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California fires live updates: Palisades Fire one of most destructive in LA history

Progress is being made with some of the wildfires.

Last Updated: January 9, 2025, 11:57 AM EST

At least five people are dead and many more are injured 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, as well as several smaller blazes. Thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed and more than 100,000 people evacuated as uncontrolled infernos spread.

The scale of the damage and disruption wrought in Los Angeles is unprecedented, with state and federal authorities mobilizing to fight the fires and support those forced to flee. President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.

Jan 9, 3:40 am

Tracking active Southern California wildfires

Five major wildfires are currently burning in the Los Angeles area, according to Cal Fire.

The Palisades Fire began in the Pacific Palisades area of the city on Tuesday. It has so far burned 17,234 acres and is at 0% containment. More than 1,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

The Eaton Fire, north of Pasedna, began on Tuesday. It expanded to 10,600 acres and is at 0% containment. Five people have died in the fire and up to 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

The Hurst Fire in Sylmar, northwest of San Fernando, began on Tuesday and has burned 855 acres. It is at 10% containment.

The Lidia Fire erupted on Wednesday on the northwest edge of the Angeles National Forest. It has grown to 348 acres and is at 40% containment.

The Sunset Fire broke out above West Hollywood on Wednesday. It is at 43 acres and 0% containment.

Jan 08, 2025, 3:19 AM EST

Eaton Fire spreads to 1,000 acres

The fire that broke out at about 6:12 p.m. near Eaton Canyon in Pasadena had spread by midnight to about 1,000 acres, the Angeles National Forest said in an update.

Firefighters work to extinguish flames as the Eaton Fire burns in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

-ABC News’ Marilyn Heck

Jan 08, 2025, 3:12 AM EST

Pasadena issues mandatory evacuation orders

The City of Pasadena issued mandatory evacuation orders for the area north of Orange Grove and Rosemead Boulevard, east of Lake Avenue and west of Michillinda Avenue as the nearby Eaton Fire continued to grow.

A firefighter walks toward a burning structure as the Eaton Fire advances on Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, California.
Ethan Swope/AP

The city earlier said on its X account that those subject to emergency evacuation orders should go to the Pasadena Convention Center.

The Eaton Fire is burning in the hills northeast of the city, posing a direct threat to the northern suburb of Altadena.

Jan 08, 2025, 2:46 AM EST

Firefighter injured, 'multiple' people burned in Palisades Fire

Erik Scott, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said that a 25-year-old female firefighter "sustained a serious head injury" during the response to the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County on Tuesday evening.

A building burns during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mike Blake/Reuters

"She received immediate treatment at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation," Scott said in a statement posted to X.

Scott also said that "multiple burn victims" were identified "walking toward a nearby restaurant," which he later identified as Dukes.

"Incident operations redirected medical resources to the location to provide evaluation and treatment," he added.

-ABC News' Marilyn Heck

Jan 08, 2025, 12:01 AM EST

Palisades Fire burning at 5 football fields per minute

With the winds picking up Tuesday evening, the Palisades Fire is burning at the rate of five football fields per minute, according to CalFire.

The winds around the fire are expected to increase to up to 80 miles per hour through the night.

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