A massive wildfire erupted Tuesday morning on the coast of Southern California, resulting in over 30,000 evacuations in the Los Angeles area and several homes being engulfed by fire.
According to Reuters, the growing blaze scorched thousands of acres of land between Malibu and Santa Monica since it erupted.
Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced that 0% of the fire had been contained as of noon Tuesday.
While the fire has destroyed multiple homes and vehicles, no residents have sustained injuries.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Hundreds of vehicles crowded the central highway connecting the coast inland. Many residents evacuating found themselves in the precarious position of trying to out-drive a wildfire, while stuck in a half-mile-long traffic jam.
When California’s governor, Gavin Newson, issued a state of emergency, cars flooded the highway until the traffic slowed to a halt. In an attempt to escape the approaching fire, many people abandoned their cars and fled by foot, leaving their vehicles behind to pursue safety.
People evacuate, as a wildfire breaks-out near Pacific Palisades on the west side of Los Angeles during a weather driven windstorm in Southern California, January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
“Really at this point, it’s a matter of getting people out of the way,” said Brain Fennessey, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
The cause for the fire is still under investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The wind whips embers as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
The National Weather Service concluded that this is a historically dry season for Southern California. While it’s true that its naturally arid climate makes it a breeding ground for fiery behemoths, the region is receiving less rainfall than ever at just .16 inches since October, exacerbating the transmissibility of the fire.
