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LA fires scorch more than 40 miles, nearly size of San Francisco

By and Fox 11 digital team
Updated  January 9, 2025 9:45am PST
Wildfires
KTVU FOX 2

A walk-through of downtown Palisades destruction

Fox 11 Los Angeles reporter Gigi Graciette walks through downtown Palisades to show what's been destroyed by fire.

The Brief

    • The LA wildfires have consumed at least 42 miles, nearly the size of San Francisco.
    • At least five people have died and 2,000 properties have been destroyed or damage.
    • Winds on Thursday are supposed to be calmer. 

LOS ANGELES - Fierce wildfires continued to burn on Thursday in the Los Angeles area, leaving at least five people dead and nearly 2,000 structures destroyed, officials said.

By the numbers:

Some 130,000 people have been put under evacuation orders, as fires have consumed a total of about 42 square miles — nearly the size of the entire city of San Francisco.

Fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Warriors' coach Steve Kerr's mom lost her home as well in the Pallisades Fire.

Three awards ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed. Next week’s Oscar nominations have been delayed.

On Wednesday, despite officials telling residents to move their cars, multiple drivers did not heed that warning.

Crews then took to bulldozing their cars onto the side of Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard to create a path for emergency vehicles.

What's next:

For a bit of better news, on Thursday morning, the ferocious winds calmed somewhat and were not expected to be as powerful during the day, a potential opportunity for firefighters to make progress reining in blazes that have hopscotched across the region.

Local perspective:

Several Bay Area fire departments have rushed to Southern California to help.

Some include special teams who have special wildfire training and tools.

"They're preparing to get right into the heat of it, no pun intended, I'm sorry. But as soon as they get down there because there's a lot of fire activity going down. It's spreading fast, it's moving fast and there's really no time to rest," said Alameda County Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto.

WildfiresCalifornia