Mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect Thursday morning as wildfires continued to rage across parts of Southern California.

The deadly fires broke out this week and have destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses, and other structures, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. As of Thursday morning, at least five deaths had been confirmed, and nearly 250,000 were without power in the region, according to the USA TODAY power outage tracker.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency this week as more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee homes and evacuate the area.

The fires − Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset − have burned thousands of acres and continue to spread due to humidity and dry vegetation, authorities said. Before the fires started, the National Weather Service issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

As of Thursday evening, Cal Fire reported the Palisades, Eaton, and Sunset fires were at zero containment, while firefighters had 10% containment of the Hurst Fire and 60% containment of the Lidia Fire.

The Kenneth Fire sparked Thursday afternoon in the West Hills neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley and was moving south, forcing new evacuations and stoking new fears. It was at zero containment Thursday evening.

Here's where evacuation orders are in place for California and how to stay up-to-date on the latest.

Hollywood Hills on fire:Sunset Fire ecomes latest wildfire to wreak havoc on LA: See map

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Palisades Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place from Malibu to Santa Monica, including Topanga State Park and stretching into the city as far south as Montana Avenue, as of just before 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to Cal Fire.

Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour are expected to continue through Thursday in that area, CAL Fire reported online, "potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts."

View an interactive map of Palisades Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Hurst Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place for the San Fernando Valley, specifically at the Michael D. Antonovich Open Space Preserve, Stetson Ranch Park and Whitney Canyon Park, about 6 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation warnings were in place just north and south of the area.

View an interactive map of Hurst Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

What are the evacuation orders in place for the Lidia Fire?

As of about 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, no evacuation orders were in effect in connection to the Lidia Fire.

But Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce Canyon Road and Crown Valley Road remained closed, CAL FIRE reported, as well as the entire Angeles National Forest for public safety and the protection of natural resources. The forest will remain closed through Jan. 15 at midnight.

View an interactive map of Lidia Fire on the Cal Fire website.

Power outages:Nearly 250,000 without power as wildfires rage in California: See map

What are the evacuation orders in place for the Sunset Fire?

"The majority of the evacuation zone for the Sunset Fire is lifted with the exception of the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero St (East border) to North Sierra Bonita Ave. (West border)", according to Cal Fire.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Eaton Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place, as of about 10 a.m. on Thursday, for areas near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, Altadena and Pasadena, Cal Fire reported.

Evacuation warnings were in place for areas just west and south of the area.

View an interactive map of Eaton Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Kenneth fire?

Evacuation orders in place for the Kenneth Fire as of 6 p.m. PT stretch from just east of Palo Comado Canyon Road and Hidden Hills on the west, according to Cal Fire.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has a mandatory evacuation warning for the area between Saticoy Street and Burbank Boulevard between County Lane Road on the west and East Valley Circle Boulevard to the east.

Evacuation warnings are in place for Bell Canyon, eastern Agoura Hills and areas of Calabasas south of Highway 101. There is 0% containment.

View an interactive map of Kenneth Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

Contributing: James Powel, Greta Cross, USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

CAL FIRE provides an update on the California wildfires

CAL FIRE Battalion Chief David Acuña spoke about how CAL FIRE has been focused on life-saving, how recent the weather has increased the wildfire risk in Southern California and how the area's topography has contributed to the flames and challenges to the emergency response. Jan. 9, 2025.

LOS ANGELES- A city-wide emergency alert designed to be sent out to a limited population impacted by the Kenneth Fire that sparked Thursday was erroneously sent out to millions living in Los Angeles.

Just before 4 p.m. Thursday local time, cell phones rang out with emergency alert tones warning residents to evacuate – a mistake that county officials blamed on technical problems. Another message was sent out about 12 hours later Friday morning.

The message stated: "This is an emergency message from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets, and supplies. Continue to monitor local weather, news, and the webpage alert.org for more information."

Officials in jurisdictions around Los Angeles County immediately realized the mistake and began alerting citizens that the entire county was not under an evacuation notice.

"All LA County residents just received a wireless emergency alert about evacuations from the county. There are NO updated evacuations in Santa Monica. EVACUATIONS IN SANTA MONICA ARE UNCHANGED," the city of Santa Monica stated.

