As wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, one of its pro sports teams is taking action to help relief efforts.Β
The Los Angeles Chargers announced Wednesday they will provide $200,000 in targeted funding to the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations sheltering animals that have been displaced by the wildfires.Β
The franchise is also urging fans to attend the "Charge Up to Playoff" events ahead of the teamβs wild-card game against the Houston Texans, which will kick off from Houston on Saturday.Β
The teamβs watch party at Hermosa Beach Pier on Saturday will also serve as a supply drive, as the Chargers are asking fans to bring any supplies for evacuation centers, including El Camino Real High School.Β
"While we're currently experiencing unprecedented conditions that seemingly cannot get any worse as we deal with multiple fires across our region, we're also witnessing our community at its very best," Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. "The bravery, selflessness, courage, sacrifice and compassion on display over the past 24 hours by first responders, good Samaritans, friends, family and neighbors alike has been remarkable.Β
"Our hearts are with everyone who has been displaced by these fires, the firemen and police officers and frontline workers who are risking their lives to keep us safe and those among us who have stepped up to assist one another in this incredible time of need."
The Chargers had a "Charge Up to Playoffs" event scheduled for Friday in Sherman Oaks, but the fires continue to devastate the area. However, similar events will be going on as scheduled, and the hope is fans who can provide goods such as blankets, bottled water, new or gently used clothes, first aid kits and more will join the relief efforts.Β
The team has a history of helping those in need, and not just in their own community. They recently donated 50/50 raffles from the teamβs game against the Tennessee Titans to the American Red Cross Mountain Fire relief efforts in Ventura County. Also, funds for relief efforts for the Maui fire, Hurricane Harvey and other causes have been contributed by the organization.Β
While the Chargers are focused on supporting their community in this time of crisis, they do have to think about their game in Houston in a few days.Β
The team may not be playing at its home SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which had an air quality index above 280 on Wednesday, but the team did alter its practice schedule to limit playersβ time outside, a team official told ESPN.Β
Meanwhile, a game is scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium, as the Los Angeles Rams are set to host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. The NFL released a statement saying itβs monitoring the fires in Los Angeles closely.Β
Weather conditions are not helping firefighters control the flames, as itβs often been too windy to fight the fires with aircraft.Β
The Los Angeles Fire Department has already put out a plea for any off-duty firefighters to help, with thousands already working day and night to get the fires under control.Β
A Los Angeles firefighter battles the Palisades fire
Reuters
Thousands of LA County homeowners face a volatile home insurance market.
In recent months, State Farm β California's largest home insurer β dropped thousands of policyholders.
Some have turned to the state's insurer of last resort.
Thousands of California homeowners at risk due to the Los Angeles County fires find themselves exposed in a volatile home insurance market.
Last year, California's largest home insurer βΒ State Farm βΒ canceled thousands of policyholders' plans across LA County, including the Pacific Palisades and parts of Santa Monica and Calabasas, that are under evacuation orders and warnings as the fires rage. Nearly 70% of State Farm policyholders in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood were dropped by the company beginning in July 2024.
The following table shows the ZIP codes that were under evacuation orders or warnings as of Wednesday afternoon that had the highest rate of nonrenewals from State Farm last year.
Several other major insurers have dramatically restricted their coverage across California in recent years, citing surging costs from more frequent and intense disasters coupled with rising home repair costs and inflation.
Thousands of LA County homeowners who haven't been able to obtain private insurance have joined the ranks of those covered by the state's insurer of last resort βΒ the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plan. The FAIR plan is regulated by the state government and backed by a slew of private insurance companies. But its premiums tend to be much higher than typical private insurers and its coverage is often more restricted.
This table shows how FAIR insurance coverage has changed in the above ZIP codes between 2023 and 2024.
As private insurers have stepped back in recent years, the number of residential FAIR plan holders across the state jumped 123% between September 2020 and September 2024. The FAIR plan's dollar-value residential exposure surged from $271 billion in September 2023 to $431 billion in September 2024.
