Strong winds have fanned the wildfires, killing at least 24 people and sweeping through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Key Information About California’s Wildfires
- Southern California braces for “extremely critical fire conditions” as a new period of Santa Ana winds hits today through tomorrow, affecting parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The battle to contain raging blazes continues.
- Strong winds have fueled the wildfires, killing at least 24 people and burning through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area. Entire communities and over 12,300 structures have been destroyed.
- The largest fire, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and is only 18% contained. It threatens Brentwood, Encino, and Westwood.
- Evacuation orders are in effect for 88,000 residents of Los Angeles, with an additional 89,000 people in evacuation warning zones, meaning they may need to leave at any moment. See a map of the evacuation zones here.
- Los Angeles County has declared a public health emergency, warning that smoke and particulate matter could pose both immediate and long-term health risks. The full warning and recommendations are available here.
