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Climate & Environment

Photos: Southern California residents return to devastation as two major wildfires rage on

A person's back is to the camera amid the ruins of a church.
Friday, Jan. 10: Rev. John Shaver (R) looks on while visiting the remains of Community United Methodist Church, where he is pastor.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)

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More than 100,000 Los Angeles County residents remain under evacuation orders, and the threat of fire there is not over. there were fresh evacuations last night and strong Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up again today.

The Palisades Fire, which is the region's largest, has now burned more than 21,000 acres.

That means just one of L.A.'s many fires has destroyed an area larger than all of Manhattan.

In Altadena, near the Eaton Fire, law enforcement is keeping residents from returning to what's left of their homes. Residents are unable to survey damage there as search and rescue operations go on. Dangerous conditions continue to prevail.

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Though winds have died down for now, forecasters expect another Santa Ana wind event to blow in early next week. Gusts are expected at more than 40 mph on Monday and Tuesday.

The scenes

Smoke billows above a hilly landscape.
Friday, Jan. 10: Smoke billows from the Palisades fire as seen near Fernwood, Topanga, a community in western Los Angeles County.
(
Agustin Paullier
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
A person offers a hand up to another in the ruins of a building. A woman stands at the left.
Friday, Jan. 10: A person helps up Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, center, as he meets with victims of the Eaton Fire.
(
Ethan Swope
/
AP
)
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Melted metal from a burned vehicle.
Friday, Jan. 10: Melted metal from a burned vehicle is seen on the ground of a property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
(
Eric Thayer
/
AP
)
People in uniform and hard hats look out to a smoky area.
Friday. Jan. 10: Fire crews monitor the Palisades Fire in the outskirts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
(
Eric Thayer
/
AP
)
An aerial photo of widespread fire damage.
Friday, Jan. 10: This aerial photo shows homes and businesses reduced to smoldering rubble by the Palisades Fire.
(
David Swanson
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
A lin of people sit on suitcases and chairs.
Friday, Jan. 10: Betty Comas, left, waits in line with her dog at an aid center for those affected by wildfires at the Pasadena Convention Center.
(
Richard Vogel
/
AP
)
A massive plume of smoke rises in the background of flattened homes.
Friday, Jan.10: Wildfire smoke and burned houses are seen from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
(
Apu Gomes
/
Getty Images
)
A man wipes his eyes on beach with smoldering debris.
Friday, Jan. 10: Luke Dexter reacts as he sifts through the remains of his father's fire-ravaged beachfront property.
(
John Locher
/
AP
)
A firefighter clears away smoking debris.
Friday, Jan. 10: A firefighter clears away smoking debris at the site of a structure on Lake Avenue in Altadena.
(
Chris Pizzello
/
AP
)
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A shell of a doorway or garage frames a person cleaning debris. The ocean is beyond.
Friday, Jan. 10: A worker clears debris from the Palisades Fire in Malibu.
(
Eric Thayer
/
AP
)

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Jacob Margolis, LAist's science reporter, examines the new normal of big fires in California.

Fire resources and tips

If you have to evacuate

If you have more time:

Things to consider

Navigating fire conditions

How to help yourself and others

Understanding how it got this bad

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