Most destructive blaze in LA history rages on as new fires break out; at least 5 dead as thousands flee

At least five people have died as several wind-driven fires blazing across Los Angeles County remain mostly uncontained. The newest to break out is the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, where evacuation orders have been issued.

It has been described as the most destructive fire in LA history.

The Palisades Fire that is scorching the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica has exploded to more than 17,000 acres with zero containment. It has destroyed at least 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive ever in Los Angeles County.

“Surreal scene”: The other massive blaze, the fast-moving Eaton Fire, is overtaking homes across Altadena. “It is just a surreal scene,” CNN’s Anderson Cooper said from the scene. The fire ballooned to more than 10,000 acres.

Learning disrupted: All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest, will be closed Thursday as fires have picked up across the county. In the Palisades, two schools have been burnt to the ground.

The Los Angeles Fire Department announced late Wednesday that most of the evacuation zone for areas impacted by the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills has been lifted.

Officials have maintained restrictions on a small section of the community, specifically the region north of Franklin Avenue, stretching from Camino Palmero Street to N. Sierra Bonita Avenue, the fire department said in a statement. Initially, the zone encompassed several of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks, including the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Fire activity in Hollywood has significantly decreased, with the blaze now contained to 60 to 100 acres within a secured perimeter set by the LAFD, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A small half-acre fire in Nichols Canyon has also been extinguished.

This area will remain closed until Thursday morning while firefighters work to prevent any flare-ups. Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution upon returning to their homes.

Fine particulate matter from fires can travel long distances, penetrate lungs and bloodstream, expert says

The potential health hazards that come from the ongoing wildfires in Southern California are dire –– even for those who are far from the blaze, UCLA epidemiology professor Anne Rimoin told CNN.

“This fine particulate matter can go long distances,” she said, and “penetrate deep into the lungs and become a real problem,” Rimoin said. “It can even enter the bloodstream.”

Rimoin says such poor air quality will most acutely affect those with chronic conditions, those who are pregnant and young people. She urged people to stay inside, keep windows and doors closed and to run air conditioners, along with air filters if possible.

Those who must be outside should wear N95 masks, she said.

Air quality across Southern California is reaching a “hazardous” level 6 of 6, according to the latest from IQair.

But even with doors closed and HEPA filters running, one family who fled their homes in Pasadena said the smoke was just too thick.

“We had all the filters going in the house, the HEPA filters and nothing seemed to work,” told CNN affiliate KSNV.

Espinoza fled with 13 other family members and will stay with relatives in Las Vegas until the fires ease.

“We packed our bags only for about three days. Because we all have jobs to go to. We have rent to pay. Bills are still due,” he said.
According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, the searing heat from wildfires can transform metals found naturally in the soil into cancer-causing airborne particles.

“In the complex mixture of gasses and particles that wildfires spew out as smoke and leave behind as dust, heavy metals such as chromium have largely been overlooked,” Scott Fendorf, co-author of the study and professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, said in a December press release.

How the fires are hitting Hollywood

As deadly fires rage across Los Angeles, numerous members of the Hollywood community have been impacted and forced production shutdowns across the county.

Actor and comedian Billy Crystal, singer Mandy Moore, actor Anna Faris and TV host Ricki Lake are among those who have been affected or lost homes in the devastating blazes.

Paris Hilton said she learned that her Malibu home was lost while watching it burn on live TV, writing on her Instagram page the image is something “no one should ever have to experience.”

Celebrity chef Sandra Lee also said she lost her house due to the disaster.

Actors James Woods and Steve Guttenberg each spoke to CNN Wednesday morning about their emotional experiences navigating the fires in their neighborhoods.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has pushed back its Oscars nominations announcement and extended the Oscars voting window to give Academy members – many of whom live in Los Angeles and have been impacted or displaced during the wildfires – more time to cast their ballots.

Many Hollywood productions have been forced to stop filming as well, amid the high winds, smoke and dangerous fires, according to The Hollywood Reporter, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Hacks,” “Suits L.A.,” “NCIS” and “The Price Is Right.”

At least 5 dead as fires cause apocalyptic scenes across the LA area. Here’s where things stand

Some Los Angeles County residents will wake up to hazardous conditions today, as polluted air and unsafe water pose a threat in several areas.

At least five people have been killed and officials expect the death toll to rise as fast-moving fires continue to blaze across Los Angeles County, mostly uncontained.

The fires are the most destructive in LA history, with more than 1,000 structures burnt and over 130,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings as of Wednesday. More than 200,000 homes and buildings are without power.

Here’s where things stand:

The major fires: The Palisades Fire that is scorching the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica has exploded to more than 17,200 acres with zero containment. The other massive blaze, the fast-moving Eaton Fire, is overtaking homes across Altadena is at 10,600 acres and 0% contained. The Hirst Fire is at least 855 acres and 10% contained, while the Lidia Fire is 348 acres and 40% contained. The newest to break out is the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, where evacuation orders have been issued, and is burning through 60 acres with zero containment. The Woodley Fire has now been contained 100% having burnt 30 acres.

Why the fires spread so quickly: Extreme fire weather ignited fires throughout Southern California, as strong winds and low humidity exacerbate conditions. The wind and fast-moving embers were the biggest factors that caused the fire to spread so quickly, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin. Although winds decreased in intensity Wednesday, they were still making it difficult for firefighters. The cause of the Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation,” LA Country Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Fire forecast: Critical fire weather is forecast to last across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Friday. While much of Southern California should see a brief lull in wind gusts this morning, the National Weather Service warned that winds are expected to begin to increase through the day. Red flag warnings remain for over 10 million people.

Costliest wildfire in history: The Palisades wildfire alone is expected to be the costliest in history, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. It’s also the most destructive fire in state history to occur in the month of January.

credit: CNN