engines, to the Saddle Peak Road area of the Palisades on Wednesday as the fire continues to destroy buildings.
Air attack teams have asked for four large air tankers and one larger air tanker to fly over the fire and drop retardant and water.
Southern California remains under a red flag warning, meaning strong wind gusts and low humidity pose extreme fire danger throughout the region on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
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