It's not clear how many homeowners impacted by the LA County fires are uninsured. Most mortgage lenders require homeowners to purchase insurance, and some require additional insurance for specific disasters, including fires.
Some major home insurers, including Farmer's β the second-largest in California β have recently begun to expand their offerings in California after the state announced new regulations requiring insurers to cover a certain percentage of homes vulnerable to fire in exchange for allowing them to use future risk modeling to calculate premiums.
In 2023, California had the fourth-highest home insurance nonrenewal rate among states, according to a recently released Senate Budget Committee report. Six of the top 10 counties in the country with the highest rates of nonrenewals by large home insurers in 2023 were in California, the report found.
But rising home insurance costs and rates of dropped policies are nationwide problems. The National Bureau of Economic Research recently reported that average home insurance premiums spiked by 13%, adjusted for inflation, between 2020 and 2023. The share of home insurance policies from large insurers that weren't renewed increased last year in 46 states, the Senate report found. And more than 200 US counties saw their non-renewal rates spike threefold between 2018 and 2023.
Areas more vulnerable to disasters, including flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes, have seen the biggest spikes in premiums and dropped policies.
"Our number one priority right now is the safety of our customers, agents and employees impacted by the fires and assisting our customers in the midst of this tragedy," a representative for State Farm told BI.
A representative from the California FAIR Plan Association also told BI in a statement that the insurer is "prepared" to handle the wildfire impact, and "has payment mechanisms in place, including reinsurance, to ensure all covered claims are paid."
Representatives for Farmer's did not respond for comment.
Have you been dropped by your home insurance company or are you facing a steep premium increase? Email this reporter to share your story: [email protected].
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., sparked online backlash with a post in which he questioned President-elect Trumpβs ability to bring down grocery prices. Social media users were quick to point out that food prices spiked under President Biden's leadership.
"I donβt care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what heβs going to do to lower the cost of groceries," Rep. Swalwell wrote on X.
But social media users noted that the congressmanβs party had control of the House, Senate and White House while Americans struggled to afford food. While they later lost control of the House after the 2022 midterm elections, the Democrats held on to the Senate.
Swalwell later appeared to double down on his assertion that Trump will not lower grocery prices.
"Guys, itβs so obvious. Trump has no idea how to lower your cost of groceries. So heβs going to distract you by sending your kids to die fighting Canada," Swalwell tweeted.
However, this only brought more fury the congressmanβs way, with social media users questioning why the congressman is not more worried about the fires raging in his state that has so far left two dead and forced thousands to flee their homes.
On Tuesday, President Biden released a statement on the deadly wildfires and announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved a grant to help fight the inferno.
"I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire," Biden said in a statement.
The Trump team has not responded to a request for comment.
As the Los Angeles wildfires continue to devastate the area, one key game of the NFLβs Wild Card Weekend is being monitored closely.Β
Monday nightβs matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings could be impacted by the wildfires, and the league released a statement saying as such.Β
"The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA," the league wrote in a statement, per ESPN.
At least 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as three major fires burn from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. Officials say the number of evacuation orders continue to be fluid as the fires rage on.Β
The Rams made an announcement on Wednesday that no players or staff members have been impacted by the fires, but theyβre also monitoring the situation closely.Β
"Our hearts are with those affected by the Eaton Fire in the Altadena/Pasadena area and the first responders protecting our community. Be safe," the Rams said in a statement on Wednesday.Β
Rams star receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were among many who posted on X to show support for their community in this tough time.Β
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires," Kupp said. "Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances."
Nacua added: "Thank you to all of the first responders! God bless the families impacted!"
