(NewsNation) — Air operations in the Palisades resumed as multiple wildfires rip through parts of Los Angeles County, all at 0% containment. Extreme weather conditions had forced helicopters to be grounded previously.
Two people were reported dead in the Eaton Fire, which is in the Angeles National Forest and Altadena area of Los Angeles County and Pasadena, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said.
Officials have said more than 80,000 people are under evacuation orders because of all the fires.
In a press conference, Marrone said there are not enough firefighters in LA County to address four separate fires of this size, even with additional resources.
“The LA County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four,” he said.
Two Type I wildland firefighting hand crews from California’s National Guard were activated to support emergency response to the wildfires.
Click here to view the LAPD’s interactive evacuation zone map.
Airbnb announced it would be working with local authorities to offer temporary housing for people affected by the fires.
President Joe Biden, who is in California along with the first lady for the birth of the couple’s great-grandchild, is expected to visit a fire station in Santa Monica.
At least 19 L.A. County school districts are closed because of fire and weather conditions. Pepperdine University closed its Malibu and Calabasas campuses as well.
John Wayne Airport, Orange County, the most popular airport outside of Los Angeles International in Southern California, has been closed, too.
Other closures include The Getty Center in Los Angeles, and the Getty Villa, which will not open until Monday, Jan.13.
Animal shelters have been established for residents affected by the wildfires. People can go to http://lacounty.gov/emergency for more information.
Two people have been arrested for looting, the L.A. County sheriff said.
Director of Emergency Management for L.A. County Kevin McGowan said the area is facing a “historic natural disaster,” and “we still have a long road ahead of us.”
“We are absolutely not out of danger yet,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristen Crowley said at a news conference Wednesday.
Palisades fire causes state of emergency declaration
A rapidly moving wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area has spread to more than 11,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon.
There were a high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate, Marrone said, as well as some wounded first responders, but no fatalities in the Palisades fire.
Marrone said an estimated 1,000 structures were destroyed in the Palisades blaze.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he reached out to President Joe Biden, who was in California when the blaze began and has started the process of receiving emergency funds. Newsom has declared a state of emergency. Newsom said California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel and hundreds of prepositioned assets to combat the fire.
“Emergency officials, firefighters and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives,” Newsom said.
As FEMA announced a Fire Management Assistance Grant has been approved, Biden confirmed he has been briefed on the fire.
“I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire,” the president said in a post on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ spokesman said her neighborhood was put under an evacuation order, but no one was at her house at the time.
“I am thinking of those impacted by the wildfires in Southern California and praying for the first responders who are taking heroic action to help keep communities safe,” Harris said on X.
The blaze was first reported as a vegetation fire around 10:30 a.m. PT.
Palisades wildfire map: Who has evacuated?
CALFIRE ordered evacuations for the entire community down to the Pacific Ocean for an “immediate threat to life” as of 3 p.m. PT Tuesday. Evacuation orders included Malibu, Calabasas and Santa Monica. Malibu on Wednesday urged residents not under evacuation orders to prepare to leave.
Authorities shut down the Pacific Coast Highway from the Interstate 10 freeway to Topanga Canyon, allowing only limited access to facilitate the movement of evacuees and emergency vehicles.
“Fire is burning westward near the Pacific Palisades Highlands community with Rustic Canyon to the East & Topanga Cyn to the West are all under an evacuation warning,” Scott said, according to KTLA.
City officials said they have had to move vehicles left abandoned on Sunset and Palisades to provide clear access. Almost 100 vehicles were abandoned at the intersection, according to an alert. Officials have asked people not to leave their cars on the street.
KTLA reported that a bulldozer moved around 200 cars out of the way.
“This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a firefight,” David Ortiz of the LAFD said.
Newsom said he anticipates other fire events happening concurrently due to the wind and that the worst is yet to come.
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Firefighters work to extinguish flames engulfing a home as a brush fire rages in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7, 2025. A fast-moving brushfire in a Los Angeles suburb burned buildings and sparked evacuations Tuesday as “life threatening” winds whipped the region. More than 200 acres (80 hectares) was burning in Pacific Palisades, a upscale spot with multi-million dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains, shuttering a key highway and blanketing the area with thick smoke. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) -
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF JANUARY 7, 2024 A firefighting plane makes a drop on the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The Palisades fire is being pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds that were expected to continue for two more days. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
A firefighter battles the advancing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) -
Firefighters battle the advancing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) -
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF JANUARY 7, 2024 A firefighting helicopter makes a drop on the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The Palisades fire is being pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds that were expected to continue for two more days. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – JANUARY 07: Anne Tierney leaves her Sunset Boulevard apartment during the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) -
A woman cries as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) -
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 07: People watch as others drive out of harm’s way as the Palisades Fire burns amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Santa Ana windstorm fueling Los Angeles fire
The National Weather Service said what could be the strongest Santa Ana windstorm in more than a decade began Tuesday across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
On Wednesday, wind gusts over 90 mph were reported with a peak wind gust of 100 mph reported at Mount Lukens.
“The President has been briefed on the wildfires in Los Angeles and at his direction his team is in contact with state and local officials to offer any federal assistance as needed,” the White House said in a statement. “In response to the Governor’s request, FEMA has just approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support the impacted community and help reimburse California for firefighting costs.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement on X, calling the wildfire a “very dangerous situation.”
“Firefighters are now actively and aggressively responding to the Palisades fire with support from regional partners. Angelenos in the area are urged to heed evacuation warnings and follow direction from public safety officials. Due to increasing winds, this is a very dangerous situation,” she said.
Electricity providers have initiated planned power shutoffs to limit further fire starts. About 4,000 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties have seen shutoffs, according to Southern California Edison, reported the Los Angeles Times.
San Diego Gas & Electric is considering cutting off power to more than 60,000 customers beginning Tuesday, mostly for those located across inland San Diego County, according to the outlet.
Eaton fire grows to more than 10,000 acres
A fire erupted around 7:30 p.m. PT Tuesday in the Eaton Canyon area north of Altadena roughly 40 miles east of the Pacific Palisades’ blaze.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Eaton fire had grown to more than 10,000 acres.
Along with the two civilian fatalities in the Eaton Fire, a number of people have been injured and more than 100 structures destroyed, Marrone said.
Hurst fire grows to over 500 acres
Mandatory evacuations were ordered Tuesday night for a fire near Diamond Road, Sylmar.
The Hurst Fire started around 10:29 p.m. PT Tuesday night and has grown to 505 acres.
It prompted evacuation orders for more than 44,000 people, according to the governor’s office.
Woodley Fire
A fire in North Woodley Avenue, Sepulveda Basin started at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to CAL Fire.
The Woodley Fire has burned 75 acres.
Pacific Palisades
Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that is home to many high-profile entertainers. Residents were finding their escape routes congested and slow-moving, KTLA reported.
Pacific Palisades’ current honorary mayor, actor Eugene Levy, told the Los Angeles Times that the “smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon,” adding that he “couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg urged residents to “band together” and help everyone get to safety in an interview with the outlet.
“Don’t worry about your personal property, just get out, get your loved ones and get out,” he pleaded, adding that he had friends in the area who were under evacuation orders but were currently stuck without a clear way out.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
