Los Angeles metro engulfed by deadly apocalyptic wildfires fueled by hurricane-force wind gusts
State authorities have yet to fully assess the carnage, but harrowing images emerging from the hardest-hit areas around Los Angeles reveal a grim reality of a landscape of devastation. Hundreds of homes lie in ruins, consumed by the relentless advance of the Palisades Fire.
Ball of flames erupt from business as Eaton Wildfire tears through Altadena
Video shows huge flames and thick smoke pouring from an auto repair business in Altadena, California, as the Eaton Wildfire consumes the landscape.
LOS ANGELES – Southern California is under siege as a terrifying and deadly inferno is fueled by the wrath of hurricane-force winds. More than 200,000 people are under some sort of evacuation notice as multiple uncontained wildfires consume everything in their path.
The human toll is mounting. According to Los Angeles County officials, at least five people have died in the Eaton Fire, which is raging near Altadena and Pasadena and the toll is expected to climb in the days and weeks ahead.
Watch: Los Angeles home collapses live on FOX Weather as wildfires rage in Southern California
The last remaining wall of a Los Angeles home engulfed in flames collapsed as a FOX camera was rolling on the scene. Jan. 8, 2025.
In addition, the monstrous Palisades Fire, which ignited in the Santa Monica Mountains near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood late Tuesday morning, exploded in fury, consuming more than 15,000 acres and destroying 1,000 structures, according to CAL FIRE.
"L.A. County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster," LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone told reporters at a news conference Wednesday morning. "There are not enough firefighters in L.A. County to address four separate fires of this magnitude."
HELLISH SCENES CAUGHT ON VIDEO AS LOS ANGELES-AREA WILDFIRES DESTROY THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES
A combination of the wind, fires and power shutoffs led to at least 1.5 million outages, according to PowerOutage.us, which grew throughout Wednesday.
AirNow.gov has marked air quality all around Los Angeles as "hazardous," the worst possible rating for air quality. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took to X to warn residents to stay inside with all doors and windows closed and to wear masks.
(FOX Weather)
State authorities have yet to fully assess the carnage, but harrowing images emerging from the hardest-hit areas reveal a grim reality of a landscape of devastation.
Dozens, if not hundreds, of homes lie in ruins, consumed by the relentless advance of four monstrous blazes – the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Woodley fires – each fueled by the most ferocious Santa Ana winds in over 14 years.
Palisades Fire burns several homes near Los Angeles
Video from FOX 11 Los Angeles' Matthew Seedorff shows multiple homes engulfed in flames in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Residents around the area have been forced to flee their homes in a desperate exodus amid destruction that stretches for miles. Burning streets are littered with the ghostly remains of dozens of abandoned vehicles – silent testaments to the panic that erupted Tuesday.
Multiple burn victims have been rushed to hospitals in critical condition.
On Tuesday, a 25-year-old firefighter sustained a critical head injury while she was battling the blaze and was swiftly transported to the hospital, Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said.
Satellite captures Southern California wildfires explosion
A satellite timelapse from CIRA/CSU shows the wildfires burning in southern California Tuesday night. The Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires have burned thousands of acres combined.
Another harrowing scene unfolded on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway early Wednesday morning. A man, his body severely burned and most of his clothing incinerated, was found stumbling along the road. He is now fighting for his life in critical condition, FOX 11 in Los Angeles reports.
President Joe Biden was in Southern California at the time of the fire, received regular updates on the disaster and directed FEMA to offer any immediate assistance.
"I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials," Biden said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
WATCH: PALISADES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES EXPLODES AS PEOPLE FLEE FROM BURNING HOMES
![A firefighter fights the flames from the Palisades Fire burning the Theatre Palisades during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.]()
Image 1 of 33A firefighter fights the flames from the Palisades Fire burning the Theatre Palisades during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
![Photo from plane shows wildfires scorching southern California.]()
Image 2 of 33Photo from plane shows wildfires scorching southern California. (@cvpayne/X)
![Pacific Coast Highway is seen in smoke from the Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025 in Malibu, California.]()
Image 3 of 33Pacific Coast Highway is seen in smoke from the Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025 in Malibu, California. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
![Torrance Firefighters are seen gearing up to fight the Palisades Fire, as residents try to escape the site in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025.]()
Image 4 of 33Torrance Firefighters are seen gearing up to fight the Palisades Fire, as residents try to escape the site in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. (Jon Putman/Anadolu)
![Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a car and homes during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.]()
Image 5 of 33Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a car and homes during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
![Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.]()
Image 6 of 33Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
![Embers whip across the ground as homes burn during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025.]()
Image 7 of 33Embers whip across the ground as homes burn during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
![A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025.]()
Image 8 of 33A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
![Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area]()
Image 9 of 33Lifeguard towers go up in flames along Malibu beach in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
![Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area]()
Image 10 of 33Lifeguard towers go up in flames along Malibu beach in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 11 of 33Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Eric Thayer)
![Brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades]()
Image 12 of 33Firefighters work as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisafes, California on January 7, 2025. (David Swanson / AFP)
![Brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades]()
Image 13 of 33Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisafes, California on January 7, 2025. (David Swanson / AFP)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 14 of 33( )
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 15 of 33A brush fire, pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds, burns near homes on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 16 of 33Smoke rises from a burning vehicle during a brush fire pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 17 of 33Smoke rises from a burning vehicle during a brush fire pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. (Qian Weizhong/VCG)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 18 of 33A helicopter flies over homes threatened by the wind-driven Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, January 7, 2025. (David Swanson / AFP)
