Fierce and deadly wildfires driven by powerful winds swept through Los Angeles, forcing tens of thousands to flee as flames engulfed homes and blocked roads, leaving some residents trapped and scrambling for safety.
Jaimie Ding, Christopher Weber and Julie Watson report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, the Hollywood Hills and Coachella burned homes, businesses and schools, with over 130,000 residents under evacuation orders. Five people have been killed.
- Strong Santa Ana winds up to 100 mph hindered firefighting efforts, grounding aircraft and pushing flames into densely populated neighborhoods.
- Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, deploying over 1,400 firefighters, while power outages affected more than 200,000 residents.
Key quote:
“It is crazy, it’s everywhere, in all the nooks and crannies of the Palisades. One home’s safe, the other one’s up in flames.”
— Will Adams, Pacific Palisades resident
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures and worsening drought conditions are making California’s wildfire season longer and more intense. Winter fires like these underscore the growing threat posed by climate change, endangering lives, homes and infrastructure year-round.
Related: Millions of Californians face wildfire risks near oil wells
