California has been placed in a state of emergency and two deaths have been reported due to the wildfires that started on Tuesday RIP ACROSS metropolitan los angeles, Sparking evictions And power outages.

California, the third largest state in the United States, is frequently ravaged by wildfires, especially in the South.

Here’s what we know about the fires, their impact and the latest news on the ground.

Where and when did the Los Angeles wildfires start?

At 10:30 a.m. (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday, the first wildfire started in the Pacific Palisades area of ​​Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

this Wealthy neighborhoodIt is located between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of downtown Los Angeles.

What areas of Los Angeles were affected by wildfires and how much area was burned?

Nearly 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of land had been burned in the first Pacific Palisades fire by Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire.

At around 6 p.m. (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday, a second fire, called the Eaton Fire, broke out about 50 kilometers (30 miles) inland near Pasadena, doubling in size to 162 hectares (400 acres) within a few hours. .

A third fire, called the Hearst Fire, also broke out in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, northwest of Los Angeles.

Together, the three fires burned 2,285 hectares (5,648 acres).

How many people were killed in the Los Angeles wildfires?

On Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that two people had been reported dead in the Eaton Fire as well as “a significant number of serious injuries among residents” in the Palisades Fire.

A firefighter suffered a head injury in the Palisades fire, a fire official told local TV station KTLA.

No deaths have been reported from the Palisades Fire.

Will the Los Angeles wildfires spread farther?

Yes, it seems so. US media reported that the fires had already spread north and burned homes near Malibu.

Malibu began issuing evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon and Santa Monica Tuesday evening.

Were any buildings damaged?

The Palisades fire burned some trees and plants on the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum, one of the richest art museums in the world, which includes works of art and culture from ancient Greece and Rome.

In a post on social media platform

The Eaton fire swept through the McDonald’s branch and the temple and the Jewish Center in Pasadena, but employees at the latter were safely evacuated with their Bibles, including the Torah, Melissa Levy, the temple’s executive director, told the New York Times.

American actor James Woods reported damage to his home in the Pacific Palisades area.

All the smoke detectors in our house go off and send it to our iPhones.

I couldn’t believe our sweet little house in the hills had lasted so long. It feels like losing a loved one.

-James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 8, 2025

Do Santa Ana winds cause wildfires in California?

Officials did not confirm the cause of these fires. However, winter wildfires are not unusual in California due to the region’s Santa Ana winds, which dry out vegetation and make it more vulnerable to fires.

These are dry, warm, strong winds common in Southern California during the cold months due to conditions caused by atmospheric pressure changes and the cold temperatures of the season.

Santa Ana winds form when high pressure over the Great Basin, a large dry area in the western United States, forces air to flow toward the coast. As air descends through mountain ranges and valleys, it loses moisture, compresses and accelerates, becoming warmer and faster.

The geography of the area, including the orientation of the mountains and valleys, directs winds toward Southern California and the Pacific Coast.

Experts say this winter has been particularly dangerous.

“We’ve never really had a dry season like this one, followed by a wet season like the previous one — all this abundant growth of grass and plants immediately followed by a wind event of this magnitude while still being very incredibly dry,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles. , broadcast live on Monday.

Strong Santa Ana winds have been linked to some of Southern California’s worst wildfires, including the Franklin Fire in December 2024 that burned more than 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) of the Malibu area, damaging or destroying nearly 50 homes.

On Saturday, the National Weather Service issued its highest alert for severe fire conditions for much of Los Angeles County from Tuesday through Friday.

A fire weather watch is in effect Tuesday through Friday in parts of Los Angeles/Ventura counties. There is a possibility of northerly to northeasterly winds that may reach their peak on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With no significant rain yet, the fire season will continue into the new year! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/fahxe7RIpI

– NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 3, 2025

When will the fires stop?

Experts and officials are not optimistic that the fires can be extinguished soon.

Meteorologists said the monsoon could develop into the worst wind storm in a decade, with wind gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph) expected. Typically, wind gusts above 64 km/h (40 mph) can begin to damage trees and infrastructure and become a concern.

“I think it will be a difficult night. What is happening now is just the beginning because the weather conditions will get much worse,” meteorologist Daniel Swain told AFP news agency.

“The wind storm is expected to intensify through the morning,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned in a post on X early Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Cal Fire said none of the three fires around Los Angeles were contained, as winds remained very strong. Firefighters are trying to work through steep terrain in the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Hills to thin out vegetation and create breaks in the fire.

What will happen next?

A red flag “particularly dangerous situation” warning has been issued for 19 million people in parts of Southern California. This warning is typically only issued “in rare cases when long-lasting, strong, and violent tornadoes are possible,” according to the National Weather Service. It was last released during the Franklin Fire of December 2024 which burned approximately 1,633 hectares (4,037 acres), damaged or destroyed 48 structures, and was completely contained by December 18.

In the midst of all this, electricity was also cut off in the city. As of 12:30 a.m. local time (08:30 GMT) on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported power outages to about 127,000 customers, CBS News reported. More than 220,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County were without power late Tuesday, data from PowerOutage.us showed.

What action is taken?

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from the affected areas, and schools were closed. Some events in Hollywood have been cancelled.

More than 30,000 people were evacuated, many of whom fled on foot after traffic stopped. Emergency shelters have been opened for evacuees from the Palisades and Hearst fires Animal shelters Created for the pets of residents affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Emergency shelters are open for Angelenos evacuated by these devastating fires.#PalisadesFire shelter:
Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd#HurstFire shelter:
Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd

– Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 8, 2025

The Los Angeles Zoo said it would remain closed Wednesday, while 18 school districts also reported closures, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The Screen Actors Guild Awards canceled their in-person nomination ceremony on Wednesday.

Nominations announcement update for the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards pic.twitter.com/v7dvzIQtc0

— SAG® Awards (@SAGawards) January 8, 2025

The National Weather Service urged people to stay inside and away from windows during the storm.

California deployed more than 1,400 fire personnel and hundreds of pre-positioned assets to fight these unprecedented fires in Los Angeles.

Emergency officials, firefighters and first responders are on deck throughout the night doing everything they can to protect lives.

– Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that “all hands on deck” with more than 1,400 firefighters deployed to fight the fires. US President Biden also agreed Federal assistance.