California wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes
The massive Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations affecting tens of thousands of people and highway closures. Later Tuesday, the Eaton Fire broke out in the foothills of Pasadena on the other side of Los Angeles County.
Coverage for this event has ended.
Weather conditions not safe enough to restore power, Southern California Edison says
Southern California Edison (SCE), a power company that services 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California, said the weather conditions in Los Angeles County are too unsafe for power to be restored for the hundreds of thousands experiencing outages.
The company said customers may experience several days of outages as the windstorm and wildfires have made it too unsafe for electric power restorations. An estimated date for restorations was not given.
"This extreme weather event is a rapidly evolving situation. While the most severe winds have started to abate, this weather is expected to continue through the early part of the weekend," SCE said in a news release.
As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 413,639 SCE customers were experiencing power outages and 453,872 were under a Public Safety Power Shutoff watch.
While SCE's coverage area does not include areas impacted by the Palisades and Hurst wildfires, it does include areas impacted by the Eaton Fire, which has claimed five lives since it began on Tuesday afternoon.
"SCE has transmission facilities on the east side of Eaton Canyon. SCE’s distribution lines immediately to the west of Eaton Canyon were de-energized well before the reported start time of the fire, as part of SCE’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program," the company said.
Multiple wildfires raging across Los Angeles County early Thursday
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LAFD announces partial lift to evacuation zone affected by Sunset Fire
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the majority of the evacuation zone for the Sunset Fire has been lifted.
The listed exceptions to the lift include the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero St (East border) to N Sierra Bonita Ave (West border) due to LAFD ensuring that no flare-ups occur in the vegetation and surrounding streets.
Officials are urging residents to be cautious when returning to homes as the firefighters continue to work in the neighborhoods.
Pasadena animal shelter is seeing influx of injured animals as fires rage on
Pasadena Humane, a community-supported animal resource center in Pasadena, says they have taken in over 300 animals because of evacuations surrounding the raging fires in southern California.
Staff and volunteers have been working nonstop since the fires started and treating animals, many with burns, while working with shelters across California to house displaced animals with nowhere to go.
The center who also works as a shelter is pleading with those evacuating to take the animals with them.
They are also asking for monetary donations as they are quickly depleting resources providing injured animals with pain medications, wound care, fluid, and oxygen as needed.
They have opened a text driven wildlife helpline at 626.344.1129 and ask if members of the community find any other animal, including dogs and cats, please call Animal Control at 626.792.7151 ext. 970.
Studio City residence engulfed in flames as wildfires rage across Los Angeles
Horrifying footage shows a four-story home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles erupt in flames as firefighters were working to contain fires raging around the city.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the residence was involved in fire “with exposures and vegetation”
“Firefighters are in the defensive mode against the fire unit with priority of defending exposures and preventing extension into the brush,” LAFD said.
An LAFD spokesperson told KTLA that the home collapsed from the flames and the wind picked up the embers to a nearby brush.
The official said the fire was not connected to the Sunset Fire currently raging through the Hollywood Hills, one of several fires burning throughout Los Angeles County.
Elon Musk says free Starlink terminals will be available in Los Angeles
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company will provide free Starlink terminals on Thursday to areas of Los Angeles impacted by the multiple out of control wildfires.
Musk made the announcement on X in response to a post that stated TV crews in LA are only able to broadcast live coverage because of Starlink, which is designed to provide high-speed internet to remote areas or areas cut off from communication.
A Fox 11 LA reporter in front of a structure engulfed in flames from the Palisades Fire said that the internet service is the only reason live coverage is possible since there is "absolutely no cell service at all in this whole area."
Universal Studios Hollywood temporarily closed 'out of an abundance of caution'
Universal Studios Hollywood is closing the doors to its theme park for the second day "out of an abundance of caution" as wildfires run rampant throughout Southern California.
"Extreme winds and fire conditions" led to the decision to remain closed on Thursday, the park said. Universal's CityWalk area is included in the closure.
"As always, the safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority. We continue to assess the situation and are directing guests to visit our website for updates," the park said on X.
Trump once again blames Newsom for California wildfires: 'All his fault!!!'
President-elect Trump is doubling down on his criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom as wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area.