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium with the Rams, altered their practice schedule on Wednesday to limit playersβ time outside, a team official told ESPN. The Chargers head to Houston to face the Texans on Saturday.Β
Air quality is a major concern due to the fires, as indexes have varied between 150 and 300 depending on location, with 150 being categorized as "very unhealthy" to breathe.Β
Inglewood, the home of SoFi Stadium and the location of the Ramsβ wild-card game, had an air quality index of 281 on Wednesday.Β
Weather conditions are not helping firefighters control the flames, as itβs been too windy to fight the fires with aircraft.Β
The Los Angeles Fire Department has already put out a plea for any off-duty firefighters to help, with thousands already working day and night to get them under control.Β
President-elect Trump, during his first administration, put Gov. Gavin Newsom on notice for his handling of repeated wildfires in the state, years ahead of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires currently raging.Β
"The Governor of California,Β @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must βcleanβ his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers," the former and upcoming president posted to X in 2019.Β
"Every year, as the fireβs rage & California burns, it is the same thing-and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help. No more. Get your act together Governor. You donβt see close to the level of burn in other states," the thread continued.Β
Trumpβs message to Newsom came as the Kincade Fire raged in Sonoma County from Oct. 23 to Nov. 6, 2019.Β
"Weβre successfully waging war against thousands of fires started across the state in the last few weeks due to extreme weather created by climate change while Trump is conducting a full on assault against the antidotes," Newsom said in response to Trumpβs message, the Washington Post reported at the time.Β
Just roughly two weeks before Trump will be inaugurated as the nation's 47th president, he again took aim at Newsom's wildfire prevention leadership in the state, pinning blame for the LA County fires on Newsom and his environmental policies.Β
"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,"Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday.Β
"He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnβt work!), but didnβt care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"
Newsom's director of communications Izzy Gardon told Fox Digital in response to Trump's Truth Social: "Weβre focused on protecting lives and battling these blazes β not playing politics."
"There is no such document as the water restoration declaration β that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," Gardon added.Β
Trump has a long history of putting Newsomβs handling of wildfires under the microscope across his first four years in the White House, including in January 2019 when he threatened to cut off federal funds to California if reforms were not made to the stateβs forest management services.Β
"Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!" he posted to X that year.Β
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!,"he added in 2018 on X.Β
Newsom and other Democrats have historically pushed back that wildfires in the state are due to climate change and global warming.Β
"You donβt believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation," Newsom shot back at Trump in 2019, for example, after the president slammed him for his wildfire leadership.Β
California Republicans, however, have echoed Trump that Newsom and other Democrats in the state "failed" in addressing forestry management.Β
"The Democrats who control this state, have been in charge of the legislature, and hold every statewide office have failed to take care of forestry management in California," Assemblyman James Gallagher said on Fox News in 2020. "We have overgrown forests with brush piles 10 feet high and dead and dying trees and it's a tinderbox waiting for a spark."
The California governor pledged in 2019 to reform California's approach to wildfire prevention, but a 2021 NPR investigation reported the governor overstated the efforts.Β
"The investigation found Newsom overstated, by an astounding 690%, the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns in the very forestry projects he said needed to be prioritized to protect the stateβs most vulnerable communities," Scott RoddΒ wrote of the findings in 2021. "Newsom has claimed that 35 βpriority projectsβ carried out as a result of his executive order resulted in fire prevention work on 90,000 acres. But the stateβs own data show the actual number is 11,399."
The state pushed back on the report, saying their efforts on wildfire prevention were hampered by the pandemic,Β "along with an unprecedented wildfire season which pulled our already strained wildfire crews away from prevention work to firefighting work."Β
"The notion that the Newsom administration is retreating on wildfire response β in dollars or actions β is wholly inaccurate," the governorβs office said after the investigationβs findings were released.Β
The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan has since achieved and begun working on 100% of its 99 key actions, with the state also hiring an additional 3,000 new firefighters to CAL FIRE since 2019.Β
At least four wildfires are currently raging in Los Angeles County, tearing throughΒ the Pacific Palisades and Sylmar neighborhoods, as well as near Pasadena.
Newsom propositioned 65 fire engines, seven helicopters, nine bulldozers, and more than 105 specialized personnel in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties ahead of the fire spiraling earlier this week. The National Guard was also deployed in response to the fire.Β
"California has deployed 1400% firefighting personnel & hundreds of propositioned assets to combat these unprecedented fires in LA," Newsom said on X this week. "Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives."Β
Destructive brush fires are erupting across California as firefighters say there's "no possibility" of containment. The Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires come as powerful winds slam northwest Los Angeles.
