A total of six wildfires in Los Angeles County continued to burn on Friday, January 10, 2025. The fires have prompted evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of residents, with 153,000 people currently under mandatory evacuation orders, and over 160,000 warned they should be prepared to evacuate, Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday. At least 10,000 structures have been destroyed city-wide. So far, ten people have been reported dead, and there are “a number of significant injuries,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Wednesday press conference. As of Friday, curfews are in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in several areas, in an effort to prevent looting.
Powerful Santa Ana winds have fanned the flames, collectively scorching 35,000 acres. While Thursday brought a lull in winds, which have reached 100 mph at points, they are expected to pick up again on Sunday, a meteorologist with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday. The situation is constantly changing though.
“The fires remain active, and the safety of residents, visitors, and first responders in the affected areas is our highest priority,” the Los Angeles Tourism Board said in a statement shared with Condé Nast Traveler. “We urge everyone to stay informed through the Los Angeles Fire Department for the latest evacuation updates and to follow all warnings and evacuation orders from first responders.”
If you have a trip planned to Los Angeles, here’s what to know about the LA fires—including the neighborhoods affected, and the impact on flights—plus what to do if you’re already on the ground and need to adjust your trip. (If you were displaced from your home by the fires, here’s how to receive free or discounted Airbnb and hotel stays.)
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This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Where are the LA fires?
As of Friday evening, there are six active fires in Los Angeles County. Since the Palisades and Eaton fires first began on January 7, new fires—like the Kenneth fire, which broke out on Thursday and is now partially contained, and the Archer fire, which broke out Friday—have emerged. The Sunset fire—which started near Hollywood Hills on Wednesday—has been 100% extinguished.
The Pacific Palisades
The largest, the Palisades fire, first broke out around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7. It currently spans 20,438 acres in the Pacific Palisades region (located west of Los Angeles between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean) and is 8% contained as of 11:00 a.m. on Friday, an improvement from 0% on Thursday. Santa Monica has issued an evacuation order for residents living for all areas north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street and an evacuation warning for all additional areas north of Montana Avenue, as well as all areas north of Wilshire Boulevard and west of 10th Street. To date, this fire has flattened a number of residential communities, including waterfront homes on Malibu’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway.
Pasadena/Altadena
The Eaton fire, which is currently the second largest fire at 13,690 acres, broke out later Tuesday evening around 6:18 p.m in Eaton Canyon, an area north of Pasadena near Altadena. It grew rapidly and is at 3% containment as of Friday. A total of 4,000 structures have been destroyed; flames threatened the historic observatory atop Mount Wilson (also a popular hiking destination) on Thursday, though officials have since reported that firefighters were successful in protecting the structure and its famous Hooker telescope.
Other areas
The Kenneth brush fire, which spans Los Angeles and Ventura county, is 35% contained as of Friday morning, and covers 1,000 acres. Evacuation orders due to the Kenneth Fire were lifted by 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, though only residents with identification are allowed to pass through the area. An arson suspect was arrested by citizens and is now in police custody, according to local news outlets including KTLA.
