What You Should Know About Ember Rain from Wildfires in the Los Angeles Area
LOS ANGELES—Intense wildfires are sweeping across the Los Angeles region, with rapid flames engulfing residences and businesses as people evacuate from smoke-laden canyons and beautiful neighborhoods often associated with celebrities.
The majority of the towering infernos ignited on Tuesday, driven by powerful Santa Ana winds that reached gusts over 70 mph in various locations. The winds persisted into Wednesday, creating hazardous conditions that made aerial firefighting efforts perilous and further complicating containment efforts.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state has mobilized over 1,400 firefighting personnel to tackle the raging blazes. In an unusual and urgent request, the Los Angeles Fire Department called upon all off-duty firefighters in the city to assist.
Here’s what you should know about the wildfires:
The Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire, which ignited around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, has scorched approximately 4.5 square miles, according to officials.
Flaming embers fell onto trees and roofs in the Pacific Palisades area. Residents hastily trying to flee contributed to a traffic jam on Palisades Drive, which obstructed emergency vehicles. Fire crews had to use a bulldozer to clear abandoned cars from the road.
Pictures reveal scenes that some residents describe as apocalyptic.
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The Palisades Fire engulfs a home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025. Ethan Swope/AP Photo
A woman cries as the Palisades Fire progresses in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025. Etienne Laurent/AP Photo
Other Fires
The Eaton Fire, located north of Pasadena in the Altadena region, began around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and swiftly consumed 1.6 square miles by early Wednesday, according to fire officials. Staff at a senior center transported dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a parking lot for safety.
The Hurst Fire, which sprang up around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, led to evacuations in Sylmar, a community in the northernmost part of Los Angeles. This fire had expanded to 500 acres (202 hectares) by early Wednesday.
The Tyler Fire in Coachella was relatively minimal, affecting 15 acres (6 hectares).
The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center is burning down due to the Eaton fire in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Evacuations
Approximately 30,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate due to the Palisades fire, with over 13,000 structures under threat, as reported by authorities. The Eaton fire alone led to more than 50,000 evacuation orders, according to Angeles National Forest officials.
The majority of evacuation orders were issued in the Pacific Palisades region, with others extending into parts of Santa Monica and Altadena.
A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire looms in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025. Ethan Swope/AP Photo
Power Outages
Over 180,000 customers in Southern California have lost power, with most outages concentrated in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us, which monitors outages nationwide.
Fire personnel respond to properties lost to the flames as a helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025. David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images
Three men watch on as a home is engulfed by flames from the fierce Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
The Forecast
Santa Ana winds intensified late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning, with more severe winds on the horizon. Gusts may exceed 100 mph in mountainous and foothill areas, including regions that have not experienced significant rainfall for months, according to the National Weather Service.
Current red flag warnings indicate extremely critical fire weather conditions due to a combination of robust wind gusts in higher terrains on Wednesday morning and exceptionally low relative humidity levels, as noted by Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist from the weather service’s office in College Park, Maryland.
