Pacific Palisades fire is worst ever to hit Los Angeles as 'hurricane of flames' rages on

The fire in Pacific Palisades has destroyed about 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles.

It is far more destructive than the second-most destructive - 2008’s Sayre Fire - according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city’s fire department and MySafe:LA.

The last most destructive fire was the Sayre Fire in November 2008 that destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city.

Before that, a 1961 Bel Air fire stood for nearly half a century as the most destructive fire in the city’s history. It burned nearly 500 houses in the tony hillside enclave, including the homes of actor Burt Lancaster, Zsa Zsa Gabor and other celebrities.

Megyn Kelly has accused Los Angeles' female fire chief of 'focusing on diversity' instead of planning for disaster.

The former Fox journalist slammed Kristin Crowley for prioritizing DEI training over preparing for wildfires.

'In recent years LA's fire chief has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority. but diversity,' she fumed on The Megyn Kelly Show. 'Diversity is at least among the top priorities for the Department.'

She referenced an interview in which Crowley expressed her desire to boost the number of women and LGBTQ+ people in the fire service.

'Who gives a s**t if the fire chief is gay I'm sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she likes to sleep with can you fight the f**king fires madam that's the relevant question,' Kelly continued

'We don't care about your lady parts and we don't care who you want having access to them can you fight fires can you make sure there's water in the fire hydrants?'

She described Crowley's push for inclusivity as 'an absurdity' and mocked her previous comments about how she has trained staff

Kelly took shots at LA's female fire chief Kristin Crowley, seen here, describing the push for inclusivity as absurd

Authorities in California have said that the Palisades fire has now grown to 15,832 acres.

The Eaton fire meanwhile stands at 10,600 acres, followed by the Hurst at 505 acres, the Woodley Fire which stretches to 30 acres and the Olivas fire which currently stands at 11 acres.

On Wednesday afternoon a sixth fire named the Freddy Fire was also sparked along the Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland.

All of the fires remain at 0 percent containment, according to California fire authorities.

Sandra Lee has said she lost her Pacific Palisades home in a post to her social media, after videoing her burning neighrbood as she fled.

Lee, 58, had shared videos on Tuesday evening as she packed her belongings and fled her home.

In an update to her social media, a tearful Lee revealed she was now in hotel and her house was lost in the fires.

She said: ‘I have been crying all night, thank god everybody is safe. All my stuff, all the last five years of my life. I’m going to rebuild it I think.’

Her post added: ‘For all your prayers-Thank you. I’m trying to process all this. I am truly grateful we are all safe.

‘My house is gone - I cried all night and thought about every room, nook, and cranny. It was perfection and now it’s just Ash.

‘Please keep our community, the firefighters and the first responders in your prayers. This is not over-not even close. Love and Prayers always.’

Officials said the fire in Palisades has burned though more than 11,800 acres as of noon on Wednesday.

The fire remains at 0 percent containment, according to California fire authorities.

Fire ravaged businesses are seen after the Palisades Fire swept though in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Experts say that heavy rains from El Niño last year fueled vegetation growth in Los Angeles area, which had since dried out and become highly flammable.

Once ignited, strong winds then fanned the flames.

Southern California was battered by 'devil winds', formally known as Santa Ana winds, which are warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of region toward the coast.

After his briefing in Santa Monica, President Joe Biden flew on Marine One to Los Angeles International Airport for his flight back to Washington.

Reporters who accompanied Biden could see smoke from the windows of their Osprey aircraft.

The ride was bumpy as winds continued to be a challenge in the area.

The NFL is closely monitoring the devastating wildfires in California amid concerns ahead of Monday's playoff game in Los Angeles.

The Rams are hosting the Minnesota Vikings in the Monday evening game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, less than 20 miles from the Pacific Palisades fire.

'The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA,' a statement said on Wednesday.

he NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed due to the ongoing wildfires in California.

This is the first sporting event to be affected by the wildfires, with the Los Angeles Lakers still slated to host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.

The Kings announced the postponement just before 3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday afternoon, about eight hours before puck drop.

The fires in the very affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Southern California has caused people to literally run for their lives.

Over 30,000 people have been evacuated, often leaving with just their small pets and the shirts on their backs.

And DailyMail.com has learned that many of the fleeing super wealthy have flowed into the luxury hotels in nearby Beverly Hills that charge $700 a night.

Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, posted on X pleading for help as a massive wildfire tore through the hillside.

'Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you,' he wrote, before receiving backlash from what he called 'trolls'.

Adam Brody and Leighton Meester's LA home has been destroyed in the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire.

Shocking photos showed the once stunning family home in the glitzy celebrity enclave reduced to a smoking wreck on Wednesday, with the roof burnt away and flames ripping through the rooms.

The windows have smashed and black smoke was seen pouring out of the home.

Hollywood studio canceled shooting for numerous series, including Hacks, Ted Lasso and Suits LA.

The Walt Disney Co. closed its headquarters in Burbank, and canceled production on shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Doctor Odyssey.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! which tapes in Hollywood, was canceled for Wednesday and will instead air a repeat.

The production pauses added to further disruptions to the film and TV industry in Los Angeles, including the cancellation of the premiere of Universal’s Wolf Man and the postponement of the upcoming Critics Choice Awards.

Three major blazes were burning in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade.

