At least 10 people are believed to be dead -- with the LA County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as a series of devastating fires grow uncontained across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction.
Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the Los Angeles area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 19,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and remains zero percent contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and zero percent contained. More than 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as the infernos spread.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.
Water tankers and rangers are "positioned and ready" to protect Los Angeles' iconic Griffith Park if needed, a park attendant told ABC News.
The park, home to Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign, is closed until further notice due to the weather conditions.
Smoke from wildfires hangs in the sky over Griffith Observatory on Jan. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Andy Bao/AP
The Hollywood sign is not in fire danger at the moment, according to Elizabeth Johnson, a member of the Hollywood Sign Trust.
-ABC News' Samira Said
Jan 08, 2025, 3:27 PM EST
NHL postpones tonight's Los Angeles Kings game
The NHL has postponed Wednesday night's game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames, which was scheduled to be held at LA's Crypto.com arena, due to the wildfires.
"The thoughts of the entire NHL family are with the Kings, hockey fans and the people of the Los Angeles area during this difficult time," the NHL said in a statement.
A makeup game will be scheduled.
The NFL is also monitoring wildfires ahead of Monday night's NFC wild card game in Los Angeles, ESPN reported.
-ABC News' Karyn Rodus
Jan 08, 2025, 3:14 PM EST
Residents urged to conserve water amid 'tremendous demand'
Residents in Los Angeles were urged to conserve water, as firefighters battle multiple wildfires.
"We had a tremendous demand on our system and the Palisades," Janisse Quiñones, the head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said during a press briefing Wednesday. "We pushed the system to the extreme."
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire while it burns homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Apu Gomes/Getty Images
She said they saw four times the normal demand for 15 hours straight, which lowered the water pressure. Two tanks ran out of water on Tuesday, and a third early Wednesday morning, as firefighters battled the Palisades Fire.
"We were not able to fill the tanks fast enough," Quiñones said.
She said they were sending approximately 20 water tanks to support the fire department.
"If there's a message to take away from me today it's I need our customers to really conserve water -- not just in the Palisades area, but the whole system. Because the fire department needs the water to fight the fires, and we're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging," Quiñones said.
Jan 08, 2025, 3:03 PM EST
Biden signed emergency declaration over fires
After being briefed on the four wildfires ablaze in Southern California, President Joe Biden said he signed a major disaster declaration over the California fires on Wednesday.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks regarding the ongoing wildfires impacting Southern California alongside California Gov. Gavin Newsom at Santa Monica Fire Department Station 5 in Santa Monica, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
A U.S flag flies as fire engulfs a structure while the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 7, 2025.
Ringo Chiu/Reuters
Biden said he has directed the Department of Defense to provide more firefighting needs and discussed the other resources that are being brought in to help.
He pledged that the federal government will continue to provide support for "as long as it takes."
Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.
Ethan Swope/AP
"We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to tame these fires and help … make sure they get back to normal," Biden said, adding, "It’s going to be a hell of a long way."