Trump pointed the finger directly at Newsom in a late-night Truth Social post on Wednesday, writing: "This is all his fault!!!"
Trump also called on Newsom to resign.
"One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign," Trump wrote.
Earlier in the day, Trump said it was Newsom's fault California did not have enough water to fight the fires. He said Newsom was more concerned about "trying to protect a tiny little fish."
"And for the sake of the smelt, they have no water," Trump said during a visit to Capitol Hill. "They had no water in the fire hydrants today in Los Angeles. It was a terrible thing. And we're going to get that done."
Newsom's press office responded to the criticism calling it "pure fiction."
"Trump is conflating two entirely unrelated things: the conveyance of water to Southern California and supply from local storage. And again, there is no such document as the water restoration declaration - this is pure fiction," Newsom's press office wrote on X.
Newsom's office claimed that "broadly speaking" there was no water shortage in Southern California.
LA County Fire shares Wednesday night update on raging wildfires
The Los Angeles County Fire Department shared updates Wednesday night on four of the wildfires that have been raging throughout the county.
The Palisades Fire, which has been burning since Tuesday morning, is the largest of the group and spans 15,832 acres.
The Eaton Fire, which has claimed five lives since it ignited Tuesday evening, covers 10,590 acres in the Atladena/Pasadena area, while the Hurst Fire, which began late Tuesday night, covers more than 700 acres in the Sylmar area.
All three of the aforementioned fires are at 0% containment.
The Lidia Fire, which began Wednesday afternoon, is small compared to the others at only 348 acres in the Acton area and is 40% contained.
Crews having success battling Sunset Fire
Fire crews were making headway battling the Sunset Fire, authorities said Wednesday night.
Active flames were extinguished at the heel of the blaze in the Hollywood Hills, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said, citing information taken from first responders with aerial views of the fire.
“The most intense fire activity is occurring on the southwestern side, where helicopters are actively engaged," the department wrote on X. "On the eastern side, there are active flames within the interior of the fire, but the perimeter is holding well thanks to a fire road and ground crews in place.”
An evacuation center has been established at the Pan Pacific Recreational Center, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Sunset Fire appears to be within control of firefighters
The Sunset Fire, which broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, appears to be under control, authorities told Fox News.
The blaze prompted mandatory evacuations in and around the area near the fire and was burning inside Runyon Canyon.
Many businesses and homes sit at the foot of the area, but firefighters appeared to have it under control, Fox News' Matt Finn reported.
In terms of scale, the fire hasn't grown at the same pace as the Palisades Fire, which continues to burn and destroy structures in the Malibu area.
California National Guard to deploy hundreds of military police as early as Wednesday night
The California National Guard said hundreds of military police are prepared to deploy to Los Angeles County in response to the devastating wildfires raging through the area.
Personnel could arrive in LA County as early as Wednesday night to help protect people and property impacted by the fires "through any means necessary," Cal Guard said, adding that military police will follow direction of local authorities.
Cal Guard said it has already sent 600 service members and equipment to assist firefighting and police operations, including two hand crews assigned to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), 10 rotary wing aircraft and two C-130 airplanes for wildland firefighting.
Eight crews from Joint Task Force Rattlesnake will also be deployed to the area to assist CALFIRE.
New Fire breaks out in Hollywood Hills
A new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, prompting a mandatory evacuation order.
The fire was reported in the vicinity of Runyon Canyon.
“Mandatory evacuations have been issued for Laurel Canyon Boulevard (on the west) to Mulholland Drive (on the north) to 101 Freeway (on the east) down to Hollywood Boulevard (on the south),” the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The blaze, which has been named the Sunset Fire, was 20 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Hollywood Hills includes several popular attractions, including the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Reservoir and Griffith Park, home to the Griffith Observatory.
Late Wednesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said LAPD officers were responding to Hollywood to help clear up major traffic jams as people evacuate.
"We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire," Bass wrote in a post on X.
Los Angeles evacuee slams state leadership over wildfires: 'We were blindsided'
An evacuee who fled his Los Angeles-area home as wildfires raged nearby, criticized local officials for not being better prepared for the disaster.
Brian Claypool, a criminal defense attorney, said he had about 15 minutes to leave his Pasadena home early Wednesday morning.