With thousands of firefighters already attacking the flames, the Los Angeles Fire Department put out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help.

The efforts were further hampered by high winds that grounded water-dropping aircraft, but they returned to the skies by midday.

Aircraft had been grounded due to extreme winds, dramatically hampering the firefight.

Los Angeles City Fire Capt. Jacob Raabe said aircraft resumed dropping fire retardant and water on the Palisades Fire at around 7am Wednesday.

James Woods broke down during a CNN interview as he described evacuating his Pacific Palisades home amid the Los Angeles wildfires.

The actor, 77, became emotional as he shared how his wife's niece offered to help after their home was destroyed by the fires that have decimated at least 1,000 structures and left two dead.

Woods said his wife's eight-year-old niece 'came out with her little piggy bank for us to rebuild our house.'

The annual Critics Choice Awards, which were scheduled for Sunday in Santa Monica, have been postponed because of the wildfires.

Organizers said the awards will take place on January 26.

The Ventura and Los Angeles counties are the most affected by the power outages on Wednesday.

Southern California Edison said it cut off power to over 148,000 customers as part of 'public safety power shutoffs.'

The company said that it could shut off power for another 400,000 customers for safety.

'These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping you and your community safe,' the company said.

Biden's order comes after the LA County fire chief admitted the city did not have enough firefighters to battle the flames.

The president is in California and has been briefed by fire officials alongside governor Gavin Newsom.

A harrowing photo shows a Californian turning on a garden hose in a desperate and ultimately unsuccessful bid to save a home.

The photograph was taken in Altadena Wednesday morning, as the Eaton Fire razed properties in the area.

Complaints range from the mayor being AWOL in Africa to fire hydrants running out of water and electricity to power cables being left on to fuel the flames, which have so far killed two people.

Businessman and mayoral candidate Rick Caruso blasted local officials for failing to refill the water supplies despite knowing that strong winds which could whip up wildfires were on the way.

Harrowing video reveals the once-bustling Los Angeles enclave is now an eerie ghost town.

CBS correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti was unable to contain his emotion as he drove through the smoldering streets on Wednesday.

Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN the ongoing fires in southern California could be historically costly.

'It is plausible that the Palisades Fire, in particular, will become the costliest on record period, not just in California, but in general,' Swain told CNN.

'We’ve likely checked that box this time. I’m hoping we don’t check other boxes as well.'

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said on Wednesday that two people have been arrested for looting during evacuations.

'It's always sad when I have to say this, but part of our responsibility is to make sure no one loots or steals from our residents or our community members who are already being impacted,' Luna said.

Luna added: 'So if you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I'm going to tell you something: You're going to be caught, you're going to be arrested and you're going to be prosecuted.'

Meanwhile LA County fire chief Marrone said there is not enough firefighters to battle the flames.

'All 29 fire departments in L.A. County are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster,' Marrone said.

'There are not enough firefighters in L.A. County to address four separate fires of this magnitude.'

People enter an evacuation zone to take selfie photos and videos near burning homes at the Eaton Fire on January .

Local electricity provider Southern California Edison is considering a so-called Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Santa Barbara county.

The firm, one of the main power providers in the area, said it was considering the shutdown due to a 'Red Flag' warning and an increased risk of wildfires.

Residents are now being contacted in areas including Montecito, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in a 'high fire risk' property for five years.

Israel, 30, abruptly left the luxurious Pacific Palisades residence after he and close friend Tanner Charles tried to prepare the home for the wildfires, spraying the whole place in water. But three hours after the dousing the home, the backyard of the property was ripped apart by the fires.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Eaton area in Pasadena has been evacuated.

The center is responsible for dozens of space missions like collecting rocks from Mars.

Only essential workers will be allowed in, according to NASA.

The fire is 'very close to the lab,' but there’s been no fire damage yet, the center’s director, Laurie Leshin, said on X.

However, there has been some wind damage, wrote Leshin.

She added that hundreds of NASA employees at the lab have had to evacuate from their homes.

Ben Affleck has raced to his ex-wife Jennifer Garner's home after being evacuated from the devastating California wildfires, TMZ reports.

He rushed over to their home to collect the family and all have since escaped to safety, sources told DailyMail.com

The actor fled his $20 million Pacific Palisades bachelor pad on Tuesday after the blaze closed in.

VP Harris' Brentwood home is pictured.

The Oscar winner shared a message on Instagram Wednesday morning.

'My community and possibly my home is on fire. My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well,' Curtis wrote.

'There are so many conflicting reports. With all the technology there seems to be very little information. PLEASE POST FACTS! IT WILL HELP THOSE WONDERING!

'It is a terrifying situation and I'm grateful to the firefighters and all of the good Samaritans who are helping people get out of the way of the blaze. Neighbors have taken care of neighbors.

'We ALL take everything for granted because we are all living our lives but when it hits your community, it's particularly shocking. Life on life's terms. If ever there was need for the use of the phrase MY HAND IN YOURS, it is right now. Take care of each other. Stay out of the way and let the firefighters do their work. Pray if you believe in it and even if you don't, pray for those who do.'

As firefighters tackled blazes across the city, and as Newsom declared a state of emergency across the Pacific Palisades area, the Democratic governor was battling revived scrutiny over his record on land management.

On Tuesday evening, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson declared a state of emergency - while warning that the worst of the windstorm is 'yet to come.'