One of the two biggest blazes, the Palisades Fire, could be the costliest in US history.
The fires have spread so fast in part because of a windstorm and flood-drought whiplash.
All was well in Los Angeles at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Less than 24 hours later, 2,925 acres of the Pacific Palisades were ablaze in what is being called the worst wildfire in Southern California since 2011.
Three more blazes have ignited in the area, with one, the Eaton Fire, engulfing another 2,000-plus acres.
Firefighters had not contained the blazes as of Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
More than 1,000 structures have burned, at least two people have died, and the fires could get even worse in the coming hours.
The UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain called it an "urban firestorm" as he assessed live images of the developing Eaton Fire on Tuesday morning.
Perhaps the best historical comparison is the 1991 Tunnel Fire, which raged through more than 1,500 acres of Oakland, but it was smaller than either of the two giant blazes in Los Angeles. It killed 25 people and injured 150, and ranks as the third-deadliest and third-most-destructive fire in California history.
The true toll of this week's fires won't be clear until later.
Swain said that he and several colleagues have estimated that the Palisades Fire could be the costliest on record in the US because of the number of structures burning and the fact that those homes are some of the most expensive in the world.
"We are looking at what is, I think, likely to become the costliest wildfire disaster in California, if not national history, along with a number of other superlatives," Swain said.
A historic windstorm spread the fire fast
The homes at risk include some of the most expensive real-estate in the world.
AP Photo/Eugene Garcia
A powerful windstorm buffeted the flames throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, with gusts of wind reaching up to 90 miles an hour, according to the National Weather Service.
During a 2 Β½ hour period overnight, the Palisades Fire's size more than doubled, per the fire service's reports.
The winds were so powerful on Tuesday evening that water- and retardant-dropping aircraft could not fly.
It's a phenomenon that scientists have warned about: a deadly combination of high winds and dry, open land β such as the brushland now being swept by flames in Los Angeles β amounting to fires that move faster than emergency responders can keep up with.
"It's certainly unusual how fast it's grown," Douglas Kelley, a researcher at the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told Business Insider. "It's definitely a lot faster than I guess a lot of people were expecting in the area at the time."
A study published in Science in October found that while only about 3% of US fires over a nearly two-decade period could be considered "fast fires," they caused disproportionate damage.
"The most destructive and deadly wildfires in US history were also fast," wrote the study's authors, led by University of Colorado Boulder's Jennifer Balch.
Between 2001 and 2020, fast fires accounted for 78% of fire-destroyed buildings and a full 61% of suppression costs β or $18.9 billion, the scientists wrote. And they are getting more frequent, the study said.
The windstorm was bad luck. But the other primary factor in the fires' rapid explosions β the fuel β is strongly linked to the climate crisis.
Weather whiplash made abundant fire fuel
The remains of a home's staircase in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Southern California has experienced heavy rainfall and flooding the past two winters β which is a huge part of the problem.
Abundant rainfall spurred an explosion of grasses and brush, the primary fire fuel in Southern California. Then, with very little rainfall in the past few months, all that vegetation was flash-dried.
Kelley said those dry conditions made the Palisades especially susceptible to a fast-spreading fire.
This is part of a growing phenomenon that Swain calls "hydroclimate whiplash," or weather whiplash. As global temperatures rise, many parts of the world, especially California, are seeing more violent swings between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions.
