SATELLITE pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The snaps show before, during, and after the uncontrolled blazes have burned through LA homes and celebrity enclaves and caused 130,000 to flee.
The pictures from outer space show the devastation wrought by the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena.
Before photos show the neighbourhoods full of green trees, multi-colored roofs, and grey roads.
While the after photos of the same areas show bright red and orange fires burning, thick smoke flying into the air, and brown rubble where houses were.
The two most dangerous fires, Palisades and Eaton, are not contained at all and continue to threaten homes.
They have already burned through 30,000 acres of land and led to 130,000 people being evacuated.
It comes as…
- Five people have died as uncontrolled wildfires engulf Los Angeles
- At least 130,000 have been evacuated and schools have closed
- Nearly 400,000 homes are left without power as over 2,000 buildings destroyed and 30,000 acres burned
- Firefighters are “maxed out” and reportedly running out of water
- Harrowing footage shows the city up in flames
- Celebrity homes have been torched, including A-listers like Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Anthony Hopkins
- Joe Biden slammed for announcing granddaughter’s baby news during LA fire presser
Only one of the fires which started in LA are under control – the Woodley fire in Van Nuys.
Of those that continue to burn, the closest to being curbed is the Lidia fire on 40 per cent containment, according to LA Fire.
Two blazes which started in neighboring Riverside County, named Tyler and Scout, have been brought under control.
Some evacuees were caught in gridlock traffic as people desperately try to drive away from disaster.
A bulldozer had to be brought in to clear cars abandoned in the middle of Palisades Drive after drivers fled the cars as the fire approached.
Other evacuees could be seen carrying their most prized belongings on their backs as they walked their way to safety through the thick smoke.
Melissa Rivers, daughter of comedian Joan Rivers, told CNN she grabbed only the most important items.
She said: “That’s how my son and my fiancé and our dogs (are safe), and we had time to grab passports, important paperwork.
“I grabbed my Mom’s Emmy, a photo of my Dad, and a drawing that my mother had done.
“My heart is so broken, not just for myself, but going through this town, it’s wiped off the map.”
The Palisades fire is the most destructive in Los Angeles’s history and has burned more than 17,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Most of those blazes started Tuesday, but new fires continue to start with a blaze in Studio City being extinguished.
Some 7,500 desperate firefighters are bravely trying to contain the fires and have been able to restart air drops on Wednesday after hurricane-strength gusts.
With all the smoke air quality has plummeted across the city to a hazardous level – Altadena is currently seeing worse air than New Delhi.
The origins of the Palisades fire and Eaton fire are still unknown and are under investigation.
But the Palisades blaze is believed to have started in a backyard and then quickly spread in the dry bushes in the mountainous hills.
At least three million homes and businesses across Los Angeles County are without power, according to Southern California Edison, an electrical service company.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
LA wildfires by the numbers
There are five main fires which have hit LA over the last two days and are now threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.
Here’s a list of the key facts for each of the blazes:
Palisades fire:
- Started: 10.30am Tuesday near Palisades Drive
- Size: 17,000 acres
- Containment: Zero per cent
- Injuries: Unknown number of “significant” injuries
- Damage: At least, 1000 buildings burned with 13,000 more threatened
- Evacuations: Some 30,000 people under evacuation orders
- Summary: The Palisades fire spread quickly in the gusty, dry winds and dry brush and ran into celebrity enclave neighborhoods filled with multimillion-dollar homes.
Eaton fire:
- Started: 6.18pm on Tuesday in Altadena near Eaton Canyon
- Size: 10,000 acres
- Containment: Zero per cent
- Injuries: Five dead, unknown number of injuries
- Evacuations: Some 100,000 people under evacuation orders
- Summary: The Eaton fire spread rapidly and quickly threatened homes in the area more densely populated than Palisades.
Sunset fire:
- Started: 6.00pm Wednesday
- Size: 60 to 100 acres
- Containment: Zero per cent
- Injuries: Unknown
- Evacuations: Orders issued for parts of Hollywood, but since lifted
- Summary: The Sunset fire has burned some of the most iconic LA real estate including Sunset Boulevard. It has also threatened Hollywood Boulevard and the iconic Hollywood sign and Hollywood Bowl.
Hurst fire:
- Started: 10.29pm on Tuesday in Sylmar
- Size: 850 acres
- Containment: 10 per cent
- Injuries: None reported
- Summary: The blaze broke out near the interstate on the fringe of the city of San Fernando. It is not thought to have damaged any homes so far.
Lidia fire:
- Started: 2pm on Wednesday
- Size: 350 acres
- Containment: 40 per cent
- Injuries: None reported
- Summary: The Lidia fire is away from the city on the northern side of the Magic Mountain Wilderness Area. It is mostly burning through bush and does not threaten homes.
