Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Gavin Butler

  1. Palm trees burn and crews try to extinguish flames that sweep LA

    We're continuing to get photos into our London newsroom showing the scale of devastation from five fires that continue to rage around the Los Angeles area.

    Emergency responders are working to put out the blazes that have decimated homes and businesses.

    Firefighters continue battling Palisades fire in Los AngelesCALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION / HANDOUT

    Firefighters are continuing to battle the Palisades fire as blazes across the city remain uncontained

    A firefighter battles Palisades blaze near a homeOFFICIAL FLICKR ACCOUNT OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION / HANDOUT

    The Palisades fire remains 0% contained

    A man pours almond milk on to a fire outside a home threatened by the Eaton wildfireEPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

    A man pours almond milk on to a fire hot spot outside a home near the Eaton wildfire in Altadena, California

    Fire destroys a palm tree outside a home in LAOFFICIAL FLICKR ACCOUNT OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION / HANDOUT

    The fires have ravaged plants and vegetation, including palm trees

  2. Pasadena resident says it was 'like Armageddon' as ash rained down

    It was "kinda nightmarish, a little bit like Armageddon" says one LA resident who spoke to BBC News about the scenes around his home.

    Tyler Bridges and his fiancé chose to stay in their home in Pasadena, despite warnings from officials to evacuate on Wednesday night.

    He says it started with "really really powerful winds" of up to 85mph (137kmh), causing tree branches to get thrown around and fall on cars, fences and houses.

    "And then the fire started" he says, adding "there's no way to stop or contain a fire where the winds are that powerful.

    "It was raining ash. You would go outside and ash would slam into your face, your eyes, and your mouth. It's hard to breathe, you're coughing".

    "The worst part is the closer to the fires you get, the darker it gets. Very black. Very dark. And so last night was a really scary time for Pasanedans."

    A home burns downGetty Images

    A home burns down on the 2700 block of Woodlyn Rd as LA County Firefighters try to save it during the Eaton Fire in Pasadena on Wednesday, January 8, 2025

  3. 'Weather whiplash' linked to fires, according to new climate research

    Matt McGrath
    Environment correspondent

    Some timely research just published from researchers at the University of California strengthens the connection between the Los Angeles fires and climate change.

    While the powerful Santa Ana winds are the key component in driving the fires, the extremely dry conditions have made the local vegetation very vulnerable to ignition.

    The new paper finds that these dry conditions around Los Angeles are linked to increasing bouts of what’s termed "hydroclimate whiplash" where there’s a rapid swing between extremely wet and extremely dry conditions.

    So, decades of drought in California were followed by a couple of years of extremely heavy rainfall, and then flipped again to very dry conditions this autumn and winter.

    Vegetation grew rapidly in the recent wet years but is now tinder-dry and burning.

    The authors say that climate change has boosted these type of whiplash conditions globally by 31 to 66% since the middle of the 20th Century.

    Our warming world means the rate of this whiplash increase is speeding up in many regions of the world, not just California.

  4. Key points to catch you up on the situation in LA

    A firefighting helicopter flies above the Hollywood sign as the sky is engulfed in dark smoke from the many fires burning around the city.Getty Images

    As we approach midday in London and 04:00 in Los Angeles, here are the key developments from the last few hours:

    • Five fires are still raging in Los Angeles, where more than 137,000 people have now fled their homes
    • At least five people are known to have died and multiple people have been injured
    • The biggest fire in the region is in Palisades; followed by the Eaton blaze. The Sunset, Hurst and Lidia fires remain active
    • Nearly 2,000 structures have been destroyed, including a number of homes belonging to A-list celebrities - and that number is expected to rise
    • The Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain in their home in nearby Montecito and are keeping a close eye on developments, the BBC understands
    • High winds and dry conditions have made tackling the fires extremely difficult - one fire chief told the BBC there is "zero chance" of containing the blazes
    • President Joe Biden has cancelled a trip to Italy to focus on the response
    • Tens of thousands of displaced people are awaiting word on whether their homes have survived the flames - satellite images show the scale of destruction from the fires

  5. Palisades wildfire continues to tear through LA

    The Palisades wildfire was the first to erupt on Tuesday.