The same confluence of weather whiplash and extreme winds was behind the Camp Fire, Swain said. That November 2018 blaze in Paradise, California, was the deadliest and most destructive in the state's history, destroying 18,804 structures and killing 85 people.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reimburse California for costs associated with hiring more firefighters and controlling the raging wildfires that have ripped through Southern California.Β
News of the Fire Management Assistance Grants trickled in Tuesday, and by the evening the White House put out a statement from President Biden confirming the move. FEMA confirmed the measures on Wednesday, in an announcement laying out some details about the grants.Β
The funding will provide federal reimbursements for up to 75% of "eligible firefighting costs" incurred by the state, as California seeks to shore up its firefighting force and put out the wildfires that have killed at least two people and driven thousands from their homes. Eligible costs include expenses for field camps, equipment, materials, supplies and mobilization or demobilization efforts attributed to fighting the fires.Β
"My Administration will do everything it can to support the response," Biden said Tuesday, announcing news of the grant. "I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire."
Firefighter shortages in California have been an ongoing problem for several years in California. In advance of the news about FEMA's grant, the Los Angeles Fire Department was compelled to request that all off-duty firefighters in the area volunteer to help. The U.S. Forest Service this summer boosted its staffing levels in California for the first time in five years, but the total number of federal wildland firefighters remains greatly diminished from what it used to be despite the state seeing an uptick in the number and severity of wildfires in recent years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.Β
Meanwhile, in October, the U.S. Forest Service announced an end to prescribed burning to control wildfires as a result of staffing shortages. Β
California's decision to end prescribed burns came after Biden's opposition to a bipartisan bill aimed at streamlining the process for implementing forest management projects, like prescribed burns, in California. In a September statement explaining the opposition to the bill, the Biden administration said that certain provisions served to undermine crucial environmental protections.
FEMA's grants aimed at bolstering the state's firefighting force amid the raging wildfires were initiated following requests from California. FEMA indicated that at the time of the requests the wildfires had burned an excess of 700 acres of private and public lands around the Pacific Palisades, San Fernando Valley and Santa Calrita Valley areas.
FEMA added that more than 45,000 homes in the area were being threatened by the fire.Β
A spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital that its regional office is in constant contact with local authorities in California, and that the agency has also deployed a FEMA liaison officer to the area to help monitor the evolving situation. The spokesperson added the agency is urging residents to listen to local officials and has provided a phone number for them to text if people are in need of safe shelter.Β
President-elect Trump pinned blame for the "apocalyptic" wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County on California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.Β
"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump posted on Truth Social late Wednesday morning.Β
"He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnβt work!), but didnβt care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"Β
At least four wildfires are currently raging in Los Angeles County, tearing throughΒ the Pacific Palisades and Sylmar neighborhoods of Los Angeles, as well as near Pasadena. At least 30,000 residents have evacuated the area, as swanky mansions and homes are threatened by the devastation or have already been incinerated.Β
Newsom's director of communications Izzy Gardon told Fox Digital in response to Trump's Truth Social: "Weβre focused on protecting lives and battling these blazesβnot playing politics."
"There is no such document as the water restoration declaration β that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," Gardon said in a follow-up comment.
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that's creating extreme fire risk β and we're not out of the woods. We're already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes," Newsom said in a statement. "Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire. If you're in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials."
Trump, while on the campaign trail last year, vowed to send more water to California if re-elected, saying he would tap aΒ "large faucet" in the northern parts of the U.S., that would deliver water to the state. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, one of theΒ Golden Stateβs top water supply systems,Β has been fiercely protected by environmentalists over its dwindling smelt and Chinook salmon populations.Β
"You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north with the snow caps and Canada, and all pouring down and they have essentially a very large faucet," Trump said in September.Β
"You turn the faucet and it takes one day to turn it, and itβs massive, itβs as big as the wall of that building right there behind you. You turn that, and all of that water aimlessly goes into the Pacific (Ocean), and if they turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles," he said.
During Trump's first administration, the former and upcoming president frequently put Newsom's leadership over wildfire prevention under the microscope, including threatening to withhold federal funds over the yearly fires.
