Tracking the L.A. wildfires

A series of wildfires are searing through the Los Angeles area, forcing many to evacuate their homes.

Follow along here for the latest updates.

9:10 a.m. EST: More than 30,000 people flee

A major blaze in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood – an upscale quarter home to several celebrities – and at least two others in the L.A. area has pushed the number of those seeking shelter above 30,000, Reuters reports. 

Numerous buildings were destroyed and nearly 3,000 acres burned in the Pacific Palisades. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further through today. The governor has declared a state of emergency.

8:50 a.m. EST: Evacuee recounts escaping fire

The Associated Press

Sheriece Wallace was unaware there was a fire burning around her in that area until her sister called at the moment a helicopter made a water drop over her house.

“I was like, ‘it’s raining,’” Wallace said. “She’s like, ‘No, it’s not raining. Your neighborhood is on fire. You need to get out.’”

“As soon as I opened my door, it was like right there,” she said. “The first thing I did was looked at the trees to see where the wind was blowing. Because it hit me. It blew me back.” She was able to leave.

8:30 a.m. EST: Ripping winds worsen blaze

Winds blowing overnight sped to 112 km/h by the morning. Some areas – mainly in the mountains and foothills – could see winds up to 160 km/h, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. Some of those areas haven’t seen rain in months.

The weather service warned: “This will likely be the most destructive windstorm seen (in) 2011.”

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Ethan Swope / The Associated Press)

8 a.m. EST: Over 1,400 ‘boots on the ground’

Hundreds of additional fires have been dispatched to fight the fires.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X that the firefighters were heading south to “join 1,400+ boots already on the ground.”

“Thank you to our first responders quickly jumping into these firefights,” he wrote.

With files from The Associated Press