LIVE UPDATE, Palisades fire: Evacuations, road closures, shelters, schools, forecast
30,000 people evacuated after fires spread to 1,174 hectares in Pacific Palisades, California. Follow the latest updates for forecasts, power outages, road closures and breaking news.
Fast-moving fires are engulfing the Los Angeles area, prompting mandatory evacuations of more than 80,000 people.
The Palisades Fire has already burned through almost 3,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has destroyed 1,000 acres and the Hurst Fire has affected 500 acres.
While the blazes are zero percent contained, no deaths have been reported.
Three potentially deadly fires are destroying homes as they rage through Los Angeles County, the largest of which, in Pacific Palisades, has left tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Follow the latest updates in this article and everything you need to know about forecasts, evacuations and more information.
Many were forced to abandon their cars in the neighbourhood between Malibu and Santa Monica, prompting firefighters to use a bulldozer to move vehicles that piled up as evacuees were stuck in traffic. As traffic slowed evacuations and flames spread across the motorway, some had considered taking refuge on the beach. At a Pasadena nursing home, workers rushed to evacuate elderly residents because of a fire just a block away.
Live updates: Three major wildfires burning in SoCal
08:17
Evacuation warnings as Hurst fire in Sylmar burns more than 500 acres
The Hurst Fire in Sylmar was continuing to burn more than 500 acres as of Wednesday morning. Firefighters are focusing on structure protection and public safety, according to the Angeles National Forest.
The wind-driven fire was reported at 10:10 p.m. near the 15000 block of W. Yarnell Street. It should be noted that a mandatory evacuation was issued for residents north of the 210 Freeway from Roxford to the Interstate 5/14 motorway split.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Pacoima.
08:01
High winds impeding firefighters' work
Firefighters have been working to extinguish the blaze since the early hours of the fire, but high winds are preventing significant progress, according to the president of the California Professional Firefighters.
With sustained winds in excess of 40 mph and ‘gusts reported in the 60s, 70s and 80s mph, we're not going to be able to control that,’ said union president Brian Rice. ‘These men and women are going to be working 24, 36, 40 or 48-hour shifts. They're not going to be leaving the line any time soon,’ Rice said.
08:00
Nearly 100,000 residents under evacuation alert due to Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire, one of three devastating wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area, is putting nearly 100,000 residents under evacuation alert, according to Angeles National Forest officials. Evacuation orders were implemented early Wednesday morning for 52,314 residents as the fire threatened more than 20,000 structures.
07:54
Lack of water in hydrants at Palisades fire is hurting firefighters
As fires raged through Los Angeles on Tuesday, some firefighters battling the Palisades Fire reported on internal radio systems that hydrants in Pacific Palisades were running dry. ‘The hydrants are not working,’ said one firefighter.
07:50
These are their current sizes:
The Palisades is nearly 3,000 acres.
The Eaton Fire near Angeles National Forest covers 1,000 acres.
The Hurst Fire near Sylmar affects only 100 acres.
07:44
Welcome to our coverage of the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires. The three fires have been raging across Los Angeles County since Tuesday afternoon, January 7, and fueled by high wind speeds, they are generating devastating losses.
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Here’s what you need to know about Palisades Fire
Power outages: more than 220,000 people are without power in Los Angeles County, according to poweroutage.us , a database that tracks and aggregates live power outages in the US.
Area: The Palisades Fire has grown to nearly 3,000 acres, the Eaton Fire to 1,000 acres and the Hurst Fire to 100 acres.
Evacuation orders: At least 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from 10,000 homes, 15,000 structures, businesses and other buildings in Pacific Palisades. The Eaton and Hurst fires also prompted evacuations in those areas.
Wind Speeds: Winds reached 60 to 80 mph overnight, with isolated gusts at higher elevations approaching triple digits.
Evacuation warnings as Hurst fire in Sylmar burns more than 500 acres
The Hurst Fire in Sylmar was continuing to burn more than 500 acres as of Wednesday morning. Firefighters are focusing on structure protection and public safety, according to the Angeles National Forest.
The wind-driven fire was reported at 10:10 p.m. near the 15000 block of W. Yarnell Street. It should be noted that a mandatory evacuation was issued for residents north of the 210 Freeway from Roxford to the Interstate 5/14 motorway split.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Pacoima.