With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
With fire danger still high, authorities implore you to follow evacuation orders. Lives are at stake
People evacuate Temescal Canyon during the Palisades Fire on Tuesday.
(
Robyn Beck
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Heroic rescues. Heartbreaking tragedies. And no need for many of them, emergency response leaders say. Officials continue to implore people to heed evacuation mandates and be prepared to flee when a warning is issued.
By the numbers: Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders or warnings across Los Angeles County as of Sunday morning
Why it matters: If people heed warnings to leave, it prevents the need for miraculous rescues or heartbreaking tragedies.
Support for LAist comes from
"I know it's chaotic, it's stressful, it's not easy. Important paperwork, your medication, your pets, maybe supplies for your pets. Those kind of things, have those ready to go," L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said this weekend at a news conference. "You've heard me say it the last couple of days, every miraculous story of a rescue or tragedies that we're encountering? The majority are people who did not heed the warning to leave."
The shells of cars along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Thursday.
(
David Pashaee
/
AFP via Getty
)
The remains of homes in Altadena near Marathon Road are seen from space after the Eaton Fire.
(
Satellite images ©2025 Maxar Technologies
)
How many people usually stay behind? Research suggests that during every big wildfire, about 10% of residents stay behind. An additional 25% linger after the call, and when they finally evacuate ahead of the oncoming flames, it's far riskier than if they had left early. Some stay behind to try to save their homes. Here's our explainer on why experts do not want you to do this.
Some caveats: It's not clear what percentage of people who stay behind might face particularly difficult circumstances evacuating — in particular, people with disabilities.
What will make it easier to evacuate?
- Before: Your very short guide to getting packed up right now to evacuate
- During: A very short guide for how to leave your house if you need to evacuate
- After: I had to evacuate my home, what do I do next?
Do you have a question about the wildfires or fire recovery?
Check out LAist.com/FireFAQs to see if your question has already been answered. If not, submit your questions here, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer.
_
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist