Southern California is battling two major wildfires, forcing over 30,000 residents to evacuate their homes. One blaze, the Palisades Fire, is raging in the Pacific Palisades area and has already consumed nearly 3,000 acres. Simultaneously, the Eaton Fire erupted near Pasadena, scorching approximately 1,000 acres near a nature preserve. The Eaton Fire's rapid spread prompted evacuations north of Sierra Madre, east of Allen, and west of Santa Anita Drive, including patients from a nearby senior care facility.
Intense Santa Ana winds, gusting over 60 mph in some areas, are exacerbating the fires and hindering aerial firefighting efforts. Ground crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department, including off-duty personnel, are working tirelessly to contain the blazes. Meteorologists warn that these powerful winds, some of the strongest in over a decade, are expected to persist through the night and into Wednesday morning.
Former firefighter and FEMA official Jason Pack highlighted the extreme conditions faced by firefighters, citing high winds, dry vegetation, and unpredictable fire behavior. He emphasized the physical and mental demands of battling these infernos, where visibility is hampered by smoke and prolonged operations require endurance and adaptability.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, present in Southern California for an event with President Joe Biden, has declared a state of emergency. An evacuation center has been established at the Pasadena Convention Center for displaced residents.