With panicked residents fleeing on foot, the city enlisted bulldozers to rid the streets of the deserted cars and clear a path for first responders to access the hills, where the fire is raging.

The apocalyptic inferno has torn through the ritzy neighborhood, home to many A-list celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Jhene Aiko, Tom Hanks, and Miles Teller, among others.

Nick Watt was on the ground in Palisades Village on Tuesday when he suffered the near miss.

Residents in the area are among the tens of thousands of people in Los Angeleswho have been ordered to evacuate amid the blazing wildfires which have already razed homes and left several firefighters injured.

LA fire chief Marrone said as many as 1,000 structures have been destroyed in the LA fires.

Meanwhile at least 5,000 acres have burned in Palisides as the fires are 0 percent contained.

There are no reported deaths in Palisades but there are reports of significant injuries, Marrone said.

Los Angeles fire chief Anthony Marrone gave an update on Wednesday morning and said they have received reports of two deaths tied to the fire in Eaton.

The causes of the deaths remain unclear.

Officials have also received reports of a high number of injuries in Eaton.

The fire is 0 percent contained as of 8am local time.

Southern California Edison shut off power to nearly 120,000 customers in six Southern California counties over safety concerns due to high winds and the risk of wildfires.

Another 440,000 customers could face similar shutoffs depending on weather conditions, the utility said Wednesday on its website.

The Democrat said he was on the ground in Pacific Palisides on Tuesday as the wildfires spread throughout the LA area.

But his critics took the image as a photo-op as they slammed Newsom for the fires.

The popular @Breaking911 X account wrote: 'JUST IN: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has showed up to the scene of the Palisades fire to put his hands in his back pockets.'

Many also targeted Newsom, accusing him of not implementing the necessary resources to battle wildfires.

'We will continue to assess the situation and expect to open for business tomorrow. The safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority,' the theme park in Hollywood and Universal CityWalk wrote on X.

The park said they are closing due to 'extreme wind and fire conditions.'

A fourth fire has broken out in LA with flames breaking out in Woodley in the Sepulveda Basin at 6.15am local time.

Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said 'we are unable to fly our rotor-wing aircraft.'

The aircraft 'is one of the main methods we use to attack a wind-driven brush fire,' the official added.

Cars abandoned by terrified residents trying to flee for their lives from the raging wildfires in the Pacific Palisades were filmed being bulldozed out of the road.

Footage shared by NBC journalist Katherine Picazo yesterday on X showed a bulldozer clearing the road by shoving abandoned vehicles into piles near Sunset Boulevard.

The National Weather Service is receiving reports of winds up to 80 mph Tuesday morning. They could top 100 mph in mountains and foothills and include areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months.

Red flag warnings are highlighting extremely critical fire weather conditions. Those include exceptionally dry relative humidity levels.

Los Angeles Fire officials told CNN that a significant number of people have been injured in the fires, with many burned as they were evacuating the inferno.

Officials have said there is no possibility the fires will be contained any time soon.

The situation prompted the Los Angeles Fire Department to take the rare step of putting out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help.

Furious Los Angelinos have blasted their mayor for traveling to Ghana while the city burns, despite having ample warning about 'critical' weather conditions in the days before.

Mayor Karen Bass flew out to attend the West African country's presidential inauguration on Tuesday, after meteorologists warned that a 'recipe for fire' was on track to strike LA.

To make matters worse, a litany of failures by LA city officials appear to be fueling the out-of-control blaze, which has forced tens of thousands of people to flee some of the city's ritziest enclaves as homes and businesses burn to the ground.

The fire erupted at around 10.30am yesterday and early reports from authorities said it spanned 200 acres. But within half an hour, the inferno expanded to cover 770 acres.

It has since reached over 3,000 acres, and is destroying about 'three football fields' of land every sixty seconds, prompting a mass exodus of terrified residents.

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam warned that the next six hours are critical to fight the flames.

'We call that an extremely critical, particularly dangerous situation,' he said. 'But that level starts to get lowered as we go through the course of the day today, because the winds are anticipated to relax, conditions will change.'

Van Dam added: 'I want our viewers to understand just how quickly these fires can spread, it is at a moment’s notice that an ember can travel across a road, across the expanse of a highway, start additional spot fires, and erupt into a raging inferno.'

Evacuation zones have grown by the hour as officials warned that the worse of the fires is yet to come.

Erratic winds of up to 100mph were expected to fuel the inferno and hinder efforts to fight the flames.

Winds of 99mph were recorded Tuesday night in in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Nearly 300,000 are without power across the Los Angeles area and an unknown number of structures have been destroyed.

Meanwhile at least 18 school districts have closed on Wednesday.

There are three fires currently spreading in the Los Angeles area - in Palisades, Eaton and Hurst.

Flames jumped famous Sunset Boulevard and burned parts of the Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions including the 1976 horror movie Carrie, the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday and the TV series Teen Wolf.

Freaky Friday scene filmed at Palisades Charter High School.

The erratic weather caused President Joe Biden to cancel plans to travel to inland Riverside County, where he was to announce the establishment of two new national mounments in California.

He remained in Los Angeles, where smoke was visible from his hotel, and was briefed on the wildfires.

Biden is seen arriving in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The flames from a fire that broke out Tuesday evening near a nature preserve in the inland foothills northeast of LA spread so rapidly that staff at a senior living center had to push dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street to a parking lot.

