At least five people have been killed and more than 130,000 forced to leave their homes as wildfires rage across Los Angeles in the most destructive blaze in its history.
Residents and businesses have likened the apocalyptic scenes to ‘Armageddon’ as blazes broke out in Southern California for a second consecutive day with 100mph winds whipping up the flames.
Many celebrities have seen their multi-million dollar mansions razed to the ground as the fire spread to Hollywood Hills as desperate firefighters take water from ponds and swimming pools to tackle the wildfires.
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How much land has each fire burned?
Palisades Fire: At least 15,832 acres and 0 per cent contained
Eaton Fire: At least 10,600 acres and 0 per cent contained
Hurst Fire: At least 855 acres and 10 per cent contained
Lidia Fire: At least 348 acres and 40 per cent contained
Sunset Fire: At least 60 acres and 0 per cent contained
Palisades Fire ‘worst in LA history’
Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN the Palisades Fire is expected to be the costliest wildfire in history.
The fire has already destroyed at least 1,000 structures and is already the most destructive to ever occur in Los Angeles County, according to data from CalFire.
It is plausible that the Palisades Fire, in particular, will become the costliest on record period, not just in California, but in general. We’ve likely checked that box this time. I’m hoping we don’t check other boxes as well.
California Governor Gavin Newsom thanks ‘heroes’ battling the fires
Five people dead, but death tolls expected to rise
At least five people have been killed and officials expect the death toll to rise as fast-moving fires continue to blaze across Los Angeles County, mostly uncontained.
Polluted air and unsafe water pose a threat in several areas.
Extreme weather ignited fires throughout Southern California, as strong winds and low humidity worsened the conditions.
Thewind and fast-moving embers were the biggest factors that caused the fire to spread so quickly, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin.
Hollywood Hills latest:
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced that most of the evacuation zone for areas impacted by the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills has been lifted.
Officials have maintained restrictions on a small section of the community, specifically the region north of Franklin Avenue, stretching from Camino Palmero Street to N. Sierra Bonita Avenue, the fire department said in a statement.
The zone originally included several of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks.
Fire activity in Hollywood has significantly decreased, with the blaze now contained to 60 to 100 acres within a secured perimeter set by the LAFD.
Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution upon returning to their homes.
Catch up with the latest on MailOnline:
Pictures show devastation of multiple blazes
Bella Hadid, Khloe Kardashian and Ariana Grande lead stars reacting to raging LA fires
Bella Hadid, Khloe Kardashian and Ariana Grande were among the stars who shared their shocked reactions to the devastating fires raging in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Hadid, 28, who grew up in Malibu, took to Instagram sharing a photo of the city burning, writing, ‘Praying for our beautiful Malibu and all of the families, homes, and businesses affected. This is a nightmare turned reality.’
Khloe, 40, also shared a photo of the devastation, writing, ‘I cannot believe this is the Pacific Palisades. This is so incredibly heart wrenching. My heart is aching for all of Los Angeles.’
Wicked star Ariana, 31, wrote ‘My heart is with everyone impacted by the devastating LA fires. Sharing some organizations to support who are responding to those affected in realtime: @lafdfoundation @calfund @mutualaidla.’
John Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen, 39, shared a photo of herself in her walk-in closet with a black suitcase at her feet.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, 26, wrote: ‘I love you LA. I’m so sorry this is happening.’
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stood stone-faced and refused to answer a reporter’s question for two full minutes after being out of the country while killer wildfires raged through her city.
Furious Los Angelinos blasted their mayor for traveling to Ghana while the city burns, despite having ample warning about ‘critical’ weather conditions in the days before.
Bass flew out to attend the West African country’s presidential inauguration on Tuesday, after meteorologists warned that a ‘recipe for fire’ was on track to strike LA.
The mayor was there to attend the inauguration of the new president and meet with the country’s first-ever female vice president.
She was cornered by journalist David Blevins from Sky News at the airport upon her return with an assistant, who both refused to answer his questions.
Bass immediately indicated that she’s not going to answer his questions and turned away.
Blevins then asked her a series of questions that she did not respond to.
Read the story in full here:
An unearthed clip of Joe Rogan making a chilling prediction about how ferocious wildfires in Los Angeles have the potential to get out of hand has gone viral online.
This week, at least five people have lost their lives in the devastating natural disaster – with 2,000 structures completely obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the City of Angels.
