Live updates: ‘Hurricane of fire’ forcing thousands to flee in California; at least 2 dead
The Palisades Fire, characterized by extreme fire behavior and described as a “hurricane of fire,” continues to ravage parts of California, prompting widespread evacuations. As of the latest incident update on Wednesday, the fire remains uncontained, with Cal Fire reporting it at “0%” containment. Firefighting efforts are being severely challenged by the aggressive fire behavior, including both short and long-range spotting.
Winds with gusts of up to 60 mph are forecasted to persist through Thursday, further complicating containment efforts and potentially intensifying fire activity. Residents in the affected areas have been issued a stern warning by authorities, stating, “Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW.” Public access to the impacted region has been lawfully restricted due to the ongoing emergency.
The situation has been described as akin to “hell itself,” with terrifying scenes unfolding along the Pacific Coast Highway as the fires rage on relentlessly. The Palisades Fire, along with other wildfires in the region such as the Eaton and Hurst fires, have prompted a large-scale investigation by Cal Fire to determine the cause of the blazes.
Prior to the outbreak of the fires, the National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for extreme fire conditions across much of Los Angeles County. Factors contributing to the heightened fire risk included low humidity levels, dry vegetation resulting from a lack of precipitation, and strong winds. The weather service’s office in Los Angeles had cautioned on Monday that wind gusts could reach up to 100 mph in certain areas, amplifying the potential for “extreme fire behavior” wherever fires were to erupt.
The severity of the situation was underscored by the weather service, which emphasized the critical need for vigilance and preparedness among residents residing in high fire risk zones. Urging caution with any potential fire sources, officials stressed the importance of staying alert and ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
Contributing to this report are Reuters, John Bacon, and Michelle Maltais, alongside USA TODAY’s trending news reporter, Saman Shafiq. For further updates and information, contact Saman Shafiq at sshafiq@gannett.com or follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
For more details and the latest developments on the Palisades Fire, watch the captivating timelapse video capturing the spread of the wildfire.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Palisades Fire spread captured in timelapse video: Watch
