California fires live updates: New fire erupts in Hollywood Hills Five fires are burning around LA County, prompting sweeping evacuations.
California fires live updates: New fire erupts in Hollywood Hills
Five fires are burning around LA County, prompting sweeping evacuations.
At least five people are dead and many more injured as several fires broke out across Southern California amid historically dry and windy conditions.
Tens of thousands were evacuated as nearly 16,000 acres burned in the uncontrolled Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles. The fire has destroyed at least 300 structures, with over 13,300 others at risk.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire — which broke out miles away from the Palisades Fire, in Altadena — has grown to more than 10,000 acres with 0% containment.
Another blaze, the Hurst Fire, has also erupted and spread northeast of San Fernando, burning at least 700 acres. In Acton, the Lidia Fire has burned 50 acres while the former Woodley Fire was under control as of the early evening in California.
However, five separate fires remain active as the Sunset Fire erupted just before 6 p.m. local time in the residential Runyon Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills.
Key Headlines
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New fire breaks out in Hollywood Hills
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Jan 08, 2025, 11:44 PM EET
Palisades Fire spreads to nearly 16,000 acres
Jan 08, 2025, 11:31 PM EET
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New fire breaks out in Hollywood Hills
A new fire has broken out in the famed Runyon Canyon of Hollywood Hills. It is being referred to as the Sunset Fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was surveying the scene for the first time at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time. It then characterized the breakout as approximately 10 acres in size.
Observing the fire in real time, KABC’s Chris Cristi said, “This is the most ominous situation.”
Los Angeles cut $17.5M from fire department budget this fiscal year
Seven months before the uncontrolled Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, the city’s fire department budget for this fiscal year was cut by more than $17.5 million, records show.
Mayor Karen Bass signed the City of Los Angeles’ budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The total budget for the city’s fire department was $819.64 million.
Records show that for the previous fiscal year, the LAFD’s total budget was $837.2 million. The total budget includes salaries, expenses and equipment.
The city’s controller, Kenneth Mejia, posted a graphic on X in October confirming the fire department’s budget was cut by $17.6 million. The graphic also showed that the city’s police department budget increased by $126 million.
“This budget serves as a reset, in part by continuing to hire for critical positions including police officers and firefighters while eliminating some of the department’s vacant positions, thereby prioritizing our City family over empty desks,” Bass said in a statement in June.
-Laura Romero
5 schools ‘substantially damaged’ by Eaton Fire
Five school campuses in Altadena have been “substantially damaged” by the Eaton Fire, according to Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco.
“We are continuing to assess damage,” she said during a press briefing while warning that some schools still remain in the path of the fire.
“We’re working together with our city partners to do everything we can to preserve our schools,” Blanco said.
All schools in the district will remain closed for the rest of the week, she said.
Pasadena City College has sustained minor damage and will resume classes on Monday, the school’s president, José Gómez, said during the briefing.
Death toll increases to 5 in Eaton Fire: Sheriff
Five people have now died in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed to ABC Los Angeles station KABC.
Previously, two deaths were reported.
1 hour and 56 minutes ago
‘We have experienced a tremendous tragedy,’ Pasadena mayor says
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo confirmed five people have died and “hundreds of homes have been lost” in the Eaton Fire during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
“We have experienced a tremendous tragedy here in our community,” Gordo said.
Between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or lost, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin based on a preliminary assessment.
Miguel Márquez, the city manager for Pasadena, called firefighters’ efforts “heroic” to battle the blaze in 80 mph winds and evacuate the area amid the “brutal conditions.”
“They saved many, many lives in the last 22 hours,” Márquez said during the press briefing.
With the fire still burning, officials urged people to follow evacuation orders.
California fires live updates: New fire erupts in Hollywood Hills
Five fires are burning around LA County, prompting sweeping evacuations.
3 hours and 50 minutes ago
5th fire now burning in Los Angeles County
A fifth fire is now active in Los Angeles County.
The Lidia Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon, has grown to 50 acres in Acton and has spread to the Angeles National Forest with 0% containment, officials said.