A wildfire that broke out yesterday in the affluent Pacific Palisades area has burned 5,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, mostly homes, as of this morning (8th).

The Palisades Fire ignited around 10:30 AM yesterday at 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive and quickly expanded to 5,000 acres due to strong winds.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported that several individuals who failed to evacuate suffered severe injuries. According to Cal Fire, evacuation orders have been issued throughout the Palisades area, extending to the Pacific Coast. The evacuation order, which includes alerts for Santa Monica and Calabasas, has impacted tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

A shelter for residents and their pets has been set up at the Westwood Recreation Center, located at the 1350 block of Sepulveda Boulevard.

The Santa Monica-Malibu and Las Virgenes Unified School Districts canceled classes today.

Last evening, the Eaton Fire that broke out near Altadena resulted in two civilian deaths. The fire, reported around 6:30 PM near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, has burned 10,000 acres as of this morning, with a 0% containment rate.

Approximately 38,600 residents were under evacuation warnings due to the Eaton Fire. More than 100 structures, including homes of emergency responders, were damaged.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated that the Altadena Sheriff Station had to be evacuated due to the fire, but it remains unclear if the building sustained significant damage.

At a press conference this morning, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna described the situation as “highly fluid.” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell noted that the weather in the region is unprecedented and unpredictable.

Fire suppression efforts are being carried out by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Pasadena Fire Department. However, due to staffing shortages across all 29 LA County fire stations, resources from other states may need to be mobilized.

Mandatory evacuation orders or warnings are in effect in Pasadena, Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Duarte, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, and La Crescenta.

Residents in the following areas have been ordered to evacuate: east of Altadena Drive, Kinneloa Canyon Road, Outpost Lane, Glen Springs, Coolidge, Miranda, Roosevelt, Veranda, Kenclair, Foxridge, Canyon Close, Grand Oak, north of New York Drive, east of Altadena Drive, west of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, north of Sierra Madre, east of Allen, west of Santa Anita Drive, Arcadia, and north of Orange Grove and Rosemead Boulevards, east of Lake Avenue, and west of Michillinda Avenue.

Fire authorities urged residents to prepare, heed evacuation warnings, and minimize road use to allow emergency responders access to affected communities. The cause of the fires is under investigation.

The Eaton Fire is one of four large wildfires currently burning in the LA area.

Another fire in the Sylmar area has burned 500 acres.

School closures have been ordered in areas affected by the Eaton Fire, including the Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bonita, Burbank, Duarte, El Monte, Glendale, La Cañada, Las Virgenes, Monrovia, Mountain View, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South Pasadena, and Temple City unified school districts.

Two smaller fires were also reported today: the Tyler Fire near Coachella and the Woodley Fire in the Sepulveda Basin of the San Fernando Valley.

Reported by Jeong Yeon-ho, Radio Seoul