Inferno in Pacific Palisades, California engulfs homes, buildings
The Pacific Palisades fire as seen on Radcliff Ave. The fire started Tuesday morning and swiftly grew to nearly 3000 acres, triggering a mandatory evacuation and emergency declarations. (Credit: X / @MattSeedorff)
As firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in the Pacific Palisades, a second inferno has broken out near Pasadena.
The two fires are forcing more than 30,000 people from their homes. An estimated 1,000 acres are now ablaze in the Pasadena area as fighters battle the Eaton Fire. Eaton firefighters are moving evacuations along as the fire continues to progress.
The Eaton fire in Altadena started near a nature preserve and the flames spread quickly, forcing evacuations for residents living north of Sierra Madre, east of Allen and west of Santa Anita Drive.
Staff at a nearby senior care center have evacuated as a result, moving patients still in hospital beds and gowns to safety while awaiting medical transport to safer locations.
WATCH LIVE: FIERCE PALISADES FIRE TRIGGERS MASS EVACUATIONS, THOUSANDS OF HOMES THREATENED
An estimated 200 acres are now ablaze in the Pasadena area as fighters battle the Eaton Fire. Eaton firefighters are moving evacuations along as the fire continues to progress. (Fox News Digital)
The strong Santa Ana winds have also grounded aerial firefighting planes, making them unable to fly and stunting aerial waterbombing efforts.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has begun to work around the clock to keep the blaze contained, asking off-duty firefighters to help fight the flames.
Weather forecasters are warning of the possibility of some of the strongest winds in more than a decade, with winds topping 60 mph (97 kph) in some places.
"We’ve seen gusts Tuesday evening already reach at least 69 mph in Burbank, 71 mph in Beverly Hills and 81 mph in the Malibu Hills. And sadly, there are hours of devastating winds still to go. We expect these gusts to continue through the night into Wednesday morning before slowly abating Wednesday afternoon. And with tinder dry conditions in place, extreme wildfire conditions will persist," said Scott Sistek Meterorologist and Fox News Sr. Digital Content Producer.
ACTOR SPRINGS INTO ACTION TO HELP FIREFIGHTERS, MOVE STRANDED CARS AS FLAMES RAGE
Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. (REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)
Jason Pack, a former firefighter and FEMA external affairs officer, says firefighters are "battling extreme challenges, including high winds, dry vegetation, and unpredictable fire behavior, which can cause sudden changes in direction or intensity. These factors, combined with smoke reducing visibility and the strain of prolonged operations, make fighting this fire as much about endurance and adaptability as it is about technical skill. Firefighters are doing everything possible to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure under incredibly tough conditions."
The wind whips embers as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. (REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was in Southern California attending the naming of a national monument by President Joe Biden and has declared a state of emergency.
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There is an evacuation center located at the Pasadena Convention Center for those with nowhere to go.
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