The residents — one as old as 102 — waited there in their bedclothes as the night sky glowed red from flames and embers fell around them until ambulances, buses and even construction vans arrived to take them to safety.

Spencer Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag have tragically lost their home in the massive wildfire sweeping through Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

Pratt, 41, was captured in photos as he watched the rapidly advancing fire move toward his home, which is in an area featuring many celebrity estates that are also at risk of burning.

Sources told TMZ that Spencer and Heidi's home was completely destroyed after catching fire on Tuesday.

This picture taken on Tuesday shows the Pacific Palisades fire taken from an airplane that was diverted from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

Haunting video footage has emerged of two men and their dog trapped as hellish wildfires encircled their property in Los Angeles.

The chilling clip recorded from within the house showed how flames dozens of feet high surrounded the property, clearly visible through floor-to-ceiling windows, in a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood disaster movie.

The man, whose identity was not immediately known, can be heard telling his dog: 'You're going to be okay, alright?', while instructing a second resident to stay away from the windows amid fears they could shatter.

The Palisides fire could destroy a Southern California cultural touchstone – the Getty Villa.

Some trees and vegetation on the grounds of the Getty Villa were burned by late Tuesday, but staff and the museum collection remain safe, Getty President Katherine Fleming said in a statement.

The museum located on the eastern end of the Pacific Palisades is a separate campus of the world-famous Getty Museum that focuses on the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome.

'Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems,' the statement said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has warned the windstorm which threatens to spread the wildfires across Southern California is 'expected to worsen' this morning.

She made the remarks as she told Angelenos to remain vigilant in the coming hours.

A popular seafood restaurant in Malibu and a Jewish temple in Pasadena (pictured) are among the buildings destroyed by devastating wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles, US media outlets have reported.

Reel Inn, a 36-year-old seafood restaurant, was among many burned down restaurants on the Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Malibu Times.

Owners Teddy and Andy Leonard confirmed the venue was destroyed on Instagram adding staff were safe.

Meanwhile, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center was engulfed by flames on Wednesday morning.

Elsewhere, the fire reached the grounds of Palisades Charter High School whose former alumni include Will.i.am and Forest Whitaker.

The extent of the damage to the school remains unclear.

See our latest photographs from Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to tackle one of three wildfires in Pacific Palisades.

The Palisades fire has resulted in tens of thousands of people leaving their homes before further evacuations as a result of the Eaton and Hurst fires.

Fire chiefs have already warned they cannot contain the flames overnight because of strong winds which threaten to spread the blaze further.

Huge swathes of southern California are ablaze as the Pacific Palisades fire continued to spread westward.

Now, three fires have reached over 3,000 acres, destroying about 'three football fields' of land every sixty seconds, prompting a mass exodus of terrified residents.

The situation may only get worse, officials warned, amid 'life-threatening, destructive' winds.

Hundreds of firefighters swarmed the area, attacking the blaze from the ground and the air, while crews worked through steep terrain to cut back vegetation and create firebreaks.

• See our map to track where the fires are breaking out

Hollywood stalwart James Woods has shared a video of evacuees leaving their homes in Los Angeles to escape the devastating wildfires.

Woods took to social media to lament the destruction of his home in Pacific Palisades as brutal wildfires tear through much of Los Angeles and Southern California.

The Academy Award-winning actor, 77, shared a clip of the view from his home overlooking an ocean sunset, writing: 'I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once.

'It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say,' he quipped. 'I couldn't believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one.'

• Watch the video below and read the full story here

Officials at the Getty Villa art museum have confirmed its grounds caught fire on Tuesday but that the art and museum building itself had been so far spared.

Firefighters said that trees and brush were ablaze and that flames were approaching structures in Malibu.

Katherine E. Fleming, president and chief executive of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement

Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year. Some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but staff and the collection remain safe.

Built in 1954 by oil tycoon J. Paul Getty and opened as a museum in 1974, the 64-acre Getty Villa houses more than 44,000 objects and art.

According to reports in the US, firefighters tackling the fire in Pacific Palisades have reported on their radio systems how fire hydrants in the neighbourhood are running dry.

Los Angeles-based developer Rick Caruso, who owns a shopping centre in Palisades, told the Los Angeles Times he had received similar reports from staff.

There’s no water in the fire hydrants. The firefighters are there [in the neighborhood], and there’s nothing they can do — we’ve got neighborhoods burning, homes burning, and businesses burning. It should never happen.

A spokesman for the Department of Water and Power told the newspaper it had acknowledged reports of diminished water flow from hydrants but did not have details on the number without water or the scale of the issue.

A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles has multiple wildfires rage through Southern California forcing tens of thousands of people to leave their homes.

Home to many celebrities and wealthy residents, more than 1,400 firefighters are currently battling flames that threaten to grow further with wind speeds recorded at nearly 100mph.

