CA - Pacific Palisades - 30,000 People Ordered to Evacuate From L.A. Wildfires

[JennieM]

All Los Angeles Unified School District schools will be closed Thursday​

BY JAIMIE DING, LISA BAUMANN

All schools will be closed Thursday in the Los Angeles Unified School District because of the fires, Alberto Carvalho, district superintendent, said during a media briefing.

Two elementary schools in the district have been destroyed by fire, he said.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

1m ago

Los Angeles schools to close tomorrow​

All schools across the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed tomorrow, superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced at a press conference Wednesday evening. In order to continue providing school meals to students who rely on them, he said, “we are activating eight different centers for the distribution of food to a grab-and-go product for students of Los Angeles Unified that will begin early tomorrow morning.”

He added that the district is preparing to locate students of schools that were damaged by the wildfires when schools resume in-person learning.

Biden sends federal resources to battle blazes – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Our new live blog is here and you can read our full report on the Californian blazes here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

now
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has named a new brushfire in the Hollywood Hills the Sunset fire. According to Cal Fire, the Sunset fire currently encompasses 10 acres and broke out about 5:57pm.

Biden sends federal resources to battle blazes – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Our new live blog is here and you can read our full report on the Californian blazes here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

4 min ago

Prominent LA property developer slams mayor for "dereliction of duty"​

From CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe
Rick Caruso, a prominent Southern California property developer and former LA mayoral candidate, has joined a chorus of people criticizing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for leaving the city ahead of the powerful windstorm that is driving the wildfires.

Bass departed over the weekend for a diplomatic trip to Africa as the National Weather Service warned of extreme wind and fire conditions in Los Angeles. As wildfires began to rage, Caruso and others publicly wondered why the mayor did not choose to return early – or why she even left at all.

“To leave knowing that that’s heading towards your city and you’re ultimately responsible for the health and welfare of the residents of Los Angeles – that’s a dereliction of duty,” said Caruso, who lost a mayoral bid to Bass in 2022.

[…]

As fires tore through Pacific Palisades Wednesday night, firefighters in some high-elevation areas struggled with limited water supply. LA Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said this was due to extreme demand on water storage tanks that had been pre-filled before the fire.

“It’s literally unthinkable,” Caruso said of reports of empty fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades. “You know this is coming. You know the population base. You know the land mass you’re dealing with. … It’s just a failure of leadership at every level.”

Most of the businesses gutted by flamed were local and independently owned, he said, urging city officials to mobilize aid programs for small business owners.

“The city, the state, federal government really needs to come in with programs to help them get rebuilt. And the city really needs to cut through all the red tape and make it very easy to pull permits and rebuild,” Caruso said.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736388776718

LA mayor defends her absence

Mayor Bass has just defended her absence when the wildfires broke out in the city - she was on a trip to Africa.

"I was on the phone almost every hour of the flight," Bass says.

"Although I was not physically here, I was in contact with many of the individuals standing here throughout the entire time," she said.

Bass had faced some criticism for not being in Los Angeles on Tuesday. She left town on Saturday as part of a presidential delegation to Accra, Ghana, to celebrate the inauguration of Ghana President John Mahama.

She returned on Wednesday to find her city in flames.

The mayor has also been facing criticism amid reports she cut more than $17m from the fire department’s budget last summer.

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

Five deaths are 'absolutely tragic'​

Before the news conference concludes, Sheriff Luna offered a few more details about the five people who died.

He says the victims were all found near the Eaton Fire, but their cause of death is not yet known.

He added that homicide detectives have been dispatched to the scene "to make sure everything is done appropriately" in terms of the investigation.

"At the end of the day, it's absolutely tragic," he says.

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

Wildfire smoke increases tiny particles in the air known as particulate matter that can be harmful to people’s health. Children, the elderly and people with conditions such as heart and lung disease are more sensitive to the effects.

Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said wildfire smoke is known to cause heart attacks and worsen asthma, and that burning homes can also release cyanide and carbon dioxide. He said sickened patients are showing up in emergency rooms when hospitals already are full because of flu season, and some hospitals could also face evacuations due to the fires.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

 

[JennieM]

Biden has formally signed off on a federal disaster declaration

BY AAMER MADHANI

The White House says the declaration allows for federal funding to be made available to impacted individuals in Los Angeles County for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs aimed at helping individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

1m ago
President Joe Biden has formally signed off on a federal disaster declaration.