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!," Trump posted to X in 2018.Β
"You donβt believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation," Newsom shot back at Trump in 2019, after the president slammed him for his wildfire leadership again that year.Β
Olivia Culpo, the wife ofΒ San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey, has spoken out about the tragic wildfires raging throughout the Los Angeles area that have forced thousands to evacuate their homes.Β
The 32-year-old model posted a message on Instagram early Wednesday morning thanking first responders as thousands of firefighters responded toΒ multiple wildfires which seemingly broke out Tuesday evening near a nature preserve in the foothills northeast of LA.Β
"Praying for everyone affected by these devastating fires. Thank you to the heroes working tirelessly to protect our communities and wildlife," she wrote in a post shared to her Instagram Stories.Β
Culpo andΒ McCaffrey began dating in 2019 and were engaged in April 2023. Over the summer, the couple officially tied the knot in Culpoβs home state of Rhode Island.Β
According to reports, they purchased a $14.5 million mansion in Los Angeles in September. The 7,000-square-foot home was previously owned by actor George Clooney, who purchased it in 1995 from Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks, according toΒ Page Six.Β
Culpo shared on her social media in October that she and McCaffrey are staying in a home in San Francisco during theΒ football season.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel, while the Los Angeles Fire Department has made calls for all off-duty firefighters to help.Β
There are currently four fires burning, with the Palisades fire being the largest, having already burned 4.5 square miles.Β
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has offered to assist California as Gov. Gavin Newsom is grappling with multiple fires ripping through Los Angeles County this week.Β
"Our prayers are with everyone affected by the horrific fires in Southern California. When disaster strikes, we must come together to help our fellow Americans in any way we can," DeSantis posted to X on Wednesday morning.Β
"The state of Florida has offered help to assist the people of California in responding to these fires and in rebuilding communities that have been devastated," he added.Β
DeSantis' offer of support to California comes after he recently led his state through Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene last year. The two governors have frequently traded barbs with one another in recent years, most notably when Florida was open for business during the pandemic, and California implemented strict lockdown orders and mandates.Β
At least four fires are raging in Los Angeles County this week, tearing throughΒ the Pacific Palisades and Sylmar neighborhoods of Los Angeles, as well as near the city of Pasadena. Newsom declared a state of emergency after the Pacific Palisades fire quickly grew on Tuesday.Β
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that's creating extreme fire risk β and we're not out of the woods. We're already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes," Newsom said in a statement. "Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire. If you're in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials."Β
At least 30,000 residents have evacuated the area as the devastating fires have burned mansions and homes to the ground, including those belonging to Hollywood stars such as James Woods.Β
"All the smoke detectors are going off in our house and transmitting to our iPhones. I couldnβt believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one," Woods shared on X of the devastation to his home.
President Biden reported to the public that he has been in frequent communication with California leaders as the fires rages and that FEMA aid was approved to assist efforts.Β
"I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs.Β My Administration will do everything it can to support the response," Biden posted to X on Tuesday evening.Β
Two firefighters in front of a burning house in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Wildfires have broken out in Los Angeles and are raging through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Mark Hamill was among the thousands who evacuated, while other stars, like Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, have lost their homes.
The average house price in the northern LA area is $4.5 million, per Realtor.com data.
Wildfires in Los Angeles are tearing through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, home to A-list actors, including Ben Affleck β who bought his $20.5 million mansion there in July.
Other celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Keaton, Adam Sandler, Miles Teller, and Eugene Levy, also live in the neighborhood.
The fire started on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades before spreading west toward the Malibu stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway. On Wednesday, the city of Malibu issued a statement on X advising residents to prepare to evacuate.
Among the at least 130,000 LA residents asked to evacuate their homes because of the fire was the "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill. He said on Instagram that he had left his Malibu home on Tuesday with his wife, Marilou, and their dog, Trixie. He described it as the "most horrific fire since '93."
"Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there were small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH," he wrote.
Levy told The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that he got stuck while trying to leave the neighborhood. "The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon," Levy said. "I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark."
"The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground rn. Pray for the Palisades," he wrote in an Instagram Stories post.
Chet Hanks shared a message about the fire on Instagram.
Chet Hanks/Instagram Stories
On Wednesday morning, "Halloween" star Jamie Lee Curtis said on Instagram that she was safe, but her home in West LA might not be.
