The active fires
The Eaton, Palisades, Hurst fires and more are still burning across Southern California. What we know:
Destructive winds not seen for more than a decade fanned multiple fires across the region. There's little sign of relief as strong Santa Anas are expected to last through much of today.
The Palisades Fire that started on Tuesday morning spread quickly in the subsequent hours. But by the evening, firefighters also had to battle another fast-moving blaze that ignited near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. By Wednesday morning, firefighting resources were maxed out with help arriving from elsewhere in California and other states.
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The active fires
Eaton Fire
Five people have died in the Eaton Fire and a significant number of people have been injured, including four firefighters, as of Wednesday evening.
Roughly 100,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Another 100,000 are under an evacuation warning. The L.A. County Fire Department estimates more than 970 structures have been destroyed. The fire remains 0%.
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Officials are urging people in Altadena to steer clear of wildlife equipment after a bear trap was tripped by a member of the media. -
A state regulator is requiring California’s last nuclear power plant to conserve 4,000 acres of surrounding land to keep operating until 2030. -
Local mountain lions are struggling due to development and urban sprawl.
Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire continued to spread across the Santa Monica Mountains overnight, growing to more than 17,000 acres by Thursday morning. At a news conference Wednesday, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that an estimated 1,000 structures had been destroyed. He also said firefighters had been injured and reported a "high number of significant injuries" to residents who didn't evacuate.
Hurst Fire
The Hurst Fire broke out Tuesday night near Sylmar, as the Los Angeles area was already reeling from two others. The fire had over 850 acres as of Thursday morning and was 10% contained.
School closures
School districts across Los Angeles County have announced plans to close all or some schools as multiple fires spread across the Los Angeles area. In total, at least 22 school districts have announced full or partial closures, according to the L.A. County Office of Education.
If you have to evacuate
- Cheat sheet: Your very short guide to getting packed up right now to evacuate
- Cheat sheet: A very short guide for how to leave your house if you need to evacuate
If you have more time:
You asked, we answered
- Evacuation terms can be confusing. Here’s what they mean and how to sign up for alerts
- This is why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- How do fires get their name? And other questions we get asked a lot about wildfires
- What does 'containment' of a fire mean, exactly?
Navigating fire conditions
- Cheat sheet: Your very short guide to driving in high winds and fire danger
- High winds and fires mean power outages. Here's how to prep
How to help yourself and others
- Resources for SoCal fire victims, evacuees and first responders
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
Fact checking false claims
- Fact check: What really happened with the Pacific Palisades water hydrants
- Claim: Fire hydrants being used to fight the Palisades Fire were running dry.
Reality: Water supply was too slow — not too low. Basically, the water storage tanks were drained too quickly by high demand for water supply, resulting in a dramatic decline in water pressure. .
- Claim: Fire hydrants being used to fight the Palisades Fire were running dry.
Understanding how it got this bad
It’s easy to feel like we’re in a dark timeline. Waking up to smoke and flames, staring down a future of burned homes, lost forests, and orange skies. Over the past decade and a half, California has been hit by nine out of ten of its largest fires on record.
In 2022, LAist Studios expanded its podcast about earthquakes, The Big One, with a series about wildfires in The Big Burn. We recommend starting with this episode in which host Jacob Margolis highlights practical advice and safety tips.
Or start with Episode 1
