California Burning: Views Of The Los Angeles Wildfires In 10 Devastating Photos
Residents walk past homes burnt by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8, 2025. | Source: ROBYN BECK / Getty
Without the apocalyptic photos and video footage of the massive and uncontrollable wildfires that are quickly spreading across parts of Southern California, it would have been tough to imagine the levels of devastation facing Los Angeles.
More than 1,000 structures had been burned down with at least two people reported dead as of Wednesday afternoon, thanks in no small part to the wind that’s driven the fires, which have not been contained by firefighters working around the clock.
Four major wildfires are doing the bulk of the damage: one in the Pacific Palisades area, which is home to Malibu, and the Eaton Fire, which is in Altadena and has already blazed through more than 10,000 acres, according to CNN.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joins California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and Sen. Alex Padilla while surveying damage during the Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. | Source: MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images / Getty
But reading about the fires doesn’t nearly do any justice to begin describing what residents and first responders alike are going through, with massive amounts of evacuations and displacements while local fire departments have essentially been rendered useless in the face of the formidable flames.
Keep scrolling down to see 10 photos from the Los Angeles wildfires that should provide a better sense of the indescribable levels of devastation in California.
A playground burns in a residential neighborhood during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025. Source: JOSH EDELSON / Getty
The wildfires have not discriminated, burning down everything from homes to the above playground to a Jewish center in Pasadena, the latter of which was completely destroyed by what’s being called The Eaton Fire.
Police officers remove an elderly resident from her home during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8, 2025. | Source: ROBYN BECK / Getty
The widespread evacuations include elderly people like the woman above who was unable to leave her home of her own volition in circumstances that are likely affecting more people than realized.
The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California, on January 7, 2025. | Source: JOSH EDELSON / Getty
Evacuation centers have been established in Pasadena, where 0% of the fires were contained as of Wednesday afternoon, according to local reports.
People enter an evacuation zone to take selfie photos and videos near burning homes at the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025, in Pasadena, California. | Source: David McNew / Getty
Even in the face of imminent danger, social media clout “for the ‘Gram” apparently takes precedence for some people.
A wind-driven fire burns on January 7, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: VCG / Getty
The Santa Ana winds are being credited with literally fanning the flames from the wildfires to propel them rapidly.
The Palisades fire burns in the distance. Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Marcus Ubungen / Getty
The plumes of smoke from the wildfires could be seen from miles away.
People watch the smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Tiffany Rose / Getty
The skies were a hazy orange from the flames and their smoke no matter the time of the day.
View of Radcliffe Avenue as the Palisades Fire burns in during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. | Source: Apu Gomes / Getty
A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. | Source: DAVID SWANSON / Getty
The city skyline is seen as the Palisades Fire burns amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. | Source: Eric Thayer / Getty
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