What we know about the California wildfires
- Fierce wildfires burning out of control in the greater Los Angeles area have killed at least five people and forced 100,000 people from their homes.
- At least five fires are burning covering more than 45 square miles, sparked by dry conditions and powerful winds, causing unprecedented scenes in areas not known for fires.
- The Palisades Fire has burned through more than 17,234 acres, almost 27 square miles. It has destroyed 1,000 structures and is entirely uncontained, making it the most destructive in L.A. history.
- The latest blaze, the Sunset Fire, started shortly before 6 p.m. in the Hollywood Hills and has grown to 60 acres while threatening iconic landmarks.
- More than 350,000 energy customers were without power early today, including 200,000 in L.A. County, the most populous county in the country.
- The intense Santa Ana winds have eased compared to the past two days, but wind gusts are still forecast to be 40-50 mph today and 50-70 mph tonight into tomorrow morning.
Wildfires continue to blaze through Southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom updated the status of three fires this morning,
The Hurst Fire burned through 855 acres and is 10% contained.
The Lidia Fire burned through 348 acres and is 40% contained
The Sunset Fire burned through 60 acres and is holding currently.
Containment does not equate to safety. However, it points to a “control line has been placed around that portion of the fire and fire should not be able to cross,” according to the the Western Fire Chiefs Association’s website.
The entryway to a home remains standing after the house was destroyed during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, Calif., yesterday. Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images 
A home burns in the Pacific Palisades, Calif. Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images 
Melted lawn chairs are seen near the remains of a home gutted in the Palisades Fire.Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images 
Charred structures and vehicles in the Pacific Palisades. Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images 
The remains of a home burned in the Palisades Fire. Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images 
Charred structures create a bleak landscape in the Pacific Palisades. Agustin Paullier / AFP - Getty Images
The Producers Guild Awards said in a statement it will extend the voting window for the awards by two days through Saturday “to allow members additional time to cast their ballots” in light of the wildfires burning in Los Angeles County.
The nominations will now be announced Sunday instead of tomorrow.
Similarly, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also extended the Oscar nomination voting period for the 97th ceremony by two days, delaying the announcement of nominations from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19, Variety reported.
Several professional sports are being affected by the deadly blazes.
Last night’s game between the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames was postponed until further notice. The NBA said it is currently monitoring the wildfires before making a call on today’s matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets. And the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers have adjusted their practice schedules to limit their players’ time outdoors due to the air quality.
Additionally, the Chargers announced yesterday that the organization would be donating $200,000 in wildfire relief, targeting groups including the American Red Cross, the L.A. Fire Department Foundation, the aid organization Team Rubicon and pet rescues that are sheltering displaced animals.
The fires have also hit several major players and personnel across leagues. Los Angeles Clippers’ small forward Kawhi Leonard missed yesterday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, stepping away from the team after his family was forced to evacuate. He had recently returned to the court after missing the start of the season because of a knee surgery.
“Family, friends and loved ones, you definitely have to take care of home,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue told reporters yesterday. “[Leonard] totally has my support, 100%.”
Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick also mentioned earlier this week that his family had to evacuate the area. And yesterday, Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr told media that staff member Everett Dayton, as well as his mother, had to evacuate.
The wind-driven wildfires burning out of control in the Los Angeles area couldn’t have emerged at a more perilous moment for California’s homeowners, as officials try to rehab what they concede is a deepening “insurance crisis.”
“We were all thinking 2025 is going to be the year insurers regain their appetite for the market in California, but having this catastrophe hit us right out of the gate is really unfortunate,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based nonprofit consumer group.
“Up until this latest disaster,” she said, “we thought we might be turning a corner.”
The state Insurance Department issued a new regulation last month meant to turn the tide of some of the largest insurance companies’ refusal to take on new customers in California or decisions not to renew policies of current ones. Under the rule, insurance companies are permitted to pass on the cost of reinsurance to consumers, although at an amount that can’t exceed an industry standard.
The Los Angeles City Fire Department lifted evacuation orders for the West Hollywood Hills area at 7:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. ET). The notice permits residents to return to their homes but urges caution in doing so. The fire department will continue working in those areas, according to the release.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed the notice on in a post on X, noting that the area north of Franklin will also be open. The Sunset Fire evacuation lift comes after nearly 100,000 Los Angeles County residents were ordered to flee their homes as fires burned across the county.
Actor and singer Mandy Moore said she and her family were able to flee Altadena last night to a friend’s house “before it was too late.”
“Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family,” she captioned two jarring Instagram videos showing buildings engulfed in flames, charred trees and thick smoke covering the sky.
“My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too,” she wrote. “Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control.”
Paris Hilton, who also fled, said she and her family were watching the news when they saw their “home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV.”
“While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe,” she wrote on Instagram. “My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires. To all the people who have lost their homes, their memories, and their beloved pets. My heartaches [sic] for those still in harm’s way or mourning greater losses. The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking.”
Other stars who have fled their homes include Cary Elwes, Mark Hamill and James Woods.
Wildfire containment refers to suppression efforts made by firefighters and the various firefighting strategies to stop the fire from moving in that area.
Containment does not mean safety, it means a “control line has been placed around that portion of the fire and fire should not be able to cross,” according to the the Western Fire Chiefs Association’s website.
Despite this, even if a fire is 100 percent contained, it does “not mean the fire has stopped burning and no longer poses a threat.”
The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter firefighters believe will not go beyond their defenses.
Wind and other factors can sometimes cause spotfires to jump these lines, which is why containment percentages can fluctuate, the Fire Chiefs Association’s website added.Palisades Fire has burned through more than 17,234 acres and is zero percent contained.
Eaton Fire has burned through more than 10,600 acres and is zero percent contained.
Hurst Fire has burned through more than 855 acres and is 10% contained.
Lidia Fire has burned through more than 348 acres and is 40% contained
Sunset Fire has burned through more than 43 acres and is zero percent contained.
Strong winds that have bolstered fires set to stay through today
The strong winds that have helped fires spread across urban areas of southern California are not going away yet.
Some 17 million people today remain under red flag warnings that are in effect through tomorrow, and 7 million are also under wind alerts across Southern California.
The intense Santa Ana winds have eased compared to the past two days, but wind gusts are still forecast to be 40-50 mph today and 50-70 mph tonight into tomorrow morning.
For that reason, a critical risk of fires continues today with rapid fire growth possible again today.
The dangerous combination fueling the L.A. fires: Exceptional dryness and strong winds
Prolonged drought, an exceptionally dry winter and powerful Santa Ana winds set up a dangerous triple whammy of extreme conditions that have fueled several out-of-control wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Fast-moving fires have engulfed the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, parts of Pasadena and Altadena, and Sylmar, north of San Fernando, with two deaths reported and more than 1,000 structures destroyed as of yesterday.
Flames were fanned by ferocious winds whose gusts exceeded 100 mph in some places. The parched landscape across Southern California meant that any ignition was likely to become a monster blaze.
“We haven’t had any substantial rain for hundreds of days,” said Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
With climate change altering rainfall patterns and making droughts both more likely and more intense, destructive wildfires like the ones in the Los Angeles area will continue to threaten people’s lives and livelihoods, Moritz said.
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