The Pacific Palisades fire has become the most destructive in Los Angeles city history with an estimated 1,000 structures lost, according to The Associated Press.
Why It Matters
The Pacific Palisades fire has been roaring through Los Angeles County, spreading throughout the region spurred by strong winds. The fire was estimated to cover more than 11,802 acres with zero containment and has forced at least 30,000 to leave their homes. Two new blazes—the Eaton Fire near Altadena and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar—erupted late Tuesday.
California has always been vulnerable to raging wildfires, but scientists have said that global warming has made them more frequent and more severe than they used to be. By the end of 2024, 8,024 wildfires had burned 1,050,012 acres of land across the state and killed one person, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency over the current fires, and officials have warned that the worst may be yet to come as extreme winds that are challenging efforts to contain the fires are expected to continue for days.
What To Know
Authorities on Wednesday said 70,000 people are under evacuation orders in the Los Angeles area as wildfires burn through the region, and at least 28,000 structures are threatened.
Evacuations have caused heavy traffic with some residents abandoning their cars and seeking shelter on the beach, while others, including elderly residents at a Pasadena care home, were evacuated just in time.
The White House has released a summary detailing federal support for California's wildfire response efforts. According to the announcement, the California National Guard will deploy two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) units to assist in aerial suppression efforts.
2018's Camp Fire Remains California's Most Destructive Wildfire
The Camp Fire, which ravaged Butte County in November 2018, holds the grim title of the most destructive wildfire in California history, based on the number of structures destroyed.
The fire claimed more than 18,000 structures, the majority of which were homes. It also stands as the deadliest wildfire in the state's history, with 86 lives lost.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement: "We are moving rapidly to support state and local law enforcement and firefighters to respond to the Eaton Fire threatening Altadena and Pasadena as extremely critical fire weather continues in Southern California. To all those in the region, remain vigilant and listen to local authorities."
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement: "President Biden and I are committed to ensuring that no community has to respond to this disaster alone. We have already mobilized federal resources to help suppress the fires, provide overhead support, and begin assisting those impacted. FEMA also quickly approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help reimburse the state for immediate firefighting costs."
What's Next
The fires are yet to be contained as a dangerous windstorm fan the flames in Southern California.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, winds gust up to 60 miles per hour are expected to continue through Thursday, "potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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