"My community and possibly my home is on fire," Curtis wrote. "My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well. There are so many conflicting reports. With all the technology there seems to be very little information. Please post facts! It will help those wondering!"
The Oscar-nominated actor James Woods said on X that he and his family safely evacuated from the Palisades but didn't know whether his home "is still standing."
To all the wonderful people whoβve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not. pic.twitter.com/xZjvsIg6Fg
"I'm so sad our house is gone. I wish I could have gone back and got more," Montag said as she broke down crying in a video she posted on TikTok on Wednesday.
"It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy," Warren wrote. "The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone."
Kate Beckinsale also wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday that "the whole of the Palisades being destroyed is unthinkably horrific."
"My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone," Beckinsale wrote.
The "Serendipity" actor shared several other posts, including one thanking local firefighters and another sharing information about assembling an emergency bag.
The Palisades Charter High School also burned down, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The campus was used for films including "Carrie," "Freaky Friday," "Project X," and MTV's "Teen Wolf" TV series.
The premieres for "Wolf Man" and "Unstoppable," scheduled for Tuesday, were canceled.
On Wednesday, Paris Hilton also took to Instagram to share that she was "heartbroken beyond words" to learn that her Malibu home had been destroyed in the fire.
"Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience," Hilton wrote in her post. "This home was where we built so many precious memories."
Although the loss felt "overwhelming," the celebrity said she was grateful that her family and pets are safe.
Even Billy Crystal's home, where he'd been living with his family for 46 years, was razed to the ground.
"We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this," Crystal said in a statement to People.
"The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home," the actor's statement continued.
The fire that started on Tuesday spread quickly thanks to the Santa Ana winds, which created up to 80 mph gusts. The drought in Southern California also exacerbated the situation, creating dangerously dry conditions.
To the east of the Palisades fire, the Eaton fire is impacting the Altadena-Pasadena region.
Actor and singer Mandy Moore said in an Instagram story posted on Tuesday that she was among the residents ordered to evacuate. By Wednesday, the singer said in a follow-up story that she was unsure if her home "made it."
"Honestly, I'm in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family," she wrote in an Instagram post. "My children's school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too."
A paper published in 2023 by researchers from the University of California, Irvine, found the human-caused climate crisis is the "major driver" for the state's increase in wildfires over the last quarter century.
"November, December, now January β there's no fire season, it's fire year. It's year-round," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Back in 2018, the Woolsey Fire burned almost 100,000 acres of land in California, affecting famous Malibu residents like Lady Gaga, Gerard Butler, Miley Cyrus, and several members of the Kardashian family. In fact, Kim Kardashian and her then-husband Kanye West were widely criticized for hiring private firefighters to protect their $60 million home in Hidden Hills.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies showed the Eaton fire during through Altadena.
Maxar Technologies
Multiple major fires are tearing through parts of the Los Angeles area.
The Palisades fire has burned through over 15,000 acres as of Wednesday.
A new fire broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills.
Emergency personnel across the Los Angeles area are battling multiple major fires.
Officials have ordered over 100,000 people to evacuate, five people have been reported dead, and over a thousand structureshave been burned.
Images of people escaping their homes, abandoning their cars, and searching for safe harbor careened across television and social media on Wednesday. Planes dropped water on huge flames whipping through canyons and mountain passes.
And it's showing little sign of slowing down, officials said. Dry conditions combined with high wind gusts of more than 90 miles per hour have helped fuel the multiple fires burning around the metropolitan area.
A total of five separate fires are now sweeping through parts of the region in and around Los Angeles after a new fire β called the Sunset Fire β broke out in the Hollywood Hills, near the iconic Hollywood sign, on Wednesday evening, forcing the LA fire chief to leave in the middle of a press conference. It has so far burned 10 acres as flames could be seen rising from the hills against the night sky.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass said during a press conference Wednesday evening that residents may receive more evacuation orders as wind conditions continue to be "strong and erratic."
