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LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The worst-case scenario has materialized in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles where an estimated 1,000 structures, many of them homes, have been destroyed by a Santa Ana-wind-fueled wildfire, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The Palisades Fire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. By Wednesday night, the fire had exploded to 17,234 acres with no containment and was still torching homes along the coast and in the Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu.
Authorities say at least 1,000 structures have been lost, including homes, businesses, schools and historical sites. There was also a “high number of people who didn’t evacuate” who suffered serious injuries, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who endured criticism for being in West Africa for a diplomatic event when the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire erupted, returned home on Wednesday and promptly met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, city and county leaders, and incident commanders.
“I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane,” Bass said at an evening news conference. “I was able to be on the phone the entire time on the flight.”
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The Palisades Fire burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) -
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) -
Homes damaged by the Palisades Fire are seen along the beach, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) -
MALIBU, CA – January 08: Firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) -
The Palisades Fire burns as seen from Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Los Angeles on January 8, 2025. (Getty Images) -
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) -
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Flames rise as the Palisades Fire advances on homes in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Will Adams watches as flames from the Palisades Fire close in on his property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Water is dropped on the advancing Palisades Fire by helicopter in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. (Getty Images) -
Plumes of smoke are seen as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades as seen from Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2025. (Getty Images) -
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A firefighter jumps over a fence while fighting the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A vehicle and other structures are burned as the Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
More than 800 firefighters were battling the blaze with the help of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
“Extreme fire behavior, including short and long-range spotting, continues to challenge firefighting efforts,” CalFire said in an advisory. “Winds gusts up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday, potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts.”
Bass praised the hard work of first responders and urged Angelenos to be resilient.
“L.A. will rise and make no mistake: I am confident that we will rebuild,” the mayor said.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced that all LAUSD schools would be closed on Thursday, adding to schools closed in the Malibu, Santa Monica, Las Virgenes, Beverly Hills, and Pasadena districts.
With 1,000 structures destroyed, the Palisades Fire is already far more destructive than the second-most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, according to statistics from the Wildfire Alliance, the Associated Press reported. The last most destructive fire was the Sayre Fire in November 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar.
Evacuations were ordered for the entire Pacific Palisades area down to the Pacific Ocean. The evacuations, including warnings for Santa Monica and Calabasas areas, impacted tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
An evacuation shelter for people and pets was established at the Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Palisades Fire Resources: LAFD Alerts | CALFIRE Incident Page | LAFD on X
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
