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Three Major Wildfires Rage Across Los Angeles County Amid Record 90 MPH Winds

Fire in Los Angeles. (Photo: @satggin)

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By Middle Land Staff

January 8, 2025
5:07 pm
Los Angeles, CA

Three fast-moving wildfires, fueled by hurricane-strength winds, have erupted across Los Angeles County, creating one of the most challenging firefighting crises in years. The fires broke out Tuesday, coinciding with widespread red flag warnings as Southern California faced wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph. These extreme conditions allowed the flames to spread rapidly, threatening homes and forcing large-scale evacuations. The Palisades Fire ignited Tuesday morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, a coastal area home to about 23,000 people. Situated between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Palisades lies just five miles northwest of Santa Monica and 10 miles east of Malibu, making it particularly vulnerable to the flames. Later that evening, the Eaton Fire began near the foothill community of Altadena, prompting evacuation orders for

Three fast-moving wildfires, fueled by hurricane-strength winds, have erupted across Los Angeles County, creating one of the most challenging firefighting crises in years.

The fires broke out Tuesday, coinciding with widespread red flag warnings as Southern California faced wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph. These extreme conditions allowed the flames to spread rapidly, threatening homes and forcing large-scale evacuations.

The Palisades Fire ignited Tuesday morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, a coastal area home to about 23,000 people. Situated between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Palisades lies just five miles northwest of Santa Monica and 10 miles east of Malibu, making it particularly vulnerable to the flames.

Later that evening, the Eaton Fire began near the foothill community of Altadena, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the San Gabriel Valley. A third fire, the Hurst Fire, started in Sylmar, in the northern San Fernando Valley, around 10:30 p.m.

As the fires spread, evacuation efforts were severely hampered. In Pacific Palisades, residents abandoned their cars in a frantic attempt to flee, creating impassable traffic jams. Emergency crews were forced to use bulldozers to clear roads, enabling firefighting units to access the frontlines. Dramatic footage along Pacific Coast Highway showed widespread destruction of homes and businesses.

Kelsey Trainor, a resident of Pacific Palisades, described the terrifying scene: “We looked across and the fire had jumped from one side of the road to the other,” she said. “People were getting out of their cars with their dogs and babies, crying and screaming.”

The Los Angeles Fire Department issued an urgent call for off-duty firefighters, as high winds grounded aircraft and complicated ground efforts. By Tuesday evening, the fire had crossed into Malibu, injuring several people, including a firefighter with a serious head injury.

By the evening, the Palisades Fire had consumed approximately 4.6 square miles, with 30,000 people under evacuation orders and over 13,000 structures at risk. Governor Gavin Newsom visited the area, confirming significant home destruction. The fire also pushed into neighboring Malibu, where additional evacuations were ordered.

As of Tuesday evening, nearly 167,000 people were without power across Los Angeles County, due to the destructive winds. Firefighters faced the dual challenge of battling the fires and dealing with widespread power outages.

The fires come after months of drought and record-low rainfall in Southern California. The region has seen less than a quarter-inch of rain since early May, further compounding the fire risk.

Other Fires Spread Across the Region

In addition to the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, a fourth fire, the Woodley Fire, ignited in the Sepulveda Basin on Wednesday, adding to the crisis. The Eaton Fire, which began northeast of Los Angeles, had already burned more than 2,200 acres by Wednesday morning, prompting evacuation orders for over 52,000 residents in Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and parts of Glendale.

Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire rapidly expanded, burning 500 acres within hours. In total, more than 1,400 firefighters have been deployed across the region, with additional federal support.

Fire captured in the Los Angeles area, from an airplane. (Photo: @codywoodard)

Record Winds Continue to Fuel the Fires

The catastrophic winds have played a critical role in the fires’ explosive growth. Gusts of up to 99 mph were recorded in Altadena, just miles from the Eaton Fire, while other areas like Burbank saw winds topping 80 mph—levels not seen in the region since 2011. These powerful winds have significantly hampered firefighting efforts, grounding aircraft and making ground operations difficult.

Firefighting Efforts Strained by Wind and Terrain

The combination of record-breaking winds, dry conditions, and difficult terrain has made firefighting a monumental challenge. Firefighting aircraft remain grounded due to the winds, leaving crews to fight the fires on the ground. The situation is further complicated by the spread of fires into highly populated areas, where access and resources are limited.

The Los Angeles Fire Department, state agencies, and federal teams have been working tirelessly to contain the flames, but with little relief in sight, the fires continue to threaten even more communities.

As the fires burn across the region, residents, first responders, and officials brace for another tense and dangerous night, hoping that winds will soon ease and that efforts to control the blazes will prove successful.