What to know about the devastation from the Los Angeles-area fires
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fires raging in the Los Angeles area reduced some 10,000 structures to ash and rubble, killed at least 10, displaced thousands of others and spread over an area larger than the size of San Francisco.
The blazes started Tuesday, powered by gusts from the Santa Ana winds, which slackened Thursday, though forecasters warn they could pick back up later this weekend. Los Angeles city and county officials said early Friday that the blazes ravaging the Palisades were 8% contained while the fire burning in Altadena was just 3% contained.
The death toll still isn't entirely clear, but officials have said at least 10 have died, including two in the Palisades Fire along the coast and five in the Eaton Fire more inland.
Still unclear as well is the financial impact from the damage, though an estimate from AccuWeather, a private firm that provides weather data, estimated the toll to be about $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials haven't given a damage estimate yet.
Here's a closer look at what to know about the fires.
More than 5,300 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the hilly coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Dozens of blocks were flattened to smoldering rubble, with only the outlines of homes and their chimneys left. Among those whose homes were destroyed were a number of celebrities, including Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal.
The wreckage surpassed that of the Sayre Fire of November 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city’s fire department and MySafe:LA.
More than 30 square miles (77 square kilometers) burned in Pacific Palisades, which was memorialized in the 1960s Beach Boys hit “Surfin’ USA.” The flames torched iconic landmarks including part of Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror movie “Carrie” and the TV series “Teen Wolf.”
Farther inland, the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena burned more than 5,000 structures, including homes, apartment or commercial buildings and vehicles. It also substantially damaged five school campuses in Altadena and scorched more than 21 square miles (54 square kilometers).
Employees at a senior center pushed dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a parking lot to escape.
The Los Angeles Fire Department issued evacuation orders Thursday afternoon for a new blaze, Kenneth Fire, which broke out near West Hills, a neighborhood densely packed with homes in the San Fernando Valley. It ballooned in size, charring more than 1 square mile (2.6 kilometers) within hours of igniting, and forced evacuations.
The Hurst Fire, which started Tuesday night, prompted evacuations in Sylmar.
And in the Hollywood Hills, the Sunset Fire broke out Wednesday evening and burned near the Hollywood Bowl and other iconic landmarks. Firefighters were able to manage the flames, and evacuation orders were lifted Thursday morning.
Altogether, the fires have consumed about 56 square miles (142 square kilometers) — larger than the size of San Francisco.
Don't fly drones in the skies above the fire zones, authorities warned Friday.
On Thursday a CL-415 aircraft, known as a “super scooper” for its capability to hold water to drop on fires, struck a drone with its wing, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. On loan from Quebec, it's one of two such aircraft fighting the fires, he said, and isn't expected to be back from repairs until Monday.
California National Guard troops arrived on the streets of Altadena before dawn Friday to help protect property in the fire evacuation zone. At least 20 arrests have been made for looting.
Officials promised looters who took advantage of the wildfire crisis will be prosecuted.
“This is simply unacceptable,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said. “I promise you, you will be held accountable.”
Officials said Friday that National Guardsman will be deployed to the Palisades Fire area to manage traffic.
More than 150,000 people were under evacuation orders Friday, officials said.
The flames threatened highly populated and affluent neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, home to California’s rich and famous. Hollywood stars including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods were among those forced to flee, and Moore later said she lost her home in Altadena.
A thick cloud of smoke and ash filled the skies, prompting air and dust advisories for 17 million people across Southern California, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
In East Los Angeles, the air quality index hit an unhealthy 173. Good air quality is considered to be 50 or less.
Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said wildfire smoke can cause heart attacks and worsen asthma, while burning homes can release cyanide and carbon dioxide.
The Critics Choice Awards rescheduled Sunday ceremonies in Santa Monica for Jan. 26.
The organization that puts on the Oscars extended the voting window for Academy Award nominations and delayed next week’s planned nominations announcement.
Film studios canceled two movie premieres and Universal Studios canceled shooting for numerous series.
The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park closed for the day, but Disneyland, which is farther from the fires in Anaheim, remained open.
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District remained closed Friday.
The NFL moved the Los Angeles Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona because of the fires. The game will be played Monday night. And the NBA postponed the Lakers' game against the Hornets.
More than 285,000 customers were without electricity in Southern California, nearly half of them in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.
Sewer, water and power infrastructure across the region has been significantly damaged, officials said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday that people looking to help residents affected by the blazes should be wary of possible frauds.
“As horrible as this is, you see the best of people. You also see the worst of people,” Barger said. She suggested people could look to LAWorks.com/2025fires for ways to help.
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