Firefighters in Los Angeles are currently engaged in a fierce battle against multiple wildfires in the suburbs, leading to the mandatory evacuation of over 80,000 residents. The blazes have been fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, with authorities indicating that some fires remain uncontrollable.
The destruction has been significant, with more than 2,000 structures lost and at least five fatalities reported. Seven fires are actively being fought, including the Palisades fire, which rapidly expanded from 20 acres to over 200 acres within 20 minutes of its initial report.
By Wednesday night, it had surged to nearly 16,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for around 30,000 individuals. The Eaton fire, which ignited in Altadena, quickly spread to 1,000 acres within six hours, while the Hurst fire near San Fernando has reached 850 acres and has also led to evacuations in Santa Clarita. The Woodley fire, which started in Woodley Park, has been contained as of Wednesday morning.
A fire known as the Lidia fire ignited around 2 PM on Wednesday in the mountainous region of Acton, north of Los Angeles, rapidly expanding to nearly 350 acres before being 40% contained by 9 PM.
Meanwhile, the Sunset fire erupted at approximately 6 PM in the Hollywood Hills, a residential area with views of historic Hollywood, currently affecting about 50 acres and remaining completely uncontained, prompting mandatory evacuation orders.
The wildfires in Los Angeles have tragically claimed five lives, with numerous celebrities, including Ben Affleck and Paris Hilton, forced to evacuate their homes, many of which have been lost to the flames.