The White House says the declaration allows for federal funding to be made available to impacted individuals in Los Angeles County for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs aimed at helping individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff of California led 47 members of the state’s congressional delegation in asking Biden to grant California governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the wildfires and windstorm event in southern California earlier today.

Biden sends federal resources to battle blazes – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Our new live blog is here and you can read our full report on the Californian blazes here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

Uber offers free rides to evacuation centers​

BY JAIMIE DING

Uber is offering free rides up to $40 to active evacuation centers using the code WILDFIRE25, according to LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

 

[steeltowngirl]

Glad to report that my sister and adult nephews are all safe in their respective LA locations. I’ve been worried. The guys are the closest to the fire area but they’re still in a safe zone. She said the winds are supposed to be dying down overnight and into tomorrow, so hopefully things will get under control. “We are fine! I’ll let you know if anything changes though.”

 

[iamshadow21]

Wildfire smoke increases tiny particles in the air known as particulate matter that can be harmful to people’s health. Children, the elderly and people with conditions such as heart and lung disease are more sensitive to the effects.

Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said wildfire smoke is known to cause heart attacks and worsen asthma, and that burning homes can also release cyanide and carbon dioxide. He said sickened patients are showing up in emergency rooms when hospitals already are full because of flu season, and some hospitals could also face evacuations due to the fires.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

I repeat, mask up like it's early 2020, folks, if you're in LA.

This crap is nasty, and you do not want to be breathing it in.

Black Summer, we didn't see blue sky for months. My partner and I both have asthma. We were masking outside from like, September 2019 because the air was so toxic. It's not just clean woodsmoke and ash, it is chemicals, it is plastics, it is asbestos dust from destroyed older houses, it is everything made airbourne that you don't want to be breathing in. And it's not just a problem for those with health conditions. People with zero health conditions can get very sick from it.

MOO

 

[JennieM]

• Death toll expected to rise: Five people have died and “likely more,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNN tonight as the five wind-driven fires blazing across Los Angeles County remain mostly uncontained.


• Emergency workers stretched thin: The LA County Fire Department, with not enough personnel to fight all the fires, “was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four,” the county’s fire chief said. Intense winds fueled the fires and temporarily grounded firefighting aircraft.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736388776718

 

[JennieM]

14 min ago

A little over 120 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers are without power​

From CNN's Taylor Romine
A little over 120 customers with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are without power as of 5:00 p.m. PT after crews were able to restore 133,000 other customers, CEO and chief engineer Janisse Quiñones said.

The department is prioritizing the approximately 50 customers that have been without power for more than 18 hours, but some areas in wildfire zones might take longer to restore power as they require approval from the fire department, she said.

They are also working in coordination with energy provider Southern California Edison and have requested mutual assistance from Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Quiñones said.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736388776718

 

[JennieM]

Hollywood Hills fire triggers evacuations​

The fire in the Hollywood Hills that broke less than one hour ago is officially being called the Sunset Fire by the LA Fire Department.

It's current size is approximately 10 acres, according to the LAFD.

It is burning in the area between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park, and has triggered more mandatory evacuations.

Parts of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, all the way south to Hollywood Boulevard - a route dotted with celebrity homes - are now in the evacuation zone.

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

About 17 million people living across Southern California are covered by smoke and dust advisories​

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

That’s according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The smoke advisory was expected to last until late Thursday. A dust advisory was also in effect until late Wednesday as gusty winds could kick up ash and dust from prior fires and further worsen air conditions, the district said.

The worst conditions were in the vicinity of the fires with some areas covered in thick, gray smoke. In East Los Angeles, the air quality index hit an unhealthy 173. Good air quality is considered to be 50 or less.

But dozens of miles away, air quality also was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups including the elderly and young children. Officials in the city of Long Beach about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Los Angeles warned residents to take precautions due to the smoky air, and in coastal Rancho Palos Verdes the air quality index measured 108, which is considered unhealthy for those sensitive to pollution.

