Thousands fled for safety as the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles erupted uncontrollably, with some evacuees in only socks and pajamas. Fierce winds grounded firefighting planes, forcing crews to battle the flames from the ground. Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed air support was suspended due to 80 mph winds, which spread the fire at a rate of over one football field per minute. “The worst is yet to come,” authorities warned.
More than 30,000 residents evacuated as the fire consumed 3,000 acres by evening. Traffic congestion forced many to abandon cars and flee on foot, complicating evacuation efforts. An elderly care facility in Pasadena evacuated 95 patients, some left sitting in a parking lot wrapped in thin shawls.
Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the state’s wildfire vulnerability, stating, “We are anticipating — hopefully we’re wrong — but we’re anticipating other fires happening.” Dry vegetation and unrelenting winds kept the fire danger high, with conditions expected to worsen throughout the week.
Firefighters relied on hoses and hand tools to combat the erratic flames while navigating treacherous terrain. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain noted, “The vegetation will become progressively drier… making it more likely that more fires will start.”
As Southern California braces for further devastation, Swain stressed, “This event is just getting started and will get significantly worse before it gets better.”