If you're just joining our live coverage, here's what you need to know:

• Three large wildfires are rapidly spreading across Los Angeles with blazes breaking out in Pacific Palisades, the Eaton fire in Altadena and the Hurst fire in Sylmar near San Fernando
• Mandatory evacuations are in place across Los Angeles County with 30,000 leaving their homes in Pacific Palisades while neighbours have been forced to vacate homes in Pasadena and Santa Clarita
• Firefighters have conceded they are unable to contain the flames overnight because of strong wind speeds with rescuers focused on saving lives
• Hollywood A-listers are among those whose homes are under threat with Ben Affleck pictured returning home to see the advancing blaze, while Star Wars actor Mark Hamill was among those evacuated
• President Joe Biden has urged people in Los Angeles to remain vigilant as he promised to support the city

Tom Hanks' son shared a devastating message as his hometown of Pacific Palisades continues to be consumed by a horrifying wildfire.

Chet Hanks,34, the son of the Toy Story star and Rita Wilson, took to Instagram late Tuesday evening telling his followers to 'pray' for the neighborhood.

'The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground rn [right now]. Pray for Palisades,' Chet wrote on his Instagram story, alongside a prayer hand emoji.

His parents purchased a sprawling $26million, 14,513 square-foot mansion in Pacific Palisades in 2010. It is unclear if the home has been affected by the inferno.

Chet currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee as he posted in August about 'leaving Hollywood.'

• Read the full story by our US Showbiz reporter Emma Richter here

Wind gusts across Southern California are nearing 100mph which is helping to spread the fire across Los Angeles.

According to CNN, wind speeds of 98mph have been recorded at Saddle Peak and 85mph at Henniger Flats.

It comes as authorities say they are powerless to contain the flames tonight while winds remain strong.

Earlier, firefighting aircraft had to be grounded because of worsening conditions which could lead to the biggest windstorm in more than a decade.

In a warning, the National Weather Service said:

This will likely be the most destructive windstorm since the 2011 windstorm that did extensive damage to Pasadena and nearby foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. Any communities along Highway 118 and 210 corridors will be at the highest risk for comparable wind damage.

These pictures show the Eaton fire raging in Altadena which has seen more than 5,000 residents evacuated in nearby Pasadena.

Jennifer Colby, public information coordinator for Pasadena, told the BBC that some homes and buildings have been damaged in the city with the north-east and surrounding areas among the worst affected.

The Eaton fire burns in Sierra Madre, east side of Los Angeles

The wildfire is one of three rapidly growing across Los Angeles County

Firefighters attempt to save homes but winds have hampered the rescue

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Santa Clarita, the third most populous city in Los Angeles County, as the Hurst fire in Sylmar, north of San Fernando, spreads to 500 acres.

According to CNN, seven areas are under evacuation orders while an additional two are under warnings.

Santa Clarita has a population of around 228,673 and is the third biggest city in Los Angeles County behind Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Here is some more footage of fires raging across Los Angeles as firefighters concede strong winds mean there is no immediate possibility of containing the flames.

Governor Gavin Newsom has told his social media followers that 1,400 firefighters have been deployed in Los Angeles County where three wildfires have broken out.

He made the remarks in a post on X shortly after midnight.

We've reported how firefighters say strong and unpredictable winds have left them with no hope of containing the fires tonight.

Blustery winds on the US west coast are being caused by a weather pattern known as the 'Santa Ana winds' which happens when a large area of high pressure results in strong easterly gales around Arizona and Southern California.

Wind speeds can reach speeds of up to 80mph and increase the risk of fires spreading.

See our video below

Firefighters in Ventura County have said another fire has broken out although it was unclear whether it was connected to three wildfires elsewhere in Los Angeles.

The Ventura County Fire Department said multiple cars and storage units are on fire in in Santa Paula, a city in the Santa Clara River Valley between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Here's the department's statement on X.

The Eaton fire in Altadena, near Pasadena, is now burning over 1,000 acres showing its rapid spread throughout the evening.

Pasadena has ordered mandatory evacuations with some homes already burned to the ground.

Satellite imagery has captured the Los Angeles wildfires from space as three separate blazes forces tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

See the images below:

It's gone midnight in Los Angeles where firefighters have said there is no possibility of containing the fires because of extreme winds.

David Acuna, a battalion chief with CAL Fire, the state fire department, said the flames would continue to expand throughout the night, with rescuers solely focused on the time being on saving lives.

He told CNN:

We are mostly concerned with ensuring that all people get out of the area because life safety is the most important part and we’re helping people to plan so that their pets and livestock also have a safe shelter

The Palisades is now just shy of 3,000 acres. The Eaton fire near the Angeles national forest is over 1,000 acres. And the Hurst fire near Sylmar is just over 100 acres. However, these are growing are because the winds are not letting up. In fact, they’re not planning to let up through all night and likely into tomorrow.

A US premiere of the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man has been cancelled after wildfires spread across Los Angeles, according to US media outlets.

The film, directed by Michael Gracey, sees the former Take That star played by a CGI chimpanzee, a comment on how he feels like a 'performing monkey'.

A Paramount spokesperson was quoted as saying:

Due to the dangerous conditions affecting Los Angeles we are cancelling tomorrow’s premiere of Better Man.

Our thoughts are with those impacted by the devastating fires resulting from these conditions, and we encourage everyone to stay safe and follow guidance and orders from local officials and government agencies.

The Los Angeles premiere of Better Man was due to take place on January 8.

As the wildfire continues to ravage California's Pacific Palisades, many celebrities have had to flee their luxurious homes as authorities warn of an 'immediate threat to life.'

On Tuesday evening, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson declared a state of emergency - while warning that the worst of the windstorm is 'yet to come.'

