Multiple Fires Blaze Throughout L.A. County Prompting Thousands Of Evacuations

Multiple large uncontrolled fires fueled by the high-speed Santa Ana winds raced across Los Angeles County on Wednesday morning, prompting tens of thousands of evacuations as firefighters struggled to battle the blaze. 

Up to 80,000 people throughout the area were told to evacuate as the fires have burned through thousands of acres. Rapid winds spread the Palisades Fire (3,000 acres), Hurst Fire (1,000 acres), and Eaton Fire (500 acres), while smaller fires have also been reported in L.A. County. 

The National Weather Service said that winds in the area have been consistently measured at 50 miles per hour with isolated gusts between 70 to 100 miles per hour. 

“Dangerous fire weather conditions are ongoing in southern California with the most extreme conditions expected this morning,” the organization said. “Winds should gradually weaken somewhat through the day, but critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist into Thursday.”

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said early Wednesday morning that there was 0% containment of the Palisades Fire. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Fire Department called on any off-duty officer to assist. 

At other locations, videos and photos show a desperate rush to evacuate nursing home residents caught in the path of the Eaton Fire near Pasadena. One video posted to X showed patients being pushed across the street in wheelchairs and beds as workers struggled against the wind to get them out of harm’s way. 

 

 

A video from a local news outlet showed the patients being loaded into vehicles and moved to a safe location. According to the report, responders used ambulances, SWAT cars, and other vehicles to move the patients. 

 

Pasadena Fire Department Chief Chad Augustin told Fox News that the situation “looked like an apocalypse.” 

“You couldn’t see – there was spot fires everywhere, there were trees coming down literally as we were driving. And multiple, multiple houses on fire,” he said. “Definitely the worst brush fire and worst incident that Pasadena has seen in its history.”

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The high winds have prevented first responders from fighting the blazes from above, grounding helicopters and other aircraft used to help contain the fires with retardant.

“We could have another 500 firefighters here on this incident and we still wouldn’t be able to stop this fire,” Augustin added. “We really need the winds to die down, we need to get aircraft in the air and be able to start doing water drops and then come behind it with fire crews.” 

Fire Captain Robert Foxworth told NBC on Wednesday morning that people in the path of the fire should leave as soon as possible if they could. 

“By the time you realize it, you’re stuck — especially the way this fire is burning, throwing embers out ahead,” he said. “It can actually throw spot fires and start fires on the other side of you, and you can be surrounded by fire.”

“My suggestion would be, if you’re still at home, and you have the ability to leave, do so,” Foxworth added.

No fatalities have yet been reported from the fires.

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