THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025, AS OF 2:00 pM ET
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), as of Thursday, January 9, five active fires are impacting the greater Los Angeles area in Southern California. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, Lidia Fire, and Sunset Fire have collectively burned over 29,000 acres across Los Angeles County since Tuesday, January 7. Efforts to minimize the fires’ growth continue, with the Hurst Fire currently sitting at 10 percent containment. Firefighters have also stopped the forward process and strengthened the containment lines for the Lidia Fire, which has burned 348 acres and sits at 40 percent containment as of January 9. All other fires are zero percent contained.
The rapid expansion of these fires is primarily due to tinder-dry conditions and a major Santa Ana windstorm that has fanned wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour (mph) across the region. As of the morning of January 9, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple red flag warnings for Los Angeles and surrounding counties, indicating strong winds and “particularly dangerous situations,” which are expected in some areas through Friday, January 10.
The fires have resulted in at least five fatalities, a “high number of significant injuries,” and more than 2,000 damaged or destroyed structures, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFC) Chief. On Wednesday, January 8, the extreme winds prompted Southern California Edison (SCE) to enact a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), cutting power to its customers in fire-impacted regions to reduce additional ignition risks from electrical equipment. As of the morning of January 9, more than 420,000 residents were without power in Southern California.
Wildfires in Southern California are causing unhealthy air quality conditions. If you are impacted, stay indoors and wear a mask if you must go outside. Close all windows, doors and vents. Visit https://t.co/HZcGh6zKFD to see local air quality#PalisadesFire #HurstFire #EatonFire pic.twitter.com/GKY007Tv3u
— California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) January 9, 2025
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES): X
The Palisades Fire is currently the largest of the five active fires in Los Angeles County, having burned 17,234 acres as of 7:30 am ET on January 9. The fire began the morning of January 7 along Piedra Morada Drive in the Pacific Palisades community. According to the latest incident update from CAL FIRE, the fire has threatened 13,306 structures and destroyed 300. While firefighters are working to contain the blaze, extreme wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph have furthered fire activity and hindered suppression efforts. The strong winds, dry conditions, challenging terrain, and limited resources have all challenged containment measures. Additionally, the Eaton Fire is now the second-largest fire in California and has burned roughly 10,600 acres. The fire ignited on January 7 and continues to impact several areas, including Altadena, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, and Arcadia. Both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire are zero percent contained as of January 9.
According to CAL FIRE, the Hurst Fire, which was first reported on January 7, continues to impact communities in the Sylmar area, burning over 855 acres as of January 9. Additionally, the Sunset Fire, the latest blaze to erupt in Los Angeles County, has grown approximately 43 acres since igniting in the Hollywood Hills community on the evening of January 8. The fire remains zero percent contained as of the morning of January 9.
NEW: More than 7,500 state personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to ongoing historic wildfires in Southern California.#PalisadesFire #EatonFire #HurstFire https://t.co/qGkTsoOeBB
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 9, 2025
Governor Newsom Press Office: X
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved three Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help the state of California ensure the availability of vital fire suppression resources for the Palisades, Easton, and Hurst wildfires. These grants provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs to assist local, state, and tribal agencies with wildfire response efforts.
In addition, on January 8, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the State, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in wildfire-impacted areas. The declaration enables financial support for individuals and business owners in Los Angeles County, as well as statewide hazard mitigation measures. With the announcement, Curtis Brown was appointed Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) for FEMA to oversee the recovery operations. The State is also mobilizing up to 140 2,500-gallon water tanker trucks to assist the suppression effort and join the more than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel currently deployed for response operations.
Wildfires: NWS
Wildfires can occur anywhere in the country at any time, spreading quickly and unpredictably. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges individuals and communities to take preventive measures to protect their property and loved ones in the event of a wildfire emergency.
Additionally, according to AirNow, the biggest health risk of wildfire smoke is from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles can also aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests the following measures to help protect against wildfire smoke:
- Check your community’s outdoor air quality using the AQI at airnow.gov or on your phone’s weather app;
- Stay inside if authorities advise you to do so;
- Keep smoke outside by designating a room you can close off from outside air, setting up a portable air cleaner or a filter, and avoiding burning anything indoors as much as possible;
- If you must go outside, wear a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved respirator to reduce your smoke exposure; and
- Monitor health symptoms, especially if you have asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, or are pregnant. Seek medical help if needed.
Additionally, keep track of fires in or near your area by listening to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio for emergency alerts, and track fires using AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map and NOAA’s Fire Weather Outlook.
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