With panicked residents fleeing on foot, the city enlisted bulldozers to rid the streets of the deserted cars and clear a path for first responders to access the hills, where the fire is raging.

Teslas, BMWs, Porches, and Mercedes were all filmed being dozed out of the way on Tuesday afternoon - as terrified millionaire locals said that the natural disaster felt like an all-encompassing 'tornado of fire.'

• Read here to see which stars may be affected by evacuation notices

In its most recent social media post, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has stated there is 0% containment, meaning there is no control around its perimeter.

The post reads:

Extreme fire behavior, short & long-range spotting, continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisades Fire. Winds gusts up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday.

The update was posted alongside two videos of the blaze which has already forced thousands of wealthy residents to leave their homes.

We can now bring you videos showing the extreme damage wildfires have caused in Los Angeles with buildings burned to the ground and the environment ravaged.

Los Angeles has declared an emergency and officials warned conditions may yet worsen as firefighters tackle 'tornado-like' winds in the battle to tackle the flames.

See our footage below:

Firefighters are tackling three fires in Los Angeles with the devastating blaze threatening to rip into densely populated areas across the city in Southern California

The huge blaze in Pacific Palisades, an exclusive neighbourhood near Santa Monica, is measuring at more than 2,900 acres.

Meanwhile, a fire that broke out in the foothills near Eaton Canyon has grown to 600 acres, according to the state's fire department CAL Fire, an increase from 400 acres a few hours previously.

And a third brush fire has broken out in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley which recent estimates is around 100 acres big.

These are just some of the incredible photographs we can show you from Los Angeles where a devastating fire is ripping through the city's exclusive suburbs.

Flames rise from a home in Pasadena

Sparks fly as the fire ravages buildings

A house in Pacific Palisides is engulfed by flames

A firefighter appears to touch his face as he battles the blaze

Extreme winds helped whip up the blaze across Los Angeles

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has said he was evacuated from Malibu amid the wildfires in Los Angeles.

In an Instagram post, he said: 'Personal Fire Update: 7pm – Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).'

From there he went to his daughter Chelsea’s house in Hollywood with his wife Marilou and their dog Trixie.

He said: '8:15pm – Marilou, Trixie & I arrive at Chelsea’s house in Hollywood. Most horrific fire since ’93. Stay safe.'

His Instagram post below:

Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native, has released a statement on the ongoing fires.

'My heart goes out to all those being impacted by the devasting wildfires in Southern California,' she said.

'Doug and I are praying for our fellow Californians who have evacuated, and we are thinking of the families whose homes, businesses, and schools remain in harm’s way.

'We are deeply grateful for the heroic first responders who are risking their own safety to fight the flames and help keep communities safe.'

Firefighters are 'working heroically... to preserve the main structures' of Palisades Charter High School - the set of Hollywood movies and television series including Carrie, Freaky Friday and Teen Wolf.

Many facilities, including the athletic buildings, baseball and tennis courts, as well as some bungalows, though, have been 'destroyed,' Nick Melvoin, a Los Angeles Unified School District board member, told CNN.

A nearby elementary school is also 'on fire.'

'We're just devastated... (I) also grew up playing soccer on those fields, and we’re all just in shock.'

The Screen Actors Guild has canceled its planned in-person awards nomination ceremony due to the fire in Los Angeles, the organization announced tonight.

The SAG Awards nomination ceremony was scheduled to be held tomorrow, but the nominations will instead be announced by a press release and on the SAG Awards website at 7:30 a.m.

'In the meantime, we urge everyone to stay safe, and thank you for your continued support,' the guild announced.

The awards will be held February 23.

The Red Cross has announced that it has set up an emergency shelter in Pasadena.

The shelter will be located at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Eugene Levy was among the Pacific Palisades, California residents caught in the gridlock of residents fleeing the upscale area amid a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides, exacerbated by a fierce windstorm.

The Emmy-winning actor, 78, told the Los Angeles Times, which mentioned the actor in a report about the fire, that he could see dense smoke emanating from the area.

'The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon,' the Schitt’s Creek actor told the paper. 'I couldn’t see any flames, but the smoke was very dark.'

James Woods announced on social media that his friend is opening Mickey Fine Pharmacy at 7.30am to help victims who fled without their medications.

Footage posted online shows horse owners leading their animals to safety.

The man in the video told FOX local he had to let others out.

Multiple burn victims have received medical attention at nearby Duke's restaurant, LA Fire Department Officer Erik Scott announced.

A 25-year-old femlae firefighter also sustained a serious head injury, and received immediate treatment at the scene.

She was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

The whole stretch of Pacific Coast Highway from Pacific Palisades north up to Malibu has burned to the ground.

Iconic old landmarks are now gone, as are ocean-front restaurants and ocean-front homes.

Bruce Silverstein, a Malibu City Council member, has issued a warning to residents to expect the fire to be uncontained for at least 12 more hours, according to the New York Times.

He sent a message to more than 3,000 households in the area, suggesting residents should evacuate if they can.

'The Palisades Fire is a monster. It is burning out of control, and the Santa Ana winds are spreading the fire and embers very fast,' the council member wrote.

Actor Chris Pratt asked for prayers as Los Angeles continues to burn.

'Please send prayers and strength tonight to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires,' he wrote on social media.