    It has torn through a sizeable part of land in the Los Angeles, covering more than 17,000 acres, including Pacific Palisades.

    The fire remains entirely uncontained, with danger to life evacuation orders still in place across the city.

    The fire has also engulfed Palisades Charter High School, a well-known school and famous filming location in LA.

    Map showing Palisades wildfire.California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

  6. 'It took us 40 years to build our museum - now it's just gone'

    Several rabbit themed items and figurines on a shelfFrances Read/BBC

    The couple could only save a few pieces from their collection at The Bunny Museum

    Steve Lubanski and his wife Candace had to leave their home and their well-loved local museum behind as flames from the Eaton fire continued to envelop parts of Los Angeles.

    The couple owned The Bunny Museum in Altadena, which has been part of the community for 26 years. It was once deemed the world's largest collection of rabbit-related items, but it has now burned to the ground.

    Speaking to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Lubanski says it took them 40 years to put it together.

    He spent all night Tuesday attempting to keep the flames away, but had to leave after the building next door burnt down.

    Out of the 46,000 item collection, the couple only managed to leave with a few plaques and their first two bunnies.

    A couple, linking arms, seen from behind. One is wearing red, the other a blue jumper and black shorts.KCBS

    Steve Lubanski and his wife Candace stand outside of the evacuation centre

    "Words can't describe it", he told CBS News in tears, outside the evacuation centre in Pasadena he fled to with his wife.

    "Our museum is gone. That'll hit me in a while."

    He says he's not sure how they'll be able to rebuild - even his insurance company's office has burnt down.

    Steve and Candace are now staying in a motel with their pets.

  7. Scale of LA fires revealed in satellite images

    Satellite images show the scale and heat intensity of the fires

    Huge fires engulf Pacific Palisades (L) and Altadena (R) in Los Angeles

    Dramatic imagery released by the US space technology company Maxar has revealed the immense scale of the fires across Los Angeles.

    One image, captured using infrared technology to detect heat signatures, shows a large blaze immediately to the north-west of the coastal neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades. The Palisades fire has now grown to more than 17,200 acres.

    Another infrared image captured around 25 miles (40km) to the north-east shows fires engulfing residential areas of Altadena, near Pasadena. The Eaton fire, the second biggest, has since burned at least 10,600 acres.

  8. Buildings burned to their bones as fire rips through Palisades

    Before and after pictures show businesses completely devastated by the Palisades blaze. Buildings have been burned to their bones as what is expected to be the most destructive fire to hit Los Angeles continues to tear unabated through the suburbs.

    Before and after graphic with a picture of a cafe in May 2024 and another below it of the same cafe but completely destroyed by fire in January 2025.

    The second biggest fire, Eaton, is ravaging towns around Los Angeles county - including Altadena.

    The blaze has ravaged at least 10,600 acres and, like most of the other fires, is 0% contained. This means fire officials are prioritising saving lives rather than containing the fire.

    Before and after graphic with a picture of a house in July 2022 and another below it of the same house but on fire in January 2025.
    Before and after graphic of a shop burnt down by Eaton fireGetty Images

  9. Wind speeds expected to pick up throughout the day

    It's just passed 03:00 local time on Thursday in Los Angeles (11:00 GMT).

    The temperature is around 49°F (9°C) as winds have calmed down - with speeds earlier at 3mph.

    However, this will not last long. Winds are expected to strengthen throughout the day with gusts of up to 40mph forecast across Los Angeles this afternoon. Humidity is currently at 25% and is expected to stay low.

    We should have seen the worst of the Santa Ana winds.

