ONE building dubbed the “luckiest home in LA” is the last standing after the whole district erupted into flames by the wind-fuelled blazes.
The two most dangerous fires, Palisades and Eaton, have already burned through 30,000 acres of land and led to 130,000 people being evacuated.
Enclaves in the Hollywood Hills and Pacific Palisades have turned to ash in what officials say are the most destructive blazes in the city’s history.
An aerial image clearly illustrates the extent of the devastation caused by the fires, as each street now only shows the remains of the homes that once stood there a few days ago.
Each building has completely disintegrated, with no structures visibly left – except one.
On the right of the image, there is one massive home that appears to have kept intact despite experiencing deadly fires trying to raze it.
It appears to be the only one to have survived in the area, with its neighboring properties turned to dust and rubble.
Grey smoke is captured still floating over the residential area after the fires that Donald Trump and LA locals have dubbed “apocalyptic”.
Satellite pictures have also revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
Before photos show the neighbourhoods full of green trees, multi-colored roofs, and grey roads.
The aftermath photos of the affected areas depict intense red and orange flames, billowing thick smoke, and brown debris where houses once proudly stood.
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.
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
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.
‘War zone’ LA feels ‘broken’ as fires still ravage the city – but we will rebuild
The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Editor for Exclusives, Katy Forrester, who resides in LA, witnessed the frightening spectacle of the city being consumed by flames. She aptly described the city as resembling a “war zone.”
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.
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.
