Three major wildfires in Los Angeles County continue to burn out of control as of Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The fires have promped evacuation orders for approximately 80,000 residents and have burned at least 1,000 buildings and homes.
Powerful Santa Ana winds have fanned the flames, collectively scorching over 5,000 acres as of Wednesday morning according to the LA County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest Service. Two people have been reported dead, officials said in a statement.
“We are absolutely not out of danger yet, with the strong winds that continue to push through the city and the county today,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said at a press conference Wednesday morning. Extreme gusts up to 60 mph are expected to continue through Thursday, the fire department said on X.
If you have a trip planned to Los Angeles this week, here’s what to know about the LA fires—including the neighborhoods affected and how flight operations are being impacted.
This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Where are the LA fires?
There are three main LA fires right now. The Palisades fire first broke out around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7. It currently spans 2,921 acres in the Pacific Palisades region (located west of Los Angeles between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean). Santa Monica has issued an evacuation order for residents living between the city’s northern border and San Vicente Blvd.
The second-largest fire, the Eaton fire, broke out later Tuesday evening around 6:18 p.m in Eaton Canyon, an area north of Pasadena near Altadena. It grew rapidly and now covers 2,227 acres. On Tuesday around 10:30 p.m., the Hurst fire began in San Fernando Valley. The smallest of the three, it currently spans 500 acres. All three fires were reported to be at 0% containment at the time of publication, meaning they are continuing to spread.
“The fires remain active, and the safety of residents, visitors, and first responders in the affected areas is our highest priority,” the Los Angeles Tourism Board said in a statement shared with Condé Nast Traveler. “We urge everyone to stay informed through the Los Angeles Fire Department for the latest evacuation updates and to follow all warnings and evacuation orders from first responders.”
How are flights affected?
At least 60 flights departing from or arriving to Burbank Airport (BUR) were canceled or delayed on Wednesday, January 8, according to the flight tracking service Flight Aware. “Weather conditions are impacting various flight operations today,” The airport posted Wednesday morning on X. “Check with your airline on the status of your flight before heading to BUR.” At the time of publication, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) remains open with minimal cancellations and few delays.