    But, a red flag warning of critical fire weather is in force until 18:00 local time Friday (02:00 GMT Saturday) with more strong, gusty winds and low humidity expected.

  10. Harry and Meghan remain in California home while monitoring fires

    Daniela Relph
    Senior Royal correspondent

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain in their home in Montecito, California. The fires are burning some distance from there.

    The BBC understands the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been truly shocked by the situation and are keeping a close eye on developments.

  11. New images show dense flames in residential Palisades

    We're seeing new images now from Los Angeles.

    Photos show flames ripping through homes and engulfing cars, while firefighters tackle the blazes.

    A car and home burn during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County.Getty Images

    A car and home burn during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County

    Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles. The sky is entirely red with three firefighters holding a hose pipe, directly it toward the fire.Reuters

    The fire in the upmarket Palisades neighbourhood, the first blaze to break out on Tuesday, has now become the most destructive in LA's history

    DA firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm. The firefighter shoots water toward the blaze, the sky is filled with black and red smoke.Reuters

    Firefighters in Los Angeles have experienced a shortage of water as they try to contain wildfires burning in and around the city

  12. Evacuation order for Sunset fire partially lifted

    An evacuation order for the Hollywood Hills has been lifted in most areas, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

    The evacuation order remains in the area north of Franklin Avenue from Camino Palmero Street (east border) to North Sierra Bonita Avenue (west border).

    This is "due to continued LAFD operations ensuring no flare ups in the vegetation surrounding these streets", the department says.

    Residents should remain cautious when returning to their homes as firefighters are still working in their neighbourhoods, it says.

    Night scene of three firefighters in a grassy field, stand facing fire in the background with a helicopter light shining down.EPA

  13. Eaton wildfire remains entirely 'uncontained'

    The Eaton fire has already claimed the lives of five people and has spread across more than 10,600 acres of land in California.

    The intense wildfires have been difficult to tackle due to high winds, dry conditions and low water pressure.

    Six wildfires are now raging across Los Angeles, with the two largest - Eaton and Palisades - still entirely uncontained, according to authorities.

    Evacuation orders remain in place, with more than 137,000 people forced to evacuate across the city.

    Map showing Eaton WildfireCalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

  14. Man describes barely escaping 'vortex of embers'

    A woman and a man standing in front of the ruins of her burnt down houseCBS News

    Kelly Lauren lost her home and all of her belongings, despite her boyfriend Alec Gellis' attempt to save it

    In a dramatic video, Alec Gellis can be heard coughing as he escapes a burning inferno occupying the space his girlfriend Kelly Lauren's house used to be.

    Speaking to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Alec says he tried to save the home but had to run to his car as the flames closed in.

    "It was like a vortex of embers, there was no oxygen," he says, "I barely even made it to my car."

    Burnt down ruins of a houseCBS News

    This is all that's left of her house in Carbon Canyon after it was ravaged by the Palisades fire

    Just a month ago, he managed to save his own home and five others during the Franklin fire in Malibu.

    "My lungs weren't even better from the last time, I'm still coughing from the last fire", he adds.

    Unfortunately, the Palisades fire completely destroyed Kelly's home and all of her belongings.

  15. 'The sun is red': Children from LA share their experience

    Our colleagues at Newsround have been hearing from some children in Los Angeles who have been sharing their experiences.

    Ryan, from Santa Monica, says: "The fire has been spreading so much that so many houses have been burned, have been destroyed and so many people have to go to shelters

    "My grandparents had to evacuate from their house because they lost power and spend the night at our house here, and my whole family is scared about this whole experience."

    Arthur (pictured below) and his family live about 10 miles (16km) from the Eaton fire and were evacuated on Wednesday morning to a school, and are now in a hotel.

    "We are scared," Arthur says. "The sun is red, there is smoke in the air and there is smoke in our lungs.

    "Our heart goes out to the first responders trying to contain the fire and anyone who has lost anything."