Los Angeles schools would be closed on Thursday, impacting more than half a million students, LA Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced Wednesday.
The longest-burning of the now five active fires in Los Angeles County, the Palisades Fire, has burned over 15,000 acres, official said.
The Eaton fire, impacting the Pasadena-Altadena region, has burned about 10,600 acres and continues to grow with zero percent containment, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference. The Hurst fire, in the north of the region near San Fernando, covered over 700 acres.
The fourth fire, the Woodley fire in the Sepulveda Basin, has burned 30 acres. Chief of Los Angeles Fire Department Kristin Crowley said that fire was under control as of Wednesday evening.
Evacuation orders and warnings continue to be issued throughout Wednesday evening, including a notice for residents living near the Hollywood Hills.
Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said Wednesday afternoon that he hoped milder wind conditions overnight would allow for more aircraft and additional resources to be directed at the Eaton fire.
"That's what gives me confidence that we're going to get a handle on this fire," Augustin said.
People flee from the advancing Palisades Fire, by car and on foot.
AP Photo/Etienne Laurent
By Wednesday afternoon, over 100,000 people living near the Eaton fire received evacuation orders, a representative for CalFire told BI.
Five people have died as a result of the Eaton fire, the spokesperson said. Two firefighters were reported to have minor injuries.
Some 377,000 Californians, meanwhile, were also out of power as of Wednesday afternoon, according to a tracking site.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and announced that the state had secured federal assistance from FEMA to support the fire response.
"There's no fire season. It's fire year," Newsom said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, noting other fires California has faced in recent months, including the Franklin and Mountain fires. "It's year-round."
Historic windstorm is 'worst possible scenario'
Officials have not yet determined how the fires started, but they erupted during a high-risk major windstorm. Combined with low humidity and dry vegetation in the region, the winds created a perfect storm for fire ignition.
The high winds were "making it extremely challenging" for firefighters on the scene, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley said, making them unable to air-drop water on the fires Wednesday morning. But by the afternoon, water-dropping aircraft had returned to the skies.
The National Weather Service called the windstorm "life-threatening and destructive" and warned that these could be the strongest north winds in 14 years.
Experts say the dry winds helped fuel the fire.
Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Just the Palisades fire alone has already become the most destructive fire ever to hit Los Angeles County, CNN reported, citing CalFire data.
The weather service urged residents to be ready to evacuate, as such winds can rapidly spread any fire that breaks out.
"This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a firefight," David Ortiz of the LAFD told local news station KTLA.
The fires forced some Los Angeles-area landmarks to close, including the Hollywood sign, the Los Angeles Zoo, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk, and the Griffith Observatory.
Even miles from the fires in South Los Angeles, smoke reduced visibility to just one block, officials said.
Smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire on Tuesday.
TIffany Rose/Getty Images
Airbnb told CNN that it would be allowing refunds for bookings in areas affected by the wildfires, following a viral social media post from a customer who said the company refused to offer her a refund.
A National Hockey League game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames, scheduled Wednesday night at Crypto.com arena, was postponed. The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, set for Sunday night, were also rescheduled, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Disneyland, over 30 miles from the nearest fire, was still open on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, police also made some arrests for looting as some people tried to steal in the areas affected by the fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at Wednesday morning's press conference.
Evacuees abandoned cars as traffic stalled
Palisades Drive, the major road out of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, was already packed with slow-moving lines of cars shortly after noon Tuesday, as people evacuated beneath a smoky haze and bright-orange flames licked the hillside in the distance, shown live on ABC7.
CalFire reported that the fire was on both sides of Palisades Drive.
ABC7 spoke to multiple people who were evacuating on foot, including some who had abandoned their cars on the road.
One resident told the news channel that "a whole bunch of neighbors" were stuck in their homes on Palisades Drive.
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire.
AP Photo/Etienne Laurent
Jonathan Vigliotti, a CBS News correspondent who was on the ground as a neighborhood went up in flames, said on X that there was "mass panic in the streets."