![Pacific Palisades Fire]()
Image 19 of 33A firefighting aircraft drops the fire retardant Phos-Chek as the Palisades Fire burns amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Mario Tama)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025.]()
Image 20 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![Smoke from the Palisades fire seen from Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024.]()
Image 21 of 33Smoke from the Palisades fire seen from Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024. (@depression2019/X)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California]()
Image 22 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California]()
Image 23 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California]()
Image 24 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California]()
Image 25 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![Wildfire burns in Southern California]()
Image 26 of 33Wildfire burns in Southern California's Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7. 2025. (CAL Fire / UC San Diego)
![The Palisades Fire seen from the airport in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024.]()
Image 27 of 33The Palisades Fire seen from the airport in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024. (@mzvxb/X)
![Brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades]()
Image 28 of 33Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades as seen from Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2025. (Agustin PAULLIER / AFP)
![Brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades]()
Image 29 of 33Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades as seen from Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2025. (Agustin PAULLIER / AFP)
![Brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades]()
Image 30 of 33Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades as seen from Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2025. (Agustin PAULLIER / AFP)
![People use garden hoses in an effort to prevent a home from catching fire, as a home burns next door, during the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California.]()
Image 31 of 33People use garden hoses in an effort to prevent a home from catching fire, as a home burns next door, during the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Image 32 of 33LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire has grown to more than 2900-acres and is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
![Homes burn in Palisades Fire]()
Image 33 of 33PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - January 08: Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway near Will Rodgers State Beach during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
These raging infernos, whipped by wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, are devouring everything in their path, transforming once vibrant communities into desolate wastelands.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was on the ground in the Palisades monitoring the efforts of hundreds of first responders. Local and state leaders declared a state of emergency due to the fire and the continued threat from damaging winds. This comes as firefighters declared "an all-hands-on-deck" situation.
CAMERAS CAPTURE PALISADES FIRE RAPID SPREAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
(FOX Weather)
The crisis deepened before dawn Wednesday, casting a pall of smoke over the region. More than 400,000 residents plunged into darkness Wednesday as power outages crippled the region, and that number continues to climb as the fires advance.
"Last night was one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that we've seen in any part of our city, at any part of our history. Fire, literally jumping roads, taking out structures," Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA City Council President said in a press conference on Wednesday morning. "Injuries were kept to a minimum. Fatalities were kept to a minimum, and we wake up this morning with a renewed spirit that we can defeat this fire, and move on to a brighter day."
WILL THE VIKINGS-RAMS WILD-CARD PLAYOFF GAME HAPPEN IN LOS ANGELES WITH FIRES RAGING?
(FOX Weather)
The battle against these apocalyptic blazes is far from over. Firefighters, facing unimaginable challenges, are engaged in a desperate struggle to contain the inferno before it consumes everything in its path.
FOX News Senior National Correspondent William La Jeunesse stood along the Pacific Coast Highway early Wednesday morning and witnessed the destruction of five homes around him. The fire is now spreading rapidly, threatening the homes adjacent to them, some already consumed by the flames.
Watch: California home collapses live on air due to fiery flames
The last remaining wall of a Los Angeles home engulfed in flames collapsed as a FOX camera was rolling on the scene. Jan. 8, 2025.
The level of destruction extends both north and south along the coast, with hurricane-force winds that are incredibly strong, dry and unpredictable.
Winds calmed enough on Wednesday for some firefighting aircraft to return to the skies after being temporarily grounded on Tuesday.
THICK SMOKE FROM PALISADES FIRE SEEN OVER SANTA MONICA
Palisades Fire forces thousands to flee
Video taken by FOX's Matthew Seedorff showed several homes that were damaged by a fast-moving wildfire in Los Angeles County, California.
La Jeunesse reports that the fire is even spotting, jumping a mile or more ahead of the main firefront. This likely explains the rapid spread of the Palisades Fire, which began as a small brush fire, possibly ignited by a landscaping crew. In the early stages, firefighters in the Palisades area were overwhelmed, caught off guard by the intense winds and experienced significant water pressure issues.
Chinook helicopters were deployed, dropping water and retardant, but the fire was moving so swiftly that the water was often ineffective. Firefighters describe feeling helpless, as the fire advanced faster than they could effectively combat it.
DANGEROUS WINDS SLAM LOS ANGELES AREA AS WILDFIRE RAPIDLY GROWS IN SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS
Video: Palisades Fire engulfs Los Angeles homes, forces evacuations
Videos shot by @FirePhotoGirl in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood Tuesday show the Palisades Fire creeping up on homes in the neighborhood. Residents are being evacuated.
The fires have devastated several neighborhoods, including parts of Palisades Village, Valley High School and Marquez Elementary.
The Los Angeles Unified School District confirmed at least two elementary schools and a high school were either damaged or destroyed in the flames.
The fire is moving north into Malibu and parts of northern Santa Monica, impacting areas like Samisoni Boulevard and Rustic Canyon. These densely populated areas, with homes built close together, are now under mandatory evacuation orders. In some cases, homes are literally just feet from the ocean with the flames raging on the other side.
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 7, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
(Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist at least through Thursday.
Firefighters were tracking a blaze known as the Sunset Fire in northern Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
CALFIRE reported that 20 acres among vegetation in the Holiday Hills area had burned as firefighters worked on the ground to control the fire.
Similar to Tuesday night, many air resources appeared to have been grounded, limiting the response by first responders.
Residents in the evacuation zone were notified by authorities on life-saving measures to take as the blaze burned out of control.
The evacuation zone included several hotels that are frequented by tourists.
Hollywood Hills wildfire burns out of control
FOX Weather's Robert Ray reports from Los Angeles County where the latest wildfire has erupted.