    Arthur who lives near Eaton is sat in the back of a vehicle looking directly at the camera lens. He is wearing a back baseball cap and a black jumper

  16. Sunset Boulevard in ruins as 'complete devastation' sweeps Palisades

    Sunset Boulevard, the famous strip that stretches for miles through Los Angeles, lies in ruins in the Palisades after fires tore through the thoroughfare, according to reports in the LA Times.

    Local residents have described seeing banks, cafes and supermarkets they've frequented for decades completely destroyed.

    Michael Payton, store director of the Erewhon supermarket chain, told the LA Times the shop, famous for its patronage by Los Angeles A-listers, had survived but that the area was levelled.

    "The whole Palisades is done," he said, "The whole town is done. This is complete devastation."

    The Sunset fire first broke out on Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills and now covers about 43 acres.

    View of buildings on a hill with red haze covering the scene and powerlines in the foregroundReuters

    Buildings near Sunset Boulevard engulfed by smoke as wildfires swept through the area

    The burnt out structure of a shop stands on a devastated corner of Sunset Boulevard.Getty Images
    Firefighters battle flames on Sunset Boulevard as the Palisades Fire burns amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, CaliforniaGetty Images

  17. Fires encroach on iconic Hollywood sign

    Footage of the fires across Los Angeles show the Sunset fire, which broke out in the Hollywood Hills where the famous Hollywood sign sits.

    Mandatory evacuations were triggered by the fire on Wednesday evening causing traffic chaos on Hollywood Boulevard.

  18. What to know about the five fires still burning

    Fire engulfed by flamesGetty Images

    Officials say the Palisades fire could be the most destructive in the history of the state of California

    There are at least five fires raging in the Los Angeles area and nearby regions - here is the latest information about the blazes from Cal Fire:

    • Palisades: The first fire to erupt on Tuesday and the biggest fire in the region. It has scorched a sizable part of land, covering more than 17,200 acres, including Pacific Palisades
    • Eaton: It has struck the northern part of Los Angeles, blazing through cities such as Altadena. It's the second biggest fire in the area, burning around 10,600 acres
    • Hurst: Located just north of San Fernando, it began burning on Tuesday night and has grown to 855 acres
    • Lidia: It broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the mountainous Acton area north of Los Angeles and grew to cover almost 350 acres. Authorities say it has been 40% contained
    • Sunset: It broke out Wednesday evening in Hollywood Hills, growing to about 20 acres in less than an hour. It now covers around 43 acres

    The Woodley and Olivas fires have now been contained, according to local fire authorities.

  19. Palisades fire consumed area in six hours

    The Palisades fire has spread through more than 17,200 acres of land in what could become the most destructive fire in the history of the state of California.

    But how did it spread? Our map below shows you its path of destruction and its expansion within six hours.

    Map tracking the spread of the fire

  20. Satellite images show how fire ripped through neighbourhoods

    With five fires still burning in Los Angeles, the two largest - Eaton and Palisades - are entirely uncontained.

    These before-and-after satellite images of those two areas show the extent of the damage caused.

    Together, the Eaton and Palisades fires are burning nearly 26,400 acres of land in LA.

    Satellite image of Pacific Coast Highway along the Malibu coastline before firesMaxar Technologies

    Here's what the Pacific Coast Highway along the Malibu coastline looked like before the Palisades fires

    Satellite image of Pacific Coast Highway along the Malibu coastline with smoke covering the sceneMaxar Technologies

    And here's what the same highway now looks like with a scorched landscape and smoke covering the area

    Satellite image of houses in Altadena before the firesMaxar Technologies

    Here's a satellite image of houses in Altadena before the fires

    Satellite image of houses in Altadena after the firesMaxar Technologies

    The Eaton fire started in Altadena around 18:30 local time on Tuesday and by Wednesday night, five deaths had been reported and it had spread to more than 10,000 acres