Thousands remain evacuated as crews work to contain Los Angeles County wildfires

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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least 25 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue burning in Southern California.

The Palisades Fire, burning in the Pacific Palisades, and the Eaton Fire, burning in Altadena, have forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

Key Headlines in the last 24 hours

Here's how the news is developing.
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Jan 16, 2025, 3:24 PM

Wildfires burning in SoCal: Numbers at a glance

Here are all the current wildfires burning in Southern California at a glance.

Palisades Fire

  • 23,713 acres
  • 22% containment
  • 9 deaths
  • 5,316 structures burned

Eaton Fire in San Gabriel Valley

  • 14,117 acres
  • 55% contained
  • Approximately 7,081 structures believed to be damaged or destroyed (structures includes vehicles)
  • 16 deaths
  • 5 firefighter injuries

Hurst Fire in Sylmar

  • 799 acres
  • 98% contained

Auto Fire

  • 61 acres
  • 85% contained

Kenneth Fire in West Hills

  • 1,052 acres
  • 100% contained

2:15 PM GMT

New evacuation orders for Eaton Fire

Additional evacuation orders were issued Wednesday morning for the Eaton Fire burning near the Altadena area.

According to the Angeles National Forest, residents north of the 210 Freeway and east of JPL Laboratories are now under evacuation orders. Residents north of the 210 Freeway and east of Angelus Crest to JPL are under an evacuation warning.

More than 52,300 residents and 20,890 structures are under mandatory evacuation orders, officials said. Nearly 47,000 residents and 18,000 structures are under warnings.

An evacuation center has been established at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Irene Cruz Image
2:15 PM GMT

Pacific Palisades fire grows to nearly 3,000 acres

The brush fire burning in the Pacific Palisades area has scorched at least 2,921 acres. Several mandatory evacuation orders remain in place.

Firefighters on Wednesday morning were still battling a brush fire in Pacific Palisades area that erupted during an extreme windstorm in Southern California.
Marc Cota-Robles Image
2:15 PM GMT

Eaton Fire explodes to 1,000 acres, dozens of homes on fire in Hastings Ranch

The Eaton Fire in the Altadena area exploded to 1,000 acres early Wednesday morning.

Dozens of homes in Hastings Ranch were severely damaged due to the rapid growing fire.

Video from the scene showed many homes on Startouch Drive up in flames. No apparent active firefight was seen at the time.

One of the homes was seen completely engulfed in flames, with just the chimney standing, while other homes seemed to be untouched.

Video from the scene showed dozens of homes in Hastings Ranch engulfed in flames amid the rapid growing fire.

Mandatory evacuations

  • All residents living north of Sierra Madre, east of Allen and west of Santa Anita Drive
  • North of New York Drive, East of Altadena Drive, West of Sierra Madre Villa Ave
  • East Altadena Drive
  • Kinneloa Canyon Road
  • Outpost Lane
  • Glen Springs Road
  • Coolidge Avenue
  • Miranda
  • Roosevelt Avenue
  • Veranda
  • Kenclare
  • Fox Ridge Drive
  • Canyon Close Road
  • Grand Oaks Avenue

Evacuation warning

  • All residents south of Sierra Madre to I-210, Lake Street to Santa Anita Avenue.

Evacuation centers

  • Pasadena Convention Center - 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101
  1. Parking is available at the parking structure across the street from the Convention Center, located at 155 E. Green St. Please enter from Marengo Ave. The Humane Society is on-site to accept small pets for boarding. Service animals will be allowed inside the Convention Center.Residents are able to call 211 for information regarding shelters, and social and health services.
  • Westwood Recreation Center - 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • El Camino Real Charter High School - 5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

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2:15 PM GMT

Hurst Fire in Sylmar grows to 500 acres

The Hurst Fire in Sylmar has grown to 500 acres and is 0% contained as of early Wednesday morning, according to CalFire.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, Northridge Park and the Sepulveda Recreation Center, according to the Angeles National Forest.

Evacuation warnings are in effect for areas of Santa Clarita, along Calgrove Boulevard and the Newhall Pass, Wildwood and Eternal Valley, according to Cal Fire.

The eastbound 210 Freeway in Sylmar is closed and the connector to the southbound 5 Freeway is closed. The 14 Freeway is closed.

City News Service contributed to this report.