Los Angeles, Jan 9: Raging wildfires engulfed the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, compounding devastation across Los Angeles County. Earlier blazes had already claimed at least five lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and stretched firefighting resources to their limits.
Over 100,000 residents were ordered to evacuate as hurricane-force winds fueled the infernos, which began spreading rapidly on Tuesday. Thousands of acres of land have been scorched, leaving communities in crisis.
“This firestorm is unprecedented,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who cut short an official trip to Ghana to oversee emergency efforts.
New Fire Ignites in Hollywood Hills
A new blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, prompting further evacuations, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley announced. The number of active wildfires in Los Angeles County climbed to six, with four of them completely uncontained, officials said.
The Sunset Fire, which erupted in the Hollywood Hills, consumed 50 acres (20 hectares) and threatened iconic locations such as Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame. Evacuation orders covered areas bordered by Hollywood Boulevard, Mulholland Drive, the 101 Freeway, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard, including landmarks like the Dolby Theatre. Organizers of next week’s Oscar nominations postponed the event by two days due to the fire.
Though relatively small, the Sunset Fire posed a significant risk, with firefighting crews battling to prevent its spread to the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory.
Meanwhile, a structure fire in nearby Studio City destroyed two homes before being contained by over 50 firefighters, who reported no injuries.
Devastation Across Los Angeles
The west side of the city faced the brunt of the Palisades Fire, which tore through 15,832 acres (6,406 hectares) and razed hundreds of structures. The blaze surged through Topanga Canyon on Tuesday, reaching the Pacific Ocean. Among the destroyed properties was a home reportedly belonging to Hollywood actors Leighton Meester and Adam Brody.
Aerial footage showed block after block of charred homes in Pacific Palisades, with flames still visible in some areas. On the city’s eastern edge, the Eaton Fire ravaged 10,600 acres (4,289 hectares) in the San Gabriel Mountains, claiming another 1,000 structures and five lives.
Law enforcement reported three arrests for looting amid the chaos.
Economic and Environmental Toll
The wildfires have caused an estimated $50 billion in damage and economic losses, according to AccuWeather. “This is a historic natural disaster, the likes of which we’ve never seen,” said Kevin McGowan, Los Angeles County’s emergency management director.
Even as winds eased briefly on Wednesday night, red flag conditions are expected to persist through Friday, compounding the challenges for firefighting crews.
Shelter for Animals and Power Outages
As residents evacuated, a local college equestrian center offered shelter for displaced animals, including horses, alpacas, and pigs. “I had to lead my horses to safety. They seemed to sense the danger,” said Jaye Riedinger, a Topanga resident.
Nearly 300,000 homes and businesses were without power by Wednesday evening, down from a peak of nearly 1 million earlier in the day. Schools across Los Angeles County will remain closed through at least Thursday.
Firefighting Resources Stretched Thin
Fire crews from six states and 250 engine companies with 1,000 personnel were dispatched to Southern California to support the overwhelmed teams. However, water shortages created additional challenges, particularly in Pacific Palisades, where hydrants ran dry due to high demand.
“We’re pushing our urban water systems to the brink,” said Janisse Quinones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. By Wednesday afternoon, all water reservoirs in the city had been refilled, providing a temporary reprieve.
Winds Fan the Flames
Months of dry weather left Southern California vulnerable to the powerful Santa Ana winds, which drove the fires with relentless force. Blowing from the desert toward the coastal mountains, the winds intensified the blazes, sending flames over hills and through canyons.
Federal Response
President Joe Biden declared the fires a major disaster, joining California Governor Gavin Newsom in Santa Monica for a briefing on relief efforts. Biden also canceled a planned trip to Italy to focus on directing federal resources to the firefighting and recovery operations.