'Thank you to the brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and wildlife as they battle fast-moving wildfire fueled by fierce winds.'

'You are true heroes, and we are endlessly grateful for your sacrifice and courage.'

'Let's all come together to support one another during this tough time.'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday night that President Joe Biden has agreed to provide federal assistance to help fight the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, Fox LA reporter Elex Michaelson posted.

Video posted online shows teenagers fleeing their suburban home and racing through burning streets to get to safety.

Officials now worry they may not have given residents in Pasadena enough notice to evacuate.

Rail service has been suspended on the LA Metro's A line due to the high winds and a loss of power, the metro reported.

It is working to set up a bus shuttle between Highland Park and South Pasadena.

Vice President Kamala Harris' Los Angeles home is in the evacuation zone for the Palisades fire, NBC News reports.

The vice president is currently in Washington DC

Chet Hanks, the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, posted a somber message on Instagram Tuesday night.

'The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground [right now],' he wrote.

'Pray for the Palisades.'

Malibu's four public school campuses will remain closed tomorrow, school district officials have announced.

The Pasadena Unified School District also said its campuses would be closed tomorrow as the Eaton Fire rages on near the city.

A terrifying photo posted online shows the extent of the Pacific Palisades fire as it continued to spread Tuesday night.

X user @bluebear731 claims she took the photo on a flight arriving into LAX.

Later in the night, reports started to emerge that another fire emerged in the Sun Valley neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, near Burbank Airport.

That would make three separate fires in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Sun Valley.

As the Eaton Canyon fire spread to Altadena, a local nursing home was seen taking elderly patients and placing them on buses and the city's transit system to get them to safety.

A terrifying video posted online shows two men and their dog stuck in their apartment as the Pacific Palisades fire burns all around them.

The nightmare-inducing footage shows the resident trying to reassure his dog that 'It's going to be OK, you're going to be OK.'

At least 550 homes in a hard-to-reach location are now at direct risk from the Eaton Canyon fire burning above Pasadena.

It will be even harder for firefighters to contain this blaze now that aircraft is grounded.

Aircraft helping to fight the fires from the skies have been grounded as wind conditions worsen and visibility deteriorates.

According to scanners in the area, those on the ground battling the intense blaze are starting to experience shortages in their supplies, particularly water.

A new brush fire has erupted near Pasadena, diverting resources and forcing first responders to fight the inferno on two fronts.

The new blaze is also fast moving and being spurred by winds. It erupted just over an hour ago and is already occupying 400 acres of land.

President Joe Biden revealed late on Tuesday night he'd been briefed on the fires and was in touch with both state and local officials.

'I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire,' he wrote on X.

'Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs.

'My Administration will do everything it can to support the response. I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials.'

The Los Angeles Fire Department is so low on resources, it is asking any firefighter in the area to call a hotline to potentially come in and fight the blaze, reporter Bill Melugin posted.

He noted that he had covered the city for years and had never seen anything like it.

The hotline number is (213) 576 - 8963.

As the wildfire continues to spread, poweroutage.us reports that 90,000 customers are now without power.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has issued an urgent call out to all staff and officers not scheduled to work today and this week to clock in and help out with the blaze.

It comes amid fears the fire will continue to intensify.

The Palisades Fire is now occupying more than 2,900 acres of land across Southern California, the state fire agency said.

When initial reports began filtering through this morning, the fire was barely 200 acres.

Since then, it has been growing at an extraordinary rate, spurred on by winds which are set to continue worsening into the night and Wednesday.

This picture shows the devastation sweeping Pacific Palisades right now, with million-dollar mansions razed to the ground.

Palisades Charter High School, once attended by will.i.am, J.J. Abrams and Katey Segal, is on fire.

The school is also a beloved and familiar set for Hollywood movies and television series, including Carrie, Freaky Friday, Project X and long-running high school series, Teen Wolf.

The fire has reached the base of the Getty Museum, prompting fears for the trove of artwork stored on premises.

An LAPD source said the grounds were “catching on fire” shortly before 5pm.

Spokespeople for Getty Museum have previously discussed their extensive fire safety plans, including fire retardant landscaping, automatically activated sprinklers and materials which are designed to withstand fire.

Maintenance workers often clear brush around the property to eliminate fuel for any fires, and the rooftops are made of crushed stone, to avoid any ember ignitions.

A spokesperson from Getty has since clarified the art and the building is safe.

'Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year. Some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but no structures are on fire, and staff and the collection remain safe.'

'Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections.'

Governor Newsome told reporters on Tuesday it took no more than a text message to secure federal funding from President Joe Biden for this disaster.

'No politics, no handwringing, no kissing of the feet.'

He issued a direct plea to the Trump administration to take a similar approach.

'My message to the incoming administration, and I'm not here to play any politics, is please don't play any politics,' Newsom said.

CBC journalist Jonathan Vigliotti said 'easily dozens of homes in this neighborhood on Las Lomas Ave are gone.'

Across the entire neighborhood firefighters are battling infernos and trying to save homes.

The National Weather Service has warned residents to expect more carnage tonight with wind gusts reaching 60 mph.

'This will likely be the most destructive windstorm seen since 2011 windstorm that did extensive damage to Pasadena and nearby foothills of the San Gabriel Valley,' the NWS said.

'Any communities along Highway 118 and 210 corridors will be at highest risk for comparable wind damage.'

