By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-08 19:25:04 | Updated at 2025-01-09 09:48:56
14 hours ago
At least two people were killed as several fast-growing wildfires raged out of control on Wednesday near Los Angeles, destroying hundreds of buildings, scorching hillsides and prompting officials to order some 70,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Fierce winds were hindering firefighting efforts and fuelling the fires, which have expanded unimpeded since they began on Tuesday.
The biggest blaze has consumed more than 5,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, a picturesque neighborhood in west Los Angeles County between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu that is home to many film, television and music stars.
More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Another fire, the Eaton fire, had grown to more than 2,000 acres as it burned some 50km (30 miles) inland in Altadena, near Pasadena. Two fatalities were reported there, though officials said they did not have further details.
The Hurst fire, in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, had exceeded 500 acres. All three fires were 0 per cent contained, officials said. A “high number” of significant injuries had occurred among residents who did not heed evacuation orders, Marrone said.
