Meanwhile, firefighters are battling three other major fires in the Los Angeles area that have caused serious damage, killing five people and forcing 130,000 to evacuate.
The Sunset Fire, a blaze in the Hollywood Hills, broke out near the Hollywood Bowl, just a mile from the Walk of Fame. Smoke billowed and sirens wailed through the busy streets, sending panicked residents fleeing the hotel. Some still tried to record the scene on their phones.
Other areas such as Calabasas and Santa Monica were also threatened by the fire, affecting many famous families. Stars such as Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton confirmed that they lost their homes in the fire. Billy Crystal and his wife, who lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire, shared: "All the beautiful memories of our family are still here, nothing can take them away."
Winds have eased from the previous day, but officials warn conditions remain dangerous. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said firefighting aircraft have resumed operations to fight the blaze after being disrupted by high winds on January 7.
One of the hardest hit areas was Pacific Palisades, known for its luxury homes and the setting of popular songs. The fire destroyed at least 1,000 structures, making it the largest fire in Los Angeles history. California Mission-style homes were reduced to blackened windows, ash-covered swimming pools and melted sports cars on the streets.
In Pasadena, water systems were overwhelmed and power outages hampered firefighters. Even without those problems, firefighters could not have stopped the raging blaze, fueled by strong winds, Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said.
The fires not only destroyed homes, but also shut down schools, businesses, and the entertainment industry. Several schools burned down, including Palisades Charter High School, a popular location in Hollywood movies. Several movie studios halted production, and Universal Studios closed its theme park.
Amid the chaos, residents have been forced to contend with toxic smoke and unusually high temperatures from dry Santa Ana winds. Climate change is lengthening the region’s fire season, experts say, as rainfall decreases and temperatures rise unusually high.
With an area burned equivalent to the city of San Francisco (USA), the wildfires in Los Angeles this year have left behind images of devastation, causing many people to lose their homes and memories.
