About 13,000 structures are under threat, according to authorities, but the exact number of buildings damaged or destroyed by the blaze is not yet clear.
At least 30,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes on Jan. 7 after a fast-moving wildfire erupted in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The fire engulfed nearly 3,000 acres of land, prompting California Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.
About 13,000 structures are under threat, according to authorities. The exact number of buildings damaged or destroyed by the blaze is not yet clear.
A fire official told local television station KTLA that several people had been injured, including some with burns to their faces and hands, and added that one female firefighter had sustained a head injury.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire across the upscale section of Los Angeles.
Newsom made the declaration during a visit to the Southern California neighborhood—which borders Malibu, roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles—where he met with local and state fire officials.
The visit came hours after the blaze first broke out at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, shortly after the start of a Santa Ana windstorm that the National Weather Service warned could be “life-threatening” and the strongest to hit Southern California in over a decade.
In a statement, Newsom said the fire grew “rapidly in a matter of minutes” with dangerous conditions being further fueled by the powerful winds.
“Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire,” the governor said. “If you’re in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials.”
Newsom’s declaration allows for all local and state agencies to utilize and employ personnel, equipment, and facilities to help assist and support impacted communities.
It states that high winds of up to 50 to 80 mph combined with low humidity, and dry conditions have increased the intensity and spread of the fire, causing an “imminent threat to life” as well as structures, homes, and critical infrastructure, including power lines and water tanks.
