LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Hollywood Hills were ablaze on Thursday morning as unprecedented wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, reaching deep into the heart of the American film industry. A massive wall of flames encircled the city, visible even from space, as over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate due to the relentless fires fueled by dry, hurricane-force winds. Tragically, at least five lives have been lost since the fires ignited on Tuesday.
Luxurious homes belonging to movie stars and celebrities were among the properties destroyed by the flames, which engulfed some of the most extravagant real estate and iconic landmarks in showbiz recognized globally. Mayor Karen Bass described the situation as a “firestorm of historic proportions,” as she returned to the city prematurely from an official trip to Ghana.
Multiple wildfires were raging across Los Angeles County, with three of them spiraling out of control. The infernos on the city’s eastern and western edges, along with the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills above Hollywood Boulevard, posed significant threats. The L.A. Fire Department issued evacuation orders for an area encompassing Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west – all renowned addresses synonymous with the entertainment industry.
In the western part of Los Angeles, the Palisades fire devoured 15,832 acres and hundreds of structures in the hills stretching from Santa Monica to Malibu, ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean. Notable figures like Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton lamented the loss of their homes, while Jamie Lee Curtis shared her distress on social media about the fire encroaching on her community.
As thousands of Angelenos sought refuge from the flames, acts of kindness and support emerged amid the chaos. Neighbors and volunteers provided aid and comfort at temporary shelters, exemplifying a spirit of unity and resilience in the face of devastation.
Aerial footage captured the aftermath of the fires, depicting blocks of homes reduced to smoldering ruins in Pacific Palisades. In the San Gabriel Mountains, the Eaton Fire continued to spread, claiming more acres and structures, while officials emphasized the gravity of the unfolding natural disaster.
The catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles have left a trail of destruction and heartbreak, underscoring the urgent need for support and solidarity within the community during this tumultuous time.
A management official for Los Angeles County, announced during a press conference that despite predictions of a temporary wind decrease on Wednesday night, critical fire weather conditions, known as red flag conditions, were anticipated to persist until Friday. The ongoing wildfires prompted the relocation of large animals to a college equestrian center, where horses, alpacas, llamas, and even pigs sought refuge.
Jaye Riedinger, a 37-year-old creative director from Topanga, shared her experience leading her mustang horses away from the approaching fires, stating, “I think they sense the fire and so I really had to lead them in a way that they understood that they were being taken somewhere safe.” The situation in Los Angeles County saw a substantial number of homes and businesses – nearly 300,000 – without power, a decrease from the previous day but still significant, according to data from PowerOutage.us. Consequently, schools remained closed throughout the county at least until Thursday.
The severity and extent of the wildfires placed immense strain on firefighting resources, stretching them beyond their limits. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone disclosed that firefighters from six other states were being urgently deployed to California. Additionally, 250 engine companies with 1,000 personnel were being relocated from Northern California to Southern California to provide further support.
Water scarcity exacerbated the firefighting challenges, leading to certain hydrants running dry in affluent neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades. Janisse Quinones, the chief executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, emphasized the extraordinary circumstances, stating, “We pushed the system to the extreme. We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems.” The devastating fires coincided with a prolonged dry spell in Southern California, aggravated by the arrival of powerful Santa Ana winds. These winds carried arid desert air towards the coastal mountains, intensifying the wildfires as they swept over hilltops and through canyons.
The crisis in Southern California unfolded against a backdrop of months without substantial rainfall, rendering the region especially vulnerable to wildfire outbreaks. The concerted efforts of firefighting crews, bolstered by reinforcements from across the country, were aimed at containing and extinguishing the blazes ravaging the landscape. As the situation continued to evolve, residents and authorities alike remained vigilant and prepared to confront the ongoing challenges posed by the unrelenting wildfires.
Contributing journalists to this report include Rollo Ross, Jackie Luna, Joe Brock, Matt McKnight, Jorge Garcia, and Mike Blake in Los Angeles, with additional reporting by Daniel Trotta, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Allen, David Ljunggren, Shubham Kalia, Gursimran Kaur, Kanishka Singh, and Kanjyik Ghosh. The article was crafted by Peter Graff, Joseph Ax, and Daniel Trotta, with editing by Mark Heinrich.
