Unprecedented wildfires in US ravage Los Angeles, destroying iconic landmarks

The Hollywood Hills blazed uncontrollably Thursday morning as the worst wildfires in Los Angeles history raged across the city, reaching deep into the storied heart of the American film industry.

A crescent of flame engulfed Los Angeles in a massive pincer visible from space. Over 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate as dry, hurricane-force winds spread flames across parched ground that hasn’t seen rain for months.

At least five people have died since the fires erupted Tuesday.

The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames, which tore through some of the world’s most lavish real estate and showbiz landmarks instantly recognizable around the globe.

A satellite image shows smoke covering the Pacific Coast Highway along the Malibu coastline due to the devastating wildfires, California, U.S., January 8, 2025. Reuters

“This firestorm is the big one,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference after cutting short an official trip to Ghana to return to the city.

At least six separate wildfires were burning in Los Angeles County.

Three were listed as "0% controlled," including massive conflagrations on the city’s eastern and western flanks and the smaller Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills, just above Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame.

The L.A. Fire Department issued an evacuation order for residents in an area bordered by 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 for film, TV, and music. The Hollywood Sign is located across the freeway.

Flames and smoke rise from structures as the Palisades fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 8, 2025.Reuters

On the west side of Los Angeles, the Palisades Fire consumed 15,832 acres (6,406 hectares) and hundreds of structures in the hills between Santa Monica and Malibu. The fire raced down Topanga Canyon and reached the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday.

“We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of children and friends, we will get through this,” said film star Billy Crystal and his wife Janice, announcing that their Pacific Palisades home, where they had lived since 1979, was destroyed.

Celebrity homes destroyed

Media personality Paris Hilton said she was “heartbroken beyond words” after watching her beachfront house in Malibu “burn to the ground on live TV.”

A snapshot of Paris Hilton's post about her home being burned down.Nukta

Actor James Woods recounted fleeing from the flames: “One day you’re swimming in the pool, and the next day it’s all gone,” he said in a TV interview. He wept as he described a niece who “came out with her little Yeti piggy bank for us to rebuild our house.”

Scope of destruction

“I had just come from my family home where my mother lives, which was burned to a crisp... And then I came up to my home and—same thing.

It’s completely dust,” said Oliver Allnatt, 36, wearing ski goggles and a filtered facemask as he photographed the ruins. “Just a chimney stack and a pile of ash. I mean, it’s something out of a movie.”

Thousands of Los Angeles residents fleeing the flames sought refuge in temporary shelters. Foad Farid found safety in the gym of the Westwood Recreation Center with only his car and phone. Neighbors dropped off blankets, clothing, water, pizza, and pet food.

Jeff Harris arrived towing his Feisty Fish Poke food truck and began serving meals. “I’m just here to help,” he said.

Fire engulfs a structure as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025.Reuters

Kevin Williams, at an evacuation center in Pasadena, said he knew it was time to run when gas canisters at his neighbors’ homes started exploding under the heat.

“The wind whipped up, the flames were about 30 or 40 feet high, and you hear ‘pop, pop, pop.’ It sounded like a war zone,” Williams said.

Firefighter uses a hose near a burning building, as powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 8, 2025.Reuters

Aerial footage by KTLA showed block after block of smoldering homes in Pacific Palisades, the smoky grid occasionally punctuated by the orange blaze of another home still burning.

To the east, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Eaton Fire claimed another 10,600 acres (4,289 hectares), another 1,000 structures, and killed at least five people, officials said.

“We’re facing a historic natural disaster. And I think that can’t be stated strongly enough,” Kevin McGowan, director of emergency management for Los Angeles County, said during a press conference.

Forecasters said winds would briefly subside Wednesday night, but so-called red flag conditions were expected to remain until Friday.

Residents work together following wildfires in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025.Reuters

The scale and spread of the fires stretched exhausted firefighting crews beyond their capacity.

Firefighters from six other states were being rushed to California, while an additional 250 engine companies with 1,000 personnel were being moved from Northern to Southern California, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a press conference.

Water shortages caused some hydrants to run dry in upscale Pacific Palisades, officials said.

“We pushed the system to the extreme. We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems,” said Janisse Quinones, chief executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The fires struck at a particularly vulnerable time for Southern California, which hasn’t seen significant rainfall for months.

Then came the powerful Santa Ana winds, bringing dry desert air from the east toward the coastal mountains, fanning the flames while blowing over hilltops and down through the canyons.