Historic Pacific Palisades Fire Leads Multiple Blazes Across Southern California
The most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history ripped through Pacific Palisades Wednesday, part of a devastating series of blazes that killed five people and destroyed more than 1,000 structures across Southern California. Santa Ana winds reaching 70 mph hampered firefighting efforts as flames threatened affluent neighborhoods from Calabasas to Santa Monica. Governor Gavin Newsom deployed 1,400 firefighting personnel while Oregon sent additional support of 240 firefighters and 60 engines. The fires forced 70,000 residents to evacuate, leaving 1.5 million customers without power.
5 Key Points
- Pacific Palisades Fire destroyed 1,000 structures, surpassing the 2008 Sayre Fire as LA’s most destructive.
- Three major fires burned simultaneously: Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst.
- AccuWeather estimates $52-57 billion in damage and economic loss.
- Evacuations affected celebrity-dense neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica.
- Power outages impacted nearly one million customers in Los Angeles County alone.
Pacific Palisades Bears Brunt of Destruction
The Pacific Palisades fire burned 25 square miles of the coastal neighborhood, destroying approximately 1,000 structures. The historic damage surpassed the previous record set by the 2008 Sayre Fire, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar. The flames engulfed part of Palisades Charter High School, a landmark featured in numerous Hollywood productions, including the 1976 film Carrie and the Teen Wolf television series. Evacuation efforts faced complications when residents fleeing the area created traffic jams, forcing emergency crews to use bulldozers to clear abandoned vehicles from access routes.
Multiple Fires Stretch Emergency Resources
The Eaton Fire erupted Tuesday evening north of Pasadena, consuming more than 16.5 square miles by Wednesday. Emergency workers evacuated dozens of elderly residents from a senior center, moving those in wheelchairs and hospital beds to safety. The Hurst Fire began late Tuesday in Sylmar, growing to nearly one square mile by early Wednesday morning. The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a rare emergency call for all off-duty firefighters to assist with containment efforts.
Entertainment Industry Disruptions
The wildfires forced widespread cancellations across Los Angeles’s entertainment sector. The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings game against the Calgary Flames, while the Critics Choice Awards rescheduled their Sunday ceremonies to January 26. Universal Studios Hollywood closed its theme park and halted production on several television series, including “Hacks,” “Ted Lasso,” and “Suits LA.” The Getty Trust announced temporary closures of the Getty Villa and Getty Center museums.
Infrastructure and Transportation Impact
Power outages affected approximately 1.5 million customers across Southern California, with Los Angeles County accounting for nearly one million affected households. The LA Metro suspended fare collection Wednesday after intermittent power outages disrupted the system’s ability to process payments. Emergency services coordinated the establishment of evacuation centers, with hundreds of displaced residents, many elderly, gathering at the Pasadena facility by Wednesday afternoon.
FAQ
Q: How many people were affected by evacuation orders?
A: Approximately 70,000 people received evacuation orders, fluctuating as new orders were issued throughout the emergency.
Q: What makes the Pacific Palisades Fire historically significant?
A: It became the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, destroying approximately 1,000 structures, surpassing the record of 604 structures lost in the 2008 Sayre Fire.
Q: How are emergency services responding to the fires?
A: The state deployed 1,400 firefighting personnel, supplemented by 240 firefighters and 60 engines from Oregon, while the LA Fire Department called all off-duty firefighters to assist.
Q: What is the estimated economic impact of the fires?
A: AccuWeather estimates between $52 billion to $57 billion in preliminary damage and economic loss.
Q: How have the fires affected power infrastructure?
A: Approximately 1.5 million customers lost power across Southern California, with nearly one million outages in Los Angeles County alone.
Citations
The Associated Press (January 8, 2025). Wildfires latest: 5 killed and over 1,000 structures destroyed, per LA County sheriff. ABC3340. https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/thousands-flee-as-wildfires-burn-out-of-control-in-and-around-los-angeles-wind-pacific-palisades-eaton-state-of-emergency-gavin-newsom
