Wildfires have swept through the Los Angeles area, forcing over 30,000 people to evacuate their homes due to fast-moving fires and strong winds. The two large blazes, one in Pacific Palisades and another in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, are not yet contained.
The Palisades fire has burned over 2,900 acres in a short span of time, while the Eaton fire has consumed 1,000 acres in the mountains above Altadena. The Hurst fire has also grown rapidly to 100 acres in the north, forcing evacuations in Sylmar.
Multiple structures have been damaged, and at least 550 homes are threatened by the Eaton fire. In Pacific Palisades, over 10,000 households and 13,000 structures are under threat from the Palisades fire.
Forecasters had warned of strong winds that could reach 100 miles per hour in the mountains, creating a critical fire-weather event. The combination of dry air and vegetation has made the situation even more dire. California’s winter and late fall tend to spawn catastrophic fires, particularly when there is little precipitation.
Firefighters are bracing for another day of intense battling as winds are expected to peak on Wednesday. Aircraft were grounded due to strong winds, limiting their ability to fight the blazes from the air.
Residents in Southern California are urged to remain vigilant and beware of new fires, with winds expected to be moderately strong through Thursday.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/us/wildfires-los-angeles-california.html