Photos emerging from the front lines of what is being described as “the worst” fires in Los Angeles’ history, show apocalyptic scenes as firefighters continue to battle major wildfires that have razed swathes of Southern California.
The Palisades fire, Eaton fire, Kenneth fire, Sunset fire, Hurst fire and Lidia fire have ravaged the state of California, with at least two of the fires currently burning.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna described the destruction in the area as like “an atomic bomb dropped”.
Staggering figures continue to be updated: At least 10 people have been killed, over 180,000 people have been told to evacuate, with another 200,000 under evacuation warnings, 360,000 homes and businesses are without power and an estimated 10,000 structures, including homes and businesses, have been burnt beyond repair.
See the photos:
Palisades fire
Firefighters continue to battle the blaze that broke out Tuesday morning along Piedra Morada Drive in Pacific Palisades. By Thursday afternoon the blaze had burned nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed numerous homes, businesses and landmarks in the Palisades and westward along the Pacific Coast Highway, toward Malibu. So far, around 5,300 structures have been burnt beyond repair.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighbourhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: Ethan Swope/APA Kern County fire captain directs his crews who are fighting an intense apartment fire blaze fueled by heavy winds from the Eaton fire on East Pine Street on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. Credit: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagFire personnel respond to homes destroyed while a helicopter drops water as the Palisades Fire grows in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. Credit: DAVID SWANSON/AFPA brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. Credit: DAVID SWANSON/AFP
Will Adams watches as flames from the Palisades Fire close in on his property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: Ethan Swope/APFirefighters spray flames from the Palisades Fire burning a business on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. Credit: Eric Thayer/Getty ImagesAs dawn breaks firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu, CA along Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Credit: MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Dail/Getty ImagesBuildings and cars destroyed by the Palisades fire lay along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on January 8, 2025. Credit: ZOE MEYERS/AFPBeach front properties are left destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in this aerial view, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. Credit: Mark J. Terrill/APA neighbourhood of homes destroyed by the Palisades wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, 09 January 2025. Credit: CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA
Eaton fire
The Eaton fire has charred around 13,700 acres, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 structures damaged or destroyed in the fire burning in the Altadena and Pasadena area. The Eaton fire’s growth has been “significantly stopped”, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said, although it remains uncontained.
A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on January 8, 2025. Credit: JOSH EDELSON/AFPFirefighters prepare to fight flames from inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School auditorium as the school burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 8, 2025. Credit: JOSH EDELSON/AFPA playground burns in a residential neighborhood during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025. Credit: JOSH EDELSON/AFPFirefighters protect a structure as the Eaton Fire advances Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. Credit: Ethan Swope/APAn aerial image shows smoke from wildfires including the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California, on January 8, 2025. Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFPA boy pours water on a smouldering fire from the Eaton Fire in the Altadena neighbourhood on January 08, 2025. Credit: Nick Ut/Getty ImagesResidents walk along Walworth Avenue in Pasadena, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 during the wind-driven Eaton fire. Credit: Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group via Getty ImagesSmoke lingers over a neighbourhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. Credit: John Locher/AP
People embrace while looking over the remains of a home that was destroyed by the Eaton wildfire in the Altadena, California, USA, 09 January 2025. Credit: ALLISON DINNER/EPAA view of burnt houses and vehicles during Eaton wildfire in Altadena of Los Angeles County, California, United States on January 9, 2025. Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Kenneth fire
The new Kenneth fire has authorities alarmed, as they race to contain a blaze that has quickly spread to nearly 800 acres, near the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Credit: Ethan Swope/APWater is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Credit: Ethan Swope/APFire crews walk as they battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Credit: Ethan Swope/APIn this aerial view taken from a helicopter, an air tanker prepares to drop fire retardant on the Kenneth fire in the Calabasas area of Los Angeles county, California on January 9, 2025. Credit: JOSH EDELSON/AFP
Sunset fire
The Sunset fire burned 60 acres and triggered mandatory evacuation orders in Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills. Firefighters, assisted by helicopters dropping retardants and water, managed to make gains overnight in battling the blaze and the Los Angeles Fire Department lifted evacuation orders Thursday morning.
General view of the Sunset Boulevard during the wildfires on January 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Hurst fire
The Hurst fire burned through 855 acres in the area around Sylmar. Evacuation orders have now been lifted for the area.
