Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires Force Thousands to Flee – Fire Crews Race Against Time to Contain the Inferno

By Prerna Sharma On Jan 16, 2025 Share with new partner:

As numerous wildfires continue to rage across Southern California, fuelled by extreme drought conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds, at least 25 people are thought to have died and over a dozen others are still missing. Both the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades have damaged over 12,000 buildings and forced many to escape.

Wildfires burning in SoCal: Numbers at a glance

Here are all the current wildfires burning in Southern California at a glance.

Palisades Fire

23,713 acres
19% containment
9 deaths
5,316 structures burned

Eaton Fire in San Gabriel Valley

14,117 acres
45% contained
Approximately 7,081 structures believed to be damaged or destroyed (structures includes vehicles)
16 deaths
5 firefighter injuries

Hurst Fire in Sylmar

799 acres
97% contained

Auto Fire

61 acres
50% contained

Kenneth Fire in West Hills

1,052 acres
100% contained

In relation to a brush fire that broke out in San Bernardino on Wednesday afternoon, a man has been taken into custody. The San Bernardino Police Department said on X that, “After additional investigation, officers arrested an adult male for two felony charges, one being PC452c – Reckless Burning, based on probable cause.” Around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, firefighters arrived at the Little Mountain Fire, which was rapidly spreading, on Little Mountain Drive and west Edgehill Road in San Bernardino.

At 34 acres, forward motion was halted; no casualties or damage were reported. According to SBPD, Little Mountain Drive between Edgehill and Sheridan Road was closed. The suspect’s identification was not made public right away.