The nature of the Santa Ana winds makes them perfectly suited to fueling blazes like the Palisades Fire, and climate change is increasing the risk

Driven by punishing and unrelenting Santa Ana winds, a massive brush fire ripped through the Pacific Palisades area Tuesday, destroying or damaging an unknown number of structures and forcing thousands of people from their homes as it moved toward Malibu on the west and Santa Monica on the southeast.

Resident Nicolas Libonati said he saw a lot of abandoned cars on the road, and people running toward the coast. "It was kind of a surreal scene," he said.

“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis are among those whose homes are at risk as fires continue to break out across Los Angeles, causing more than 30,000 people to flee the Pacific Palisades as well as parts of Malibu and Santa Monica. Hamill posted an update on his Instagram on …

The Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires covered more than 5,600 acres of Southern California as of Wednesday morning. Tens of thousands were under mandatory evacuation orders but the fires increased in size overnight, helped by the blustery Santa Ana winds.

Firefighters scrambled to corral a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides dotted with celebrity homes as a "life-threatening, destructive" windstorm hit Southern California, fanning the blaze seen for miles while roads were clogged with cars as residents tried to flee.

Evacuations are underway west of Los Angeles where the Palisades Fire broke out during extreme fire weather for Southern California on Tuesday. Winds more than 80 mph have been recorded in the mountains and over 60 mph at lower elevations.

Santa Monica, United States - January 07, 2025 This footage shows two planes on their way to extinguish the Palisades fire, as seen from Palisades Park in Santa Monica. [Credit: Derrick Townsend]