the Pacific Palisades one of the wealthiest communities in the US is experiencing the worst fire in its history situated at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains the Palisades typically Escape damage as Santa Ana winds blow past since the winds will usually blow any fire up to the north however this time hurricane forc winds drove the Flames directly into the neighborhood reducing many homes to ashes on January 7th around 10:20 a. m. local time a live camera with alert California a UC San Diego program to monitor wildfires and disasters in real time picks up smoke Rising this is the first sighting of the Palisades fire 6 minutes later plain spotter at LAX catches first plumes of smoke on its live stream not what we want to see here in Southern California fire has now broke out at 10:58 a.
m. resident David Hansen received a video from his mother showing thick orange smoke billowing outside her house on Pedra marada Drve the fire size was upgraded from 10 to 200 Acres while containment remained at 0% we're in the Palisades Highlands and the Fire Road is literally on fire David Hansen drove to reach his mother and recorded the Palisades fire as it burned an entire Hillside beside the road from his mother's backyard David filmed helicopters dropping water onto the nearby fires he tells ABC News he saw them hovering over the edge of Santa in's Reservoir and were using a hose to draw up water the fire spread rapidly and flames enro on David's mother's yard neighbors rallied together using water from swimming pools to fight the advancing fire with two more zones ordered to evacuate and three new evacuation warnings issued David decided to drive out but with high volumes of vehicles trying to evacuate and with three road closures on the Pacific Coast Highway escaping the Flames proved to be difficult for residents as David drives he films the road filled with abandoned cars on Palisades Drve firefighters are seen battling the Flames David and his mother make it out safe from the flames and he tells ABC news that thanks to the effort of quick thinking neighbors David's mother's home has for now survived we're through the fire evacuation shelters are placed around the city and governor declares a state of emergency in California by Night reports show that the Palisades fire has gone to 1,262 acres and two additional fires occur nearby eaten fire and Hurst fire windy conditions complicated firefighting efforts we're getting a 70 knot wind speed we're going to have to shut down uh water dropping operations also can that two addition copters January 8th 12:29 a. m.
pal alade's fire size has grown to 2,921 acres and is upgraded to 11,802 by 1145 a. m. unfortunately we have two reported fatalities to civilians unknown cause at this time and we do have a number of significant injuries Lydia fire north of the three active fires starts around 2:07 p.
m. at 5:57 p. m.
calfire reported that the Sunset fire in the famed Hollywood Hills had started bringing the total to five active fires in the state the Palisades fire remained the largest reaching 17,23 4 acres by the end of the day with 0% containment weather forecast indicated another round of Santa Ana winds expected from January 9th to January 10th with a new high pressure system building from the north fueling more Gusty winds the sunset fire which crossed more than 40 acres was fully contained but at 3:12 p. m.
