Los Angeles wildfires spread to Hollywood as 100,000 evacuate
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Intense wildfires encircling Los Angeles reached the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, following other fires in the area that have claimed at least five lives.
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The Palisades Fire burns a property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on January 7, 2025. (AP)
Intense wildfires encircling Los Angeles reached the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, following other blazes in the region that have claimed at least five lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and overwhelmed firefighting teams and water supplies.
Over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate as strong, dry winds hampered firefighting efforts and fueled the spread of the fires, which have scorched thousands of acres since starting on Tuesday.
"This firestorm is the big one," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told a press conference after rushing back to the city, cutting short an official trip to Ghana.
Los Angeles: A new fire is spreading in the Hollywood Hills, where I used to live. This is quite some distance from the main inferno in Pacific Palisades. So far, Beverly Hills , which is in between, seems to be untouched. pic.twitter.com/ii965UE33Z
— Peter Whittle (@prwhittle) January 9, 2025
A new fire broke out in the dry Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said in a press conference. The fire led to more evacuations and increased the number of active wildfires in Los Angeles County to at least six.
According to state officials, four of the fires were 0% contained, including a pair of major conflagrations on the eastern and western flanks of the city that continued to grow as night fell on Wednesday.
According to Cal Fire, the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills burned 50 acres (20 hectares) on Wednesday, and helicopter crews and ground teams seemed to be making headway in slowing its rapid spread.
The LA Fire Department ordered evacuations for areas bordered by Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west—all key locations tied to the entertainment industry.
The area includes the Dolby Theater, home to the Oscars ceremony. Organizers announced that next week's Oscar nominations announcement had already been delayed by two days due to the fire.
🚨🇺🇸 The US faced challenges in controlling the Los Angeles, Palisades, and Hollywood Hills wildfires due to:
— The Raven (@the_raven28) January 9, 2025
- Climate Change & Mismanagement: Poor forest management and climate change led to extremely dry conditions.
- Underfunded Fire Services: Lack of funding resulted in… https://t.co/V6VkXPQ7gO pic.twitter.com/f1nHMX6i0U
Although relatively small, the Sunset Fire scorched land above Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame. To threaten the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory higher up in the hills, it would need to cross the 101 Freeway.
In nearby Studio City, a structure fire destroyed at least two homes and spread to nearby brush, according to live television footage. Additionally, the LA Fire Department reported that over 50 firefighters contained the blaze, with no injuries reported.
