New wildfire rips by way of Hollywood Hills triggering contemporary evacuations as blazes sweep throughout LA: Live
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Wildfires continue to rage across more than 27,000 acres in Southern California – with one of the fires now the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles – as crews battled the blazes, with more than 150,000 people evacuated.
A new blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, prompting further evacuation orders.
At least five people have been killed, countless are hurt and more than 1,000 structures are in ruin as the blazes devastate Southern California.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called on residents to “conserve water to the extent that you can” as firefighters battle the historic blaze.
“But make no mistake, Los Angeles will rebuild stronger than ever,” she said.
The Palisades Fire is now the most destructive LA has seen, burning more than 15,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has scorched some 10,600 acres.
The fires have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, including more than 60,000 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. More than 450,000 people are without power throughout the region, according to PowerOutage.us.
Homes have been destroyed across the LA area, including those owned by several celebrities.
Palisades fire: Malibu restaurants and local landmarks destroyed in catastrophic blaze
Tens of thousands of Southern California residents have been forced to evacuate as wildfires rip through the region, devouring homes, restaurants, and local landmarks, and killing at least five people and injuring countless other area residents.
The Palisades fire, the largest among them, erupted at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
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‘All Gone’: Actor James Woods breaks down in tears recounting destruction of home in California fire
“One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone,” Woods said as tears came to his eyes.
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Hollywood actor rushes to help fire first responders evacuate panicked LA residents
Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg reporting for duty.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face evacuation and power outages at Montecito home amid LA wildfires
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Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Diane Warren among celebrities whose homes burned in LA fire
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Trump blames Governor Newsom for fires and criticizes him over failure to sign fake document
President-elect Donald Trump has baselessly claimed Governor Gavin Newsom is to blame for the California fires because he failed to sign a “water restoration declaration.”
However, such a document does not exist.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Newsom “refused to sign the water restoration declaration,” which he claims would have “allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California.”
“I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA,” Trump wrote. “He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
There is no such thing as a “water restoration declaration,” Izzy Gordon, Newsom’s communications director, told CalMatters on Wednesday. Gordon went on to call the claim “pure fiction.”
Watch live: New fire erupts in Hollywood Hills as mandatory evacuations ordered
LAPD helps direct Hollywood evacuation traffic
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has directed the city’s police department to help direct heavy evacuation traffic out of Hollywood.
“We are deploying LAPD officers to respond to Hollywood to help alleviate evacuation traffic,” Bass wrote on X. “We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire.”
The Hollywood Hills blaze sparked this afternoon, city officials said late Wednesday.
All Los Angeles Unified School District schools closed on Thursday
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed Thursday amid the fires devastating Southern California.
“As the Los Angeles region continues responding to this unprecedented crisis, the health and safety of our students and employees are of the utmost importance,” the district said in a statement. “All Los Angeles Unified schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. The confluence of factors – wind, fire, and smoke – have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities. Select essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors regarding potential work duties.”
Source: independent.co.uk