Winds from the northwest were expected late Wednesday and Thursday to push air from the regions where fires were still burning toward the south across Los Angeles and Orange counties and east toward San Bernardino County.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

 

[JennieM]

now
The Hurst fire, which is located in the Sylmar neighborhood, grew to 850 acres Wednesday evening. The blaze, which previously encompassed 700 acres, is still the third largest of six wildfires ongoing in Los Angeles County.

Biden sends federal resources to battle blazes – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Our new live blog is here and you can read our full report on the Californian blazes here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

Pentagon sending assets to California to battle wildfires​

https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/national-news/pentagon-sending-assets-to-california-to-battle-wildfires/

5 hours ago — The U.S. is sending 10 Navy helicopters with water buckets to California, the Pentagon says.

 

[JennieM]

A brush fire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills.

The Sunset Fire, which has sprung alive on the top of the iconic Hollywood Hills, is forcing evacuations, and people nearby should be prepared to leave, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott said.

Aerial video from CNN’s affiliate KABC shows pockets of fire raging on top of the hills as firefighters desperately work to put out the blaze.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736390986522

45 sec agoEVACUATIONS

Evacuations ordered due to new fire in the Hollywood Hills​

BY LISA BAUMANN
Tens of thousands of people have been notified by authorities to evacuate their homes because of the multiple fires burning in the Los Angeles region.

The most recent mandatory evacuations orders came Wednesday evening related to the Sunset fire, a new fire in the Hollywood Hills. That order was in place for Laurel Canyon Boulevard on the west to Mulholland Drive, with others in nearby areas warned to be ready to leave.

Mandatory evacuation orders also remained in place near the Palisades fire west of Los Angeles. People have also been told to leave their homes in the San Fernando Valley near the Hurst fire. Others were told to leave their residences in parts of Santa Monica and Altadena because of the Eaton fire.

Los Angeles-area wildfires: Updates from Jan. 8, 2025

AP coverage of the California wildfires on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

apnews.com

 

[Betty P]

less than 1 min ago

Cause of Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation"​

From CNN's Helen Regan
The cause of the Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters Wednesday.

Marrone said the US Forest Service arson investigators were investigating the fires along with the Los Angeles Country Fire Department and the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department.

“The moment we learn the cause of this fire, we will advise the media,” Marrone said.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736387657122

I've been suspecting an arsonist for at least one of these fires.

 

[JennieM]

2 min ago

Fires are "out of control" in Altadena, CNN's Anderson Cooper reports​

From CNN's Anderson Cooper and Jillian Sykes
CNN’s Anderson Cooper is on the ground in Altadena as raging wildfires continue to scorch southern California Wednesday.

“In Altadena, fires are still just out of control,” Cooper said, while positioned in front of a burning home.

“Look at all these embers. All these embers in the trees. They’re now going through the air; they’re now flying down the block to a number of houses which have not yet burned.”

In addition to flames and embers, Cooper said there had been multiple explosions in the area.

One explosion can be seen from a home behind Cooper, followed by a cloud of thick, dark smoke.

A fire crew was in the area earlier in the day, but there is “no water in these hydrants,” Cooper said.

“They had to just leave. They did what they could. They tried to remove whatever underbrush they could,” he continued.


2 min ago

Nearly everything in Altadena is on fire, satellite images show​

From CNN's Paul Murphy

A satellite image shows the Eaton wildfire has set nearly every building in western Altadena on fire.

New satellite images from Maxar Technologies are giving the best view yet of just how many buildings are on fire in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles.

The images were taken at 10:45 a.m. PT, during a time of significant cloud cover across the Los Angeles area.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html?t=1736391197513

 

[JennieM]

1m ago
The Los Angeles Fire Department has ordered an immediate evacuation of parts of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood where the Sunset fire broke out around 5:50pm Wednesday evening.

The order encompasses parts of the neighborhood surrounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and down to Hollywood Boulevard to the south

LAFD is responding to the fire, which currenly encompasses about 20 acres, with 20 additional fire engines, LAFD public information officer Margaret Stewart told ABC News Los Angeles.

Biden sends federal resources to battle blazes – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Our new live blog is here and you can read our full report on the Californian blazes here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[slowpoke]

Thank you, @JennieM for all your links to keep us up to date! It is so appreciated!