(FOX Weather)

DEATHS FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS FIRES CONTINUE TO DEVASTATE LOS ANGELES

Minutes after the apparent mistake, officials sent a series of messages to cellphone users alerting them to the error and to disregard the original alert if not in the area of the Kenneth Fire, which was discovered near the West Hills neighborhood on Thursday afternoon.

City officials did not address the mistake during opening statements of a news conference that was held about an hour after the confusion. However, officials did address the situation during a news conference Friday.

"I want to restate that right now, as these alerts are being issued, they are not being activated or initiated by a person," L.A. County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan said.

FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres is in Southern California and was one of the millions who received the alert on her cell phone.

"It’s another reminder of what folks here are dealing with in Southern California," Torres posted on social media. "The fear of going to bed and not knowing that you may have to leave it any moment. The fear of being separated from your family and a fire breaks out. How would you get back to them? Of course, all of this as we have thousands of people either mourning the loss of loved ones, pets, property. Some have serious injuries. The trauma is deep."

At least six major fires are burning around Los Angeles County, which have damaged or destroyed more than 10,000 structures and caused several deaths.

(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / FOX Weather)

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Authorities have not released the cause of the recent fires, but investigators will likely focus on utility lines and other human-related factors as they work to determine what triggered the blazes.

As firefighting efforts continue, officials warn that more fires are possible in the coming days, with conditions remaining dangerously dry and breezy.

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Wind speeds dipped slightly Thursday morning in Los Angeles County, offering a brief respite for firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that have continued to ravage the region.

But after that lull, winds are expected to pick back up Thursday night, according to Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Oxnard.

“It’s not going to be [anything] like we saw yesterday [Wednesday] with the gusts of 80 to 100 miles per hour winds, but certainly enough to present some issues for the fires,” Wofford said. “At least until the middle of next week we’re going to be in that pattern.”

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Isolated pockets of gusty winds reached 35 mph in the Malibu area and 58 mph in the San Gabriel Mountains on Thursday morning, according to the weather service. For Thursday afternoon into Friday morning, winds are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph west of Santa Monica, the San Gabriel Valley and into Ventura County.

In portions of the L.A. basin west of the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Valley foothills, localized gusts could reach 25 to 45 mph in that same time frame.

Winds are expected to drop back off Friday night into Saturday, with speeds picking back up Sunday into Wednesday of next week, according to the weather service. The peak is expected to be on Tuesday, with winds up to 30 to 50 mph for coasts and valleys and 50 to 60 mph for the mountains and foothills.

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Late Wednesday, the National Weather Service downgraded the fire weather outlook for the region from “extremely critical” to “critical.”

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Jan. 8, 2025

Exacerbating the hazardous conditions, humidity levels remain low. No rain is forecast over the next few days.

“We’re not going to have any rain,” Wofford said, “so any spark that happens from whatever ignition source could certainly trigger some fires.”

The extreme winds propelled flames and embers that charred homes in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar, among other areas of Los Angeles County. Such winds are not unusual for this time of year but are usually preceded or accompanied by winter rains to lower the risk of wildfires.

In San Diego County, the Santa Ana winds are also expected to remain strong into the weekend for the mountains and foothills, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser, who works in the San Diego office. By Friday morning, residents can expect eastern and northeastern wind gusts of over 75 mph.

For the valley areas, gusts could range between 30 to 50 mph, Roser said. Coastal regions could see local gusts up to 30 mph.

Wind speeds are expected to drop off Friday afternoon across Southern California.

A red flag warning remains in effect for the mountains and valleys of San Diego County until Friday at 6 p.m. Conditions are also dry, with relative humidity levels under 10%.

“It’s very dry out there and it’s going to occur again Friday,” Roser said. “Definitely critical fire weather conditions.”

Roser recommended that residents limit any outdoor burning of any kind. Motorists should make sure everything is in working order with their vehicles, especially if they’re driving near brush. Residents should create defensible space around their homes, especially in mountain areas, by clearing brush and branches from around their houses.

“Definitely give yourself a perimeter from all of that,” he said.

9 January 2025 Climate and Environment

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed sorrow over the fast-moving wildfires that have devastated the Los Angeles area, claiming lives and displacing thousands.

