Pacific Palisades fire burns in Los Angeles, Eaton fire kills 5: Live Updates
Multiple fires burning in Los Angeles County on Wednesday prompted evacuation orders and warnings and destroyed more than 1,300 structures, officials said. Five people are dead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to CBS Los Angeles. Three of the blazes weren't at all contained, including the two biggest.
The Palisades Fire exploded in size as powerful winds hit northwest Los Angeles, forcing the evacuation of at least 30,000 residents in the affluent community of Pacific Palisades. The Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset fires are also burning. Another, the Woodley Fire in L.A.'s Sepulveda Basin, was completely contained, relatively quickly, after charring 30 acres Wednesday, officials said.
Simi Valley Landfill Fire: Blaze Near Madera Road Prompts Response From Ventura County Firefighters| Videos
A one-acre brush fire broke out near the Simi Valley Landfill along Madera Road on Wednesday. Ventura County firefighters promptly responded to the scene, with authorities warning that the blaze has the potential to spread to up to 10 acres.
In a statement, the Ventura County Fire Department confirmed the incident, saying, "VCFD is on scene of a 1 acre brush fire in the 2800 block of Madera Road in Simi Valley. Units on scene are reporting the fire is in medium to heavy brush with the potential for 10 acres."
"Firefighters are working to establish hose lines around the fire in coordination with water drops from our Firehawk helicopters," the fire department added.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the landfill area.
According to reports, no structures are currently threatened, and no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Six wildfires are currently raging across Los Angeles County, with the Pacific Palisades and Sylmar neighborhoods among the hardest hit. As of Wednesday, the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, Olivas Fire, Lidia Fire, and Woodley Fire remain active, with none of them contained.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told Fox News that five people have died in the Eaton Fire, which has been burning in Altadena since Tuesday afternoon.
The wildfires have forced the evacuation of more than 70,000 residents and are threatening at least 28,000 structures. Additionally, over 3 million people in Los Angeles County were left without power by Wednesday afternoon.
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California wildfire map: Track the Palisades Fire as evacuations ordered in Los Angeles
Editor's Note: For the latest on the Palisades Fire for Jan. 8, click here for updates.
A large bush fire threatens more than 25,000 homes and structures in Los Angeles as Southern California grapples with a brutal wind storm Tuesday.
The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 3,000 acres acres since it was reported at around 10:30 a.m. local time. The cause is under investigation, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Evacuation warnings went into effect in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood with multiple homes under immediate threat, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the area between Piedra Morada Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to life-threatening conditions.
Cal Fire has issued a red flag warning for the region, which is at risk of extreme wildfires fueled by daunting Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry fuels. Los Angeles city and county firefighting units and resources have been deployed to the scene.
The most intense winds from the storm are set to peak between 10 p.m. Tuesday night through 5 a.m. Wednesday, according to LA Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley. He warned that more than 10,000 structures and over 13,000 households are threatened as officials emphasize the need to evacuate.
"By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods," Gov. Gavin Newsom said the press conference. "I saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers and the number of structures that are destroyed. Not a few, many structures already destroyed."
The department is urging Southern Californians to be prepared to evacuate if necessary and report any suspicious activity to help prevent arson. First responders are urging people to avoid driving
Follow along here for the full version of USA TODAY's wildfire map.
Evacuation orders were issued for areas including the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. You can find an interactive map of evacuation orders and warnings related to the Palisades Fire on the Cal Fire website. The below map was current, as of 2:30 p.m. PT.
The National Weather Service issued a warning Monday for a "life-threatening, destructive (and) widespread windstorm" in California through Wednesday.
"A life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm is expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning," NWS wrote. "Widespread damaging winds are expected across most of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Areas not typically windy will be impacted."
Wind gusts are reaching up to 80 mph posing an "extreme" and widespread wildfire risk conditions for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including areas that are still-recovering from last month's Franklin Fire that burned more than 3,000 acres in Malibu.
Areas "of greatest concern and most destructive winds," included:
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq and Gabe Hauari
