LOS ANGELES (AP) — Early Thursday, firefighters worked tirelessly to contain multiple massive wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area. The blazes have claimed five lives, devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes in panic.
Fierce winds that fueled the flames and triggered chaotic evacuations have subsided slightly and are expected to remain less intense throughout the day. This lull could give firefighters a crucial chance to gain control over the wildfires, which have leaped across the vast Los Angeles region, including major outbreaks in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
In Altadena, a once-vibrant neighborhood of approximately 250 homes—surrounded by lush green trees and aquamarine pools—has been reduced to rubble. Images from Maxar Technologies show only a handful of homes still standing, some engulfed in flames. In Malibu, along a stretch of 70 tightly packed homes overlooking the Pacific Ocean, fewer than 10 remain intact.
Pacific Palisades, a coastal area known for its celebrity residents, has suffered extensive damage. Block after block of California Mission-style homes and bungalows lie in ruins, reduced to charred remnants. An ornate iron railing clings to the smoldering frame of one house, while swimming pools are blackened with soot and luxury cars sit on melted tires.
The fires have also devastated local schools, with more than half a dozen either damaged or destroyed. UCLA has canceled classes for the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, Sylmar, a working- and middle-class community on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley, faces yet another devastating wildfire, adding to the region’s growing toll.
Landmarks Scorched, Studios Halt Production
President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration upon arriving at a Santa Monica fire station, where he received a briefing from Governor Gavin Newsom. In response to the crisis, Newsom deployed National Guard troops to assist firefighting efforts.
Several major Hollywood studios have paused production, while Universal Studios temporarily closed its theme park, located between Pasadena and Pacific Palisades.
By early Thursday, approximately 250,000 residents in Southern California were without power, according to the tracking site PowerOutage.us.