Recently a series of wildfires broke out in Southern California resulting in several evacuation orders and fear amongst residents. 

On Jan. 7, firefighters responded to a reported vegetation fire with smoke visible in the Pacific Palisades. The fire began covering about 20 acres of the city but quickly escalated to 23,713 acres in four days due to high winds according to The Times of London. As the fire spread, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for over 150,000 locals in neighborhoods like Santa Monica, Malibu, Mandeville Canyon, and San Fernando Valley.  As of Jan. 15, 11 percent of the fire has been contained, and eight fatalities and three injuries “including fire personnel and civilians,” have been confirmed by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This was only the beginning of this series of wildfires. 

Within days of the first one, new fires emerged such as the Eaton, Hurst, Sunset, Kenneth, and Hughes fires.

Firefighters rushed to the scene of a reported blaze near Eaton Canyon located in the Pasadena-Altadena area late in the night of Jan. 7.  Within a few hours, the fire began dangerously burning the area despite 700 assigned firefighters, which grew to over 3,000 according to a post by Angeles National Forest on X. As the fire began spreading rapidly, evacuation orders were issued for the cities of Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Arcadia. Crews have fought this fire since the beginning but have run into great troubles due to the aggressive weather. The fire has covered 14,117 acres of the community and only 27 percent has been contained. Over 1,200 structures may be completely destroyed according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, leaving several Los Angeles residents stuck without their homes and businesses. As a result of this fire, 16 fatalities and six injuries, including fire personnel and civilians, have been confirmed by CAL FIRE.

On Jan. 7, the Hurst fire ignited in Sylmar, a small city in the San Fernando Valley, and became the third blaze in this horrifying series of the LA fires. A downed power line by Edison International is suspected to have caused this wildfire. Two people and a dog were found dead according to Los Angeles Times The damaged line was found in the area around the time the blaze is believed to have started, according to the New York Post. The fire quickly spread, but as of Jan. 15, it  is 89 percent contained and covers 799 acres. 

The Hollywood Hills were scorched as a small fire, known as the Sunset Fire, sparked on Jan. 8. The fire grew to 50 acres in a few hours and was put out the next day. No fatalities, injuries, or major destruction were reported. Rumors of the Hollywood Sign being blazed was later debunked by the LAFD. 

The 5th major fire threatening L.A is the Kenneth fire in West Hills, Ventura County. On Jan. 9, a vegetation fire was ignited and hastily spread, according to the LAFD.  It spread due to high winds and dry conditions, but the initial cause of the fire is believed to be arson and is actively being investigated. It was near several celebrities’ and moguls’ homes like the Kardashians, The Weeknd and Will Smith. No one was harmed in the fire, and it was put out on Jan. 12 after growing to about 1,200 acres. 

The latest fire, the Hughes Fire, broke out in Santa Clarita on January 22. It caused evacuation orders in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Firefighters quickly began working to contain the fire on the first day, and as of two days later, it is 79% contained. No one was harmed, but roads were closed and residents evacuated. The fire has grown to about 10,000 acres, and the cause remains unknown according to CAL FIRE.

Over 8,800 Los Angeles firefighters are working tremendously hard to put out these lethal fires. Firefighters from Mexico, Canada, Texas, Utah and Arizona have also been deployed to California to help. There is no answer to when the LA fires will be over, so residents can begin reconstruction. Until then, to help these residents, donate to charities that have been vetted by NBC News like California Community Foundation, L.A. Fire Department Foundation, and Pasadena Humane Society.