The winds forecast for tonight will only fan the flames of the wildfire, but also risks bringing down trees and power lines, or creating further infernos.

L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson declared a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon amid raging wildfires.

He warned the worst is yet to come as he urged residents to stay off the roads if it is at all possible, to give emergency responders the best chance at fighting the inferno.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Marrone also had a stern warning for residents on Tuesday night, telling them: 'we are not out of danger.'.

'The National Weather Service has predicted that the winds are going to pick up and get worse,' Marrone said.

'We're going to have the most significant wind event between 10 p.m. [PST] this evening and 5 a.m. tomorrow morning.'

One resident and her daughter were lucky to drive out with the clothes on their backs and their two small dogs.

She described the scene as 'chaotic' and 'frightening' with people running, sirens blasting and planes full of ocean water buzzing overhead.  

'People are parking their cars on the side of the road, getting out and running for their lives!' the woman told DailyMail.com. 'People are literally running down the sidewalks pulling kids by their hands and carrying Louis Vuitton luggage.

'One guy was running with two Gucci suitcases and a house plant. It is like something out of a disaster movie.'

North of Pacific Palisades in the Santa Monica Mountains, the fire has now breached Topanga State Park and is burning through the area.

"State Parks has closed Topanga State Park as the Palisades Fire is currently burning on park property," California State Parks spokesperson Adeline Yee said.

A resident told NBC news she was turned around by firefighters when she tried to escape her home in the hills due to the fire.

'I did attempt to go down Palisades Drive, but it was like a tornado of fire all around me,' she said.

'The firefighters were there telling us to turn around. I sped back up the mountain.'

'There were cars parked on the sidewalks like it was an apocalypse.'

The fire has once again expanded, with authorities now revealing it is more than 1,200 acres in size.

He is urging residents to follow orders from local authorities.

As the fire tears through Southern California at a startling rate, meteorologist Judson Jones revealed it's destroying about 'three football fields' of land every sixty seconds.

Pacific Palisades is a known celebrity enclave, home to Miles and Keleigh Teller and Chris Pratt and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, among other A-listers.

J-Lo and Ben Affleck used to own a home in the area, as did Matt Damon.

Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo also lived in the neighborhood until recently.

Officials are bulldozing abandoned cars in Pacific Palisades in an effort to get rescue equipment up to the heart of the blaze.

Panicked residents abandoned their cars in gridlocked traffic on Palisades Drive, making it impossible for first responders to get to the inferno.

Now, extraordinary footage shows those cars being pushed out of the way by a bulldozer.

The City of Los Angeles revealed on Tuesday afternoon that 'due to fire activity and weather conditions, the following schools are relocating:

Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Charter Elementary School will relocate to Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet at 740 Gretna Green Way, Los Angeles, CA 90049.

Paul Revere Charter Middle School will relocate to University High School Charter at 11800 Texas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Topanga Elementary Charter School students reported to Woodland Hills Academy at 20800 Burbank Blvd, Woodland Hills, 91367.

Affected schools are communicating directly with families.'

The fire is now occupying 770 acres, more than doubling in size in just half an hour.

At 2pm local time, it was just 300 acres.

The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection have just warned residents there is an immediate threat to their lives.

In a statement, the department said: 'Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access.'

An evacuation center has been set up at Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 South Sepulveda Blvd for anybody seeking shelter.

There are reports coming out of Pacific Palisades that residents are finding it difficult to leave due to the amount of abandoned cars on the roads.

Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg said the fire is near his home and that people are abandoning their cars and making it hard for firetruck to make it up the road.

Guttenberg is urging his fellow neighbors to leave their keys in their car if they're leaving their vehicle behind 'so guys like me can move your car.'

'We really need people to move their cars,' he told KTLA. 'So if you leave your car on Palisades Drive, leave the key in there.'

James Woods, 77, shared a video on Tuesday afternoon of the blaze near his home as he prepared to evacuate.

'Standing in my driveway ready to evacuate. We've got a lot of planes going over dropping water,' he said.

'S**t.'

In the video, it appeared as though a house further up on the hills had already been engulfed in flames.

'We were blessed to have LA fire and police depts doing their jobs so well,' he later said.

'We are safe and out. There are several elementary schools in our neighborhood and there was an enormous community effort to evacuate the children safely. Can not speak more highly of the LA fire and LAPD.'

Southern California Edison (SCE) shut off power to Cuthbert, Galahad, and parts of Malibu on Tuesday due to 'dangerous fire weather,' according to an alert on Tuesday.

The company expected the power to be out for at least eight hours and it could be longer if crews need daylight to visibly inspect power lines and equipment. The inspection is required before SCE will restore power.

Roughly 27,000 homes state-wide are without power, according to poweroutage.us.

According to meteorologist Paul Deano, the wildfire situation in California is 'near worst case scenario' for locals.

He said the winds reaching 55mph are pushing the fire further toward neighborhoods - putting more homes and civilian lives at risk.

Los Angeles Fire Station 23 has reportedly caught fire as the Pacific Palisades inferno continues to spread.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has issued a map illustrating the mandatory evacuation zone.

The 1,200-acre bush fire was first reported around 10:30am on Tuesday and authorities have described the flames as a blowtorch.

Authorities issued an 'immediate' evacuation order for Pacific Palisades, urging residents to 'LEAVE NOW.'