“I mean, this has been chaos, urban carnage. And we were blindsided,” he told “The Ingraham Angle.” “There's absolutely no preparation for this at all. There wasn't one political leader on TV saying 'Hey, here's what to do. Here's where to look.'"
Claypool said police officers told him at around 5 a.m. that the direction of the wind had changed and that the fire was less than a mile away from his home, prompting him to quickly leave with his loved ones.
He also criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders for not being more clear on where to evacuate and doing a better job of allocating resources.
“The fact of the matter is we had zero political leadership in L.A. County to help us through the worst fire disaster in the history of our country,” Claypool said. “We were blindsided. We were sucker-punched. We were mugged. We were carjacked in our own communities. And people are losing homes and lives. It's inexcusable.”
Biden cancels trip to Italy to focus on Los Angeles wildfires
President Biden will no longer travel to Italy and will instead remain in Washington to focus on "directing the full federal response" to the California wildfires.
"After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the historic fires raging in the area and approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement late Wednesday.
The trip was meant to be Biden's final foreign visit of his presidency. He was set to meet with Pope Francis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the three-day trip to Rome.
UCLA cancels classes for rest of the week
Citing the devastating wildfires burning across Los Angeles County, UCLA has canceled undergraduate classes for Thursday and Friday.
In a message, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said the school recognizes the “anguish and anxiety” the fires have created within the campus community.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to curtail campus operations, cancel undergraduate classes and move graduate courses to remote instruction for the next two days, Thursday, Jan. 9 and Friday, Jan. 10,” Frenk said. “While there remains no immediate fire danger to our campus, given an expected change in wind patterns in the hours ahead, it is likely that the air quality in Westwood will worsen.”
Employees who work remotely were told to coordinate with their supervisors.
In addition to undergrad classes, preK-12 programs at the Geffen Academy, the UCLA Lab School and Early Care and Education will be closed on both Thursday and Friday.
Harrowing photo shows fire ripping through Altadena school auditorium amid California wildfires
A heart-stopping photograph shows a firefighter opening the door to a burning auditorium of a California school on Wednesday.
The photo was taken at Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County.
The firefighter was seen adjusting his mask as the fire tore through the school's auditorium. A poster reading "You are someone's reason to smile," was plastered on one of the auditorium's doors.
Altadena is being impacted by the ongoing Eaton Fire, one of seven fires CAL FIRE identified as of Wednesday evening.
Actor James Woods recalls chaotic moments as Palisades fire gained momentum
Actor James Woods recalled the chaotic moments Tuesday afternoon in Pacific Palisades as a deadly wildfire began sweeping across his neighborhood, destroying home after home.
Woods and his family fled their house as the flames inched closer and closer. He’s unsure if his house is still standing but told "The Ingraham Angle" Wednesday "it’s possible."
"It's astonishing that what happened during this experience was that we found out that none of us is a celebrity. None of us is a poor person or a rich person, a Democrat or a Republican. We were just neighbors, just really helping each other," said Woods.
Read the full article about James Woods by Ashley Carnahan
Space satellites track astonishing expansion of deadly California wildfires
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) recently shared shocking time-lapse footage taken from space of the California wildfires, which ignited Tuesday afternoon and have already caused 100,000 people to flee their homes.
The eight LA area wildfires: The Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Olivas Fire, the Lidia Fire, the Scout Fire, the Sunset Fire and the Woodley Fire - threaten at least 28,000 structures, Fox News Digital reported.
Footage from CIRA satellites shows the Palisades Fire breaking out near Malibu and Santa Monica at about 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Read the full article about the SoCal wildfires by Alexandra Koch
Los Angeles public schools will remain closed on Thursday
All public schools in Los Angeles will remain closed on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Unified School District said all of its schools would halt operations because of several wildfires burning throughout Los Angeles County.
“The confluence of factors – wind, fire, and smoke – have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities. Select essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors regarding potential work duties,” the district said in a news release.
Officials said a decision on possible closures for Friday wouldn't be announced until Thursday evening.
On Wednesday, LAUSD canceled all athletic activities, games, and practices for schools in the central and eastern part of the district.
In Pacific Palisades, two elementary schools were totally destroyed and a high school sustained significant damage, said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.