Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills becomes latest wildfire to wreak havoc on LA: See map
Another fire in Los Angeles County has led to more evacuations in Southern California as firefighters work to control other nearby flames.
The Sunset Fire, which has consumed 60 acres of land, was discovered on Tuesday at around 6 p.m. local time, according to Cal Fire. The fire started in the Hollywood Hills region while it was under red flag warnings due to extreme fire weather.
Multiple areas near the fire were placed under evacuation orders, most of which have been lifted. Residents returning home are asked to be cautious as firefighters continue to work through their neighborhoods.
Fire activity has decreased and evacuation orders have now been lifted.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire is one of several roaring through the county. In total, the deadly fires have forced over 100,000 people in the county to evacuate their homes.
Why are the Southern California wildfires so aggressive?
High wind and extreme fire weather have created a "dangerous situation" for inland Orange County, Santa Ana Mountains, Inland Empire, and San Bernadino Mountain Foothills, according to the National Weather Service.
The following conditions have contributed to the "aggressive fire behavior," according to Cal Fire:
- Dry fuels
- Strong winds
- Low humidity
Sunset Fire map
School districts closed due to fires
The following school districts will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 9th, due to multiple wildfires in the area and some through Friday, Jan. 10, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
- Alhambra Unified School District
- Arcadia Unified School District
- Beverly Hills Unified School District
- Burbank Unified School District (closed through Jan. 10)
- Duarte Unified School District
- Garvey School District
- Glendale Unified School District (closed through Jan. 10)
- Glendora Unified School District
- La Canada Unified (closed through Jan. 10)
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Monrovia Unified School District
- Pasadena Unified School District (closed through Jan. 10)
- San Gabriel Unified School District
- Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District
- South Pasadena Unified School District
- Temple City Unified School District
State of emergency
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the National Weather Service forecasts high winds and "extreme fire weather" to threaten much of Southern California until Thursday.
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods," Newsom said in a statement. "We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes."
The state secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant, approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.
How to help communities impacted by wildfires
As several fast-growing wildfires continued to threaten communities, some organizations are taking donations to help victims of the fires.
- The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe published a page of verified fundraisers to support those affected by the fires.
- GlobalGiving's California Wildfire Relief Fund is taking donations that the organization says will go directly toward supporting wildfire relief and recovery efforts in the state.
- The California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund aims to offer relief to marginalized communities hardest hit by the devastating fires.
- The California Fire Foundation provides aid to firefighters battling the blazes, as well as their loved ones and the communities they support.
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com