Where are wildfires around Los Angeles? See maps of blazes that could get worse

Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, multiple major wildfires near Los Angeles have burned nearly 63 square miles and forced more than 153,000 people to flee their homes. Another 166,000 may be ordered to evacuate.

At least 24 people are reported to have died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said. The Palisades Fire had at least eight deaths and 16 people have died in the Eaton Fire, Paste BN reported.

About 10,000 firefighters and emergency personnel are battling the fast-moving blazes in Los Angeles County, according to Cal Fire, California’s state fire protection agency. Mexico and Canada are sending firefighters to help.

The fires have destroyed more than 12,300 homes, businesses and other structures. The cause of the fires is unknown.

Powerful Santa Ana winds, which helped drive the fires, are expected to strengthen today, Paste BN said, and again later this week.

Where are the wildfires around Los Angeles?

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Gov. Gavin Newsom said the fires were “unprecedented” and declared a state of emergency Jan. 7. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration on Jan. 8.

How large are the wildfires?

Some residents who evacuated found themselves trapped in gridlock for hours as roads were choked with people fleeing.

Los Angeles County has a population of about 9.7 million people and covers about 3 million acres. Cal Fire says causes of the three primary fires − Palisades, Eaton and Hurst − are under investigation.

Before the fires started, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions for much of Los Angeles County, citing:

• Low humidity
• Dry vegetation from lack of rain
• Powerful winds

Wildfire season usually begins in July and ends around late November to early December, Paste BN reported. This time of year has the driest conditions, which are perfect for igniting and burning vegetation.

Why wildfire smoke is a health hazard

Smoke from wildfires is a complicated mix of pollutants that can cause health problems for people who breathe it in, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulates that can irritate respiratory systems, the EPA says. Fine particles are respiratory irritants, and exposure to high concentrations can cause:

• Persistent coughing
• Phlegm
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing

Prolonged exposure to particulates can slow the respiratory system's ability to remove viruses and bacteria from the lungs, the EPA says.

CONTRIBUTING John Bacon, Elizabeth Wise, Terry Collins, N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Susan Miller, Trevor Hughes and Kristen Apolline Castillo

SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; Reuters; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; National Weather Service

This story was updated to add new information.