Yesterday, a fire erupted in the Palisades Highlands and quickly spread to the Pacific Palisades coastal community of around 27,000 people due to dry conditions and extreme winds. Pacific Palisades is nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles County, California, and much of it is now gone.
The Los Angeles Times called last night “a night of mayhem,” reporting that since the wildfire began yesterday afternoon, it has destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings. What’s more, at least two people have died. While the Palisades Fire is currently the largest and most devastating wildfire burning in LA County, there are several of them.
Below, we’ve compiled some social media posts that show the devastation from the Palisades Fire that’s currently raging in Southern California. There is also a news report that goes in depth into the destruction so far.
🚨#BREAKING: Tanker planes are now scooping up water out of the Pacific Ocean and dropping it on the Palisades fire.
The peak winds are still 12 hours away and 3 school districts have been evacuated. pic.twitter.com/l3PARQHRvN
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 7, 2025
View from the sky above LA.
Pacific Palisades and Malibu engulfed in flames. Absolutely Horrific. pic.twitter.com/Q5O8XgEHng— Dan Hellie (@DanHellie) January 8, 2025
Smoke from the #PalisadesFire nearly blocks out the sunset in LA.
Looks like the blaze is headed inland towards Brentwood. Just insane images. pic.twitter.com/JW2hJ64Sk0
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) January 8, 2025
Images from the destructive Palisades Fire that erupted in Los Angeles yesterday, driven by extreme winds and dry conditions—via @TheAtlPhoto: https://t.co/Mr4bGPsoBc
📸: 1. Ethan Swope / AP. 2. Hans Gutknecht / MediaNews Group / Los Angeles Daily News / Getty. 3. Ethan Swope /… pic.twitter.com/8jXNscgzzK
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) January 8, 2025
At one point, the flames came dangerously close to the Getty Museum:
NBC News provides a helpful report from the ground as of this morning, Wednesday, January 8:
This situation is evolving. Check back for updates.