By Staff Writer with Agencies
LOS ANGELES — Raging wildfires have turned once-vibrant neighborhoods into skeletal remains as more than 30,000 people fled their homes across Los Angeles County. By Wednesday morning, the flames remained uncontained, with Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency.
Pacific Palisades Engulfed in Flames
The upscale Pacific Palisades area, nestled between Santa Monica and Malibu, suffered severe devastation as the fire consumed nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares). Homes of numerous celebrities were reduced to ashes as plumes of smoke and towering flames darkened the skies.
“People left their cars on Palisades Drive. Burning up the hillside. The palm trees — everything is going,” said resident Cindy Festa, who narrowly escaped the inferno. Several individuals sustained injuries, including burns to faces and hands, while a female firefighter was treated for a head injury.
Hollywood actor James Woods confirmed he evacuated his Pacific Palisades home but expressed uncertainty about its fate. “I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing,” he shared on social media.
Eaton and Hurst Fires Spread Rapidly
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, about 30 miles inland, surged from 200 to 1,000 acres (400 hectares) within hours, prompting the evacuation of nearly 100 nursing home residents in Pasadena. Television footage showed elderly individuals in wheelchairs and on gurneys gathered in smoky parking lots as emergency vehicles attended to the scene.
A third blaze, the Hurst Fire, erupted in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, forcing evacuations in surrounding areas. More than 220,000 homes and businesses across Los Angeles County lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.
Destruction and Evacuation Efforts
The fires have left a trail of destruction, with residents describing scenes of panic as they fled their homes. Witnesses reported vehicles abandoned on the roads of Topanga Canyon as flames rapidly spread down to the Pacific Ocean.
“It’s really important for everybody to band together and don’t worry about your personal property. Just get out,” urged actor Steve Guttenberg, recounting how friends were delayed by abandoned vehicles blocking escape routes.
Firefighting aircraft tirelessly scooped water from the ocean to douse the flames as bulldozers cleared abandoned vehicles to allow emergency crews access. At the Getty Villa, a museum holding priceless artworks, proactive trimming of nearby vegetation helped prevent significant damage, officials confirmed.
Extreme Fire Weather Conditions
The National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for fire conditions earlier in the week, warning of dry vegetation and strong winds. “Conditions are about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather,” officials noted.
The powerful winds also impacted President Joe Biden’s travel plans, grounding Air Force One in Los Angeles. Biden was set to attend a ceremony in the Coachella Valley to establish two new national monuments. In a statement, he pledged federal assistance for California’s firefighting efforts, with a grant approved to reimburse the state for its response.
Community Resilience Amid Crisis
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley revealed that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were under threat. Evacuation orders were extended to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica, where multiple burn victims were treated near Duke’s restaurant.
Despite the chaos, community members urged solidarity and swift action. “Get your loved ones and get out,” Guttenberg reiterated.
As emergency teams battle the blazes and residents await news of their homes’ fates, the resilience of those affected remains a beacon of hope in the face of unprecedented devastation.