LA wildfires: Two people dead, 70,000 forced to evacuate as blazes burn out of control across California

At least two people are dead as ferocious wildfires burn out of control near Los Angeles, destroying hundreds of buildings, causing a “high number” of significant injuries, and forcing about 70,000 people to flee their homes.

Four fires have ripped through more than 3000 hectares of land in Southern California since Tuesday. Three of those blazes threaten to swallow the iconic West Coast city, burning uncontrolled, propelled by “hurricane-force winds” hindering firefighting efforts.

The biggest blaze, the Palisades Fire, has consumed more than 2000 hectares in Pacific Palisades, a picturesque neighbourhood in west LA County between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu that is home to many film, television and music stars.

A second blaze, the Eaton Fire, has swallowed more than 800 hectares of land in the northeast, near Pasadena, and killed at least two people, fire officials said. Their cause of death is unknown.

Meanwhile, to the northwest, the Hurst Fire has torn through more than 200 hectares of the San Fernando Valley — better known as The Valley — near Santa Clarita.

More than 1400 firefighting personnel have been deployed to contain the “unprecedented” fires, California Governor Gavin Newsom said overnight, however, their efforts have been hampered by dry, windy conditions.

Wind gusts of more than 100km/h have fanned the flames and made it near impossible to deliver aerial support, officials said, putting extra strain on the municipal water system.

The National Weather Service said the dry vegetation and low humidity in the region made conditions “about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather”.

More than 1000 structures have been destroyed, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference on Wednesday, including schools, businesses and mansion-style homes.

Almost 400,000 properties in California have lost power, while others in LA have reported intermittent outages.

Thousands of residents have evacuated their neighbourhoods, causing traffic jams that have forced some to abandon their cars and flee on foot.

A “high number” of significant injuries had occurred among residents who did not heed evacuation orders Mr Marrone said.

Locals have shared terrifying footage of the blazes surrounding their homes and the charred remains of their neighbourhoods to social media. Elon Musk shared a video sent from “a friend in LA” showing the smokey remains of one street from a car window.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.

Authorities have warned residents the danger is not over, and that the conditions could cause “extreme fire behaviour” to continue into Thursday, local time.

US President Joe Biden — who was in Los Angeles for a planned announcement on new national monuments — said he was “being frequently briefed on the wildfires” and has offered “any federal assistance that is needed”.

He planned to visit a Santa Monica fire station for a briefing from fire officials on Wednesday, the White House said.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has a house is among those in the evacuation zone, said she was praying for “fellow Californians who have evacuated”. No one was at her property at the time of the evacuation order.

Iconic LA landmarks have been caught in the wildfires, including the prestigious Getty Villa Museum at the eastern end of the Pacific Palisades — loaded with priceless works of art and Greek and Roman antiquities.

Celebrities in LA have also taken to social media to share their experience in the fires.

Actor James Woods posted a video on X showing flames engulfing trees and bushes near his Pacific Palisades home, as he prepared to evacuate. He later said he received notifications that his house fire alarms had been triggered.

“I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one,” Woods said.