Last Update January 09, 2025 06:35am ET

Multiple wildfires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, are raging across southern California early Thursday, leaving at least 5 dead and burning more than 25,000 acres, officials say.

Covered by: Greg Norman, Elizabeth Pritchett, Christina Shaw, Bradford Betz and Joshua Comins

Fast Facts

•  The Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Lidia Fire and the Sunset Fire are all raging in Los Angeles County as of early Thursday, according to Cal Fire. 
•  The Eaton Fire has claimed at least five lives and is at 0% containment as of Thursday morning. The Palisades Fire is also at 0% containment. 
•  The Sunset Fire, which erupted near Hollywood Hills Wednesday night, appears to be under control, according to authorities who spoke to Fox News. 

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2 hour(s) ago

PINNED

Fire breaks out in Hollywood Hills, mile from Hollywood Walk of Fame

Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8. (AP/Ethan Swope)

Another fire broke out in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard Wednesday, further burdening overwhelmed firefighters who are already battling multiple fires in Los Angeles.

The latest fire, near Runyon Canyon, was threatening some of the most popular Los Angles tourist hotspots — including the iconic Hollywood sign — as firefighters battled to contain other blazes.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, meanwhile, was bustling and the streets around the TCL Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds were packed with stop-and-go traffic as sirens blared and low-flying helicopters flew overhead to dump water on the flames, which were only about a mile away. People toting suitcases left hotels while some onlookers walked toward the flames, recording the fire on their phones.

Within a few hours firefighters had made major progress. Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said they were able to keep the fire in check because “we hit it hard and fast and mother nature was a little nicer to us today than she was yesterday.”

The latest fire comes as firefighters in Los Angeles and neighboring communities are battling the Palisades Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Lidia Fire, and the Eaton Fire, the latter of which, has claimed the lives of five people.  At least 130,000 people were under evacuation orders.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Los Angeles Fire Department captain Sheila Kelliher described the scorched hillsides, “dramatic and apocalyptic.”

Kelliher said she wached winds “whip up to 70, 80, even 100 miles an hour,” further fanning the flames.”

Posted by Bradford Betz Share

3 min(s) ago

Zachary Levi blames ‘incredibly poor’ leadership for LA wildfires

Actor and longtime Los Angeles resident Zachary Levi expressed strong criticism as California battles devastating wildfires, urging state leaders to be held accountable and describing the situation as “very personal” to him.

“This is the most devastating fire in Los Angeles history,” a visibly shook-up Levi told “Jesse Watters Primetime” Wednesday night. “My family’s from Ventura, California. I grew up there most of my life, and then I was in L.A. for 15 years.”

He further compared the devastating wildfires on the news to “watching a post-apocalyptic war film.” 

Levi stated why he believes California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the state’s leadership should be held responsible. 

“This is just incredible mismanagement, incredibly poor leadership. I would go so far as to saying that it’s criminally negligent because, I mean, Gavin Newsom has been either the governor for five years or lieutenant governor prior to that for eight, nine years, some of the worst fires we’ve ever had in California under that watch. He clearly knows that the biggest problem that we suffer in California are these fires. And, by the way, the mudslides that follow,” Levi explained. 

Posted by Joshua Comins Share

39 min(s) ago

More than 7,500 personnel are fighting the wildfires, Gov. Newsom says

Pedestrians help a firefighter stretch a hose as an apartment building burns on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP/Chris Pizzello)

Thousands of firefighting personnel are currently battling the multiple wildfires in Los Angeles County, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. 

“More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California’s ongoing historic wildfires,” he wrote late Wednesday on X. “Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you’re near impacted areas.” 

Newsom added that the deployment includes more than 1,100 fire engines, 31 helicopters and 53 bulldozers. 

“For the second night in a row, firefighters will be working through the night battling blazes in Los Angeles,” Mayor Karen Bass also wrote on X. “On behalf of a grateful City, we thank you.” 

As of early Thursday, the two largest fires in the region – the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire – remain 0% contained, according to Cal Fire. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

1 hour(s) ago

Oscar nominations announcement delayed due to California wildfires: report

Fallon Prockiw-Kline gets emotional in front of her home which was devastated by the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Malibu, Calif. (AP/Etienne Laurent)

The announcement of nominees for the 97th Academy Awards has been delayed due to the ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles County, a report says. 

The nominees will now be revealed on Jan. 19 instead of Jan. 17, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer said Wednesday in a letter to members, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Voting for the nominations reportedly was extended by two days as well, to Jan. 14. 

“We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California,” Kramer was quoted as saying. “So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.” 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

1 hour(s) ago

Five wildfires are impacting Los Angeles County: Here’s what to know

Multiple wildfires are raging across Los Angeles County early Thursday. (FOX Weather)

More than 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been damaged or destroyed and at least five people are dead as multiple wildfires are raging Thursday in Los Angeles County. 

The two largest fires – the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, and the Eaton Fire centered around the city of Pasadena – remain 0% contained and have burned nearly 30,000 combined acres. 

Cal Fire is reporting some containment with the smaller Hurst Fire and Lidia Fires, while the Sunset Fire, which erupted near Hollywood Hills Wednesday night, appears to be under control, according to authorities who spoke to Fox News. 

At least 130,000 people in the region are under evacuation orders. More than 200,000 people are without power early Thursday, according to the website Poweroutage.us. 

A Red Flag Warning is currently in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, as there is “potential for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” the National Weather Service said. 

Wind gusts in the region are forecast to reach speeds of up to 55 mph Thursday. 

Los Angeles City and County officials also are expected to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. ET to provide more information on firefighting efforts. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

2 hour(s) ago

Rideshare companies Lyft and Uber offer assistance for evacuees

Photo of Uber and Lyft stickers on vehicle windshield.

Rideshare companies Lyft and Uber announced in separate statements that they will be offering free and discounted rides to residents in the affected areas of the devastating fires plaguing Southern California.

The users will be able to travel to and from shelters with critical resources.

Lyft says users can use the code “CAFIRERELIEF25” for a free Lyft ride worth up to $25. Each user can use the code for two rides maximum.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the wildfires in California,” said Lyft Social Impact Manager Celia Moreno. “At Lyft, safety is our top priority. We’re closely monitoring the evolving conditions and staying in touch with our drivers, riders, and local officials. Lyft is committed to providing access to reliable transportation, especially in emergencies to support communities in need.”

Uber released a similar offer saying users can redeem a free ride up to $40 by applying the promo code “WILDFIRE25” in their Uber app when requesting a ride to a designated shelter location.

Each user can redeem two free trips until Jan. 15.

Shelters being valid at this this time for free Uber rides include:

Pasadena Civic Auditorium – 300 E. Green St, Pasadena

Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles

El Camino Real Charter High School – 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills

Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima

Posted by Christina Shaw