World

In pictures: Destruction and chaos as fires devastate Los Angeles

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate amid some of the most catastrophic fires in the city's history.

A firefighter stands outside a burning house.

At least five people have been killed in the fires. Source: AAP / Caylo Seals/Sipa USA

Raging wildfires in Los Angeles have
killed at least five people
, destroyed hundreds of buildings and stretched firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit.

More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, while fierce winds have hindered firefighting operations and fuelled the fires.

The fires are already some of the most destructive in Los Angeles' history.
A firefighter uses a hose to extinguish flames around a charred structure.
Firefighters are battling multiple fires across the Los Angeles region. Source: AAP / Etienne Laurent/AP
The largest fire consumed nearly 4900 hectares in Pacific Palisades, a picturesque neighbourhood between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu that is home to many film, television and music stars.
A couple stands with their backs to the camera, looking at the devastation caused by wildfires.
Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate, with many losing their homes. Source: AAP / Ethan Swope/AP
Strong, dry winds fanned the Palisades blaze, and the area's narrow, winding streets, combined with the rush of thousands of people ordered to evacuate, created long delays and traffic jams.
Flames and embers shoot from a burning home.
The fires have destroyed hundreds of buildings and stretched firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA
Demand for water has caused some hydrants to run dry in Pacific Palisades after the last of three large water tanks in the area hit empty, officials said.
READ MORE

What caused the 'devastating' LA wildfires and how they've spread so rapidly

"We pushed the system to the extreme. We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging," Janisse Quinones, chief executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told a press conference.
A line of cars on a street, with smoke rising from fires in the background.
The high population, drought conditions, abundant fuel, and mountain wind strength have created a high-fire danger environment in the Los Angeles area that has the potential to spread. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA
California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and President Joe Biden pledged any help he could provide in his final days in office.
Water is dropped by helicopter on a wildfire.
Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles. Source: AP / Ethan Swope
President-elect Donald Trump has described the fires as a tragedy and blamed Newsom's policies for the disaster.
The remains of a staircase burn inside a once palatial home.
Over 30,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Southern California areas as Santa Ana winds swept through the region. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA
Several Hollywood events and sporting games have been postponed. Film permits were revoked in Pasadena and other areas east of Los Angeles at the request of fire officials, according to permitting organisation FilmLA.
Rubble and remnants of buildings.
Pacific Palisades, which has been ravaged by fires, is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the US. Source: AAP / Damian Dovarganes/AP
City authorities have also blocked public access to the famous Hollywood sign in the hills above Los Angeles.
A house engulfed by fire.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in Los Angeles. Source: AP / Eugene Garcia
"We're facing a historic natural disaster. And I think that can't be stated strong enough," Kevin McGowan, director of emergency management for Los Angeles County, told a press conference.
A man and a woman hugging stand amid rubble and buildings destroyed by fire.
More than one thousand structures have been destroyed by the Los Angeles fires. Source: AAP / Etienne Laurent/AP
The day after actor James Woods evacuated his house in Pacific Palisades, he said: "Every house around us was on fire."
A person watches as a house burns, with a charred car beside him.
Multiple fires are burning, and thousands of people have been displaced. Source: AAP / Caroline Brehman / EPA
Two firefighters battle the flames engulfing a white building.
The wildfires are some of the worst in Los Angeles' history. Source: AAP / Allison Dinner / EPA
"We were literally in the exact epicentre of the fire as it started," Woods said on CNN on Wednesday.

"There was so much chaos. It was like an inferno."
A dog stands on the footpath, watching as a house in the distance is engulfed by flames.
A state of emergency has been declared due to the out-of-control wildfires. Source: AAP / Caroline Brehman / EPA
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2 min read
Published 9 January 2025 2:18pm
Updated 9 January 2025 8:20pm
Source: AAP, SBS, Reuters

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