Comedian Rogan was speaking to fellow comic Sam Morill on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that aired on July 19, 2024, when he mentioned wildfires in California.
At one point, Morill pointed out the t-shirt Rogan was wearing representing the Los Angeles Fire Department, noting it was a ‘bada**’ job.
Rogan then recounted the stunning conversation he’d had with a firefighter about how wildfires could get shockingly out of hand.
He said: ‘One day, it’s just gonna be the right wind and fire’s gonna start in the right place and it’s gonna burn through LA all the way to the ocean and there’s not a f***ing thing we can do about it.’
Rogan incredulously asked if it was really true and the unnamed firefighter affirmed, saying that previous times they’ve ‘just get lucky with the wind.’
‘If the wind hits the wrong way, it’s just going to burn through LA and there’s not a thing we can do about it,’ talking about how the winds can blow the embers through the dry Los Angeles climate.’
LA district attorney warns off looters and scammers
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned that those preying on fire victims will be prosecuted to ‘the fullest extent of the law’.
Two people have been arrested for looting, according to the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff Robert Luna.
Sunset Fire evacuee says evacuation is ‘chaotic’
CNN reported a local fleeing the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills as saying the situation is chaotic, with vehicles speeding away and helicopters dumping water on the flames.
Traffic is jammed to fire trucks and police vehicles as well as people trying to leave
Pasadena residents told not to drink tap water
The city Pasadena issued an urgent alert concerning unsafe drinking water in areas impacted by recent evacuations due to the Eaton Fire.
The water and power system could be compromised by “debris and elevated turbidity”.
Locals should only drink bottled water – also for food preparation, brushing teeth and pet care.
Attempts to treat the water – whether through boiling, filtering, or adding disinfectants is ineffective and unsafe.
Iconic Hollywood sign at risk
A wildfire erupted in the Hollywood Hills, California, putting the iconic Hollywood sign at risk.
Footage posted on X showed flames racing toward Hollywood Boulevard.
Full list of celebs who lost their homes in the blaze:
John Goodman
Anthony Hopkins
Miles and Keleigh Teller
Eugene Levy
Billy Crystal
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
Anna Faris
Paris Hilton
Sandra Lee
Ricki Lake
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
Matthew Perry’s former home
James Woods
Mark Hamill
Ben Affleck
Cameron Mathison
Cobie Smulders
Jamie Lee Curtis
Maria Shriver
Hollywood’s biggest celebrities are picking up the pieces after discovering their affluent neighbourhood was reduced to ash and rubble when the California wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades.
The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached five, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires.
The homes of Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman and Miles Teller are among those destroyed, while dozens of other stars now face an anxious wait alongside their neighbours to learn if anything could be saved.
Apocalyptic fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions.
Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets were wiped off the map, firefighters wererunning out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts.
Now, the widespread devastation is becoming clearer as celebrities share their devastation upon discovering they’ve lost their million-dollar mansions.
Pictures: California wildfires destroy thousands of cars and buildings
These photographs illustrate the extensive damage caused by the wildfires which have destroyed thousands of homes, businesses and cars so far across Los Angeles.
Fire ravaged businesses are left smouldering after the Palisades blaze
Fire-damaged vehicles are lined up at a dealership after the Eaton Fire
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire around a burned building
A man walks past one buisness left destroyed by the Eaton Fire
Drone footage captured the devastation in Altadena near Pasadena
Hollywood Boulevard evacuated as blaze erupts in celebrity epicentre
Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke.
Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City – forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape.
The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west – all iconic addresses in showbiz.
The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze – impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage.
At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far – with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city.
Read the full story by Dailymail.com reporter Brittany Chainhere
At least five dead as wildfires rage across Los Angeles
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the California fires as blazes continue to rage and spread across Los Angeles.
Residents and businesses have likened the apocalyptic scenes to ‘Armageddon’ as blazes broke out in Southern California for a second consecutive day with 100mph winds whipping up the flames.
At least five people have been killed and more than 130,000 forced to leave their homes in what has become the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles County.
Many celebrities have seen their multi-million dollar mansions razed to the ground as the fire spread to Hollywood Hills as desperate firefighters take water from ponds and swimming pools to tackle the wildfires.
Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you the latest updates from this developing story plus the most striking pictures and videos from California.
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California fires live updates: Los Angeles wildfires sweep through Hollywood Hills in apocalyptic scenes described as ‘Armageddon’