Currently, there at least five wildfires raging across Los Angeles. Amid this devastating disaster, five people have been confirmed dead and 130,000 people have been advised to evacuate their homes for safety. More than 1.2 million people are without power, with a further 440,000 facing similar conditions. Some 1,900 buildings and structures have also been confirmed destroyed.
The five most significant fires, fuelled by strong Santa Ana winds, are Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset. The Palisades fire, covering at least a monumental 17,234 acres, is now the most destructive fire in the city of Los Angeles’s history. A smaller fire, the Woodley fire, is burning but reportedly under control, while the Olivas fire in Venture County was extinguished on Wednesday, January 8.
California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, January 7. A statement from the White House noted that President Biden is “focused on mobilizing life-saving and life-sustaining resources across the region.” He has directed the Department of Defense to move quickly, and provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities to the state of California. He has declared the incident a Major Disaster, which gives impacted communities and survivors the ability to immediately access funds and resources to aid in their recovery.
Communities and landmarks remain under dire threat. Beloved neighborhood shops and restaurants have been destroyed, such as Malibu’s Cholada Thai, and iconic landmarks like the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame are in the path of encroaching flames.
The fires also arrive during the thick of the city’s award season, with the Critics Choice Awards—originally set to take place this coming Sunday—postponed by two weeks. Several premieres, including that of Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, have also been canceled. Additionally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has postponed the announcement of Oscar nominations to “give members more time to cast their ballots,” while other entertainment events worldwide have been canceled in solidarity. Celebrities including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and couple Leighton Meester and Adam Brody have reported the loss of their homes.
As firefighters continue to push back against this horrifying disaster, there are a few things—wherever you are in the world—that you can do to support those affected.