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The fires, described as some of the worst in the city’s history, have burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and left firefighters battling to contain multiple blasts in unprecedented conditions.

“The Secretary-General is shocked and saddened by the widespread devastation caused by the fast-moving wildfires,” said his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement released on Thursday.

Mr. Guterres extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with those displaced, many of whom have lost their homes.

The fires have claimed at least five lives, displaced more than 100,000 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Damages are estimated to exceed $50 billion, according to US private forecaster AccuWeather.

Commending first responders

The Secretary-General commended the courage and dedication of first responders working in “extremely difficult conditions” to protect lives and contain the fires.

More than 7,500 firefighters are battling the blazes, with officials describing the conditions as historic and dangerous.

Local fire chiefs reported that dry vegetation and winds with the force of hurricanes have fuelled the fires, leaving four out of six major ones completely uncontained.

Efforts are being further delayed by resource shortages and the challenging landscape.

Prevention and preparedness

Rainfall levels from late 2024 until now have been below average. This has created dry conditions that, combined with the Santana Winds - a well-known weather pattern in the region - have exacerbated fire risks, according to experts.

The Santana Winds, which typically sweep through the mountains, raise temperatures and drastically lower humidity, rapidly drying out vegetation and creating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of prevention strategies to mitigate the impact of wildfires, including regular clearing of underbrush in forests, available water for firefighters and testing firefighting capacities.

Evacuation planning is another critical priority, with experts stressing the importance of avoiding blocked evacuation routes.

“Wildfires move rapidly, and any evacuation system needs to account for all people, especially those who are elderly and unable to move quickly,” said James Douris of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an expert in early warning systems.

Health risks and climate factors

Beyond the immediate destruction, wildfires also pose significant public health risks.

According to WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris, wildfire smoke, a toxic mixture of pollutants, can cause premature deaths and long-term damage to the lungs, heart and brain.

Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, face heightened risks.

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UN readiness to assist

Reiterating the United Nations’ commitment to global solidarity, Mr. Guterres stated that “the United Nations stands ready to provide assistance if needed.”

While no formal request for aid has been made, his statement emphasised the organization’s willingness to support affected communities.

CNA Staff, Jan 9, 2025 / 12:30 pm

Archdiocesan officials and local Church leaders in Los Angeles are working to shelter and assist victims of the ongoing wildfires there as the blaze consumes entire neighborhoods and lays waste to significant portions of the suburban area.

The fires began on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and quickly spread via dry conditions and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds blowing in from the east. As of Thursday morning multiple fires were raging unchecked across thousands of acres as firefighters worked to get the blazes under control.

One of the fires has destroyed Corpus Christi Catholic Church and has forced the closure of 65 Catholic schools, according to archdiocesan officials. Numerous other churches in the area have also been destroyed.

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez in a social media post urged the faithful to “keep praying for all those suffering” in the wildfires.

“My heart goes out to our neighbors who have lost their homes and livelihoods,” the prelate said. “Let’s pray for them and let’s pray for our firefighters and first responders. May God keep all of our brothers and sisters safe and bring [an] end to these fires!”

‘Dozens and dozens of parishioners and school families who have lost everything’

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Church leaders and officials in the area were scrambling through the week to address the growing humanitarian crisis caused by the fires.

Multiple local parishes “opened their doors to families evacuated from their homes,” Angelus News, the magazine of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, reported on Wednesday.

St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica offered residents refreshments and charging stations for their phones late into the night on Tuesday, Angelus reported.

Merrick Siebenaler, the director of parish life, told the news outlet the church was seeing “dozens and dozens of parishioners and school families who have lost everything.”

By Wednesday the parish was forced to close amid advancing wildfires. Sacred Heart Church in nearby Lincoln Heights, meanwhile, offered the city its auditorium as a resource center for evacuees.

“We’re here to help out,” Father Tesfaldet Asghedom, the pastor at Sacred Heart, told Angelus.

Dozens of Catholic schools in the region were closed on Thursday due to “proximity to fire, poor air quality and wind damage, staffing challenges, and nearby power outages.”

One of the schools, Mayfield Senior in Pasadena, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday: “Our hearts are broken at the damage and destruction caused by the fires currently raging in our area.”

The school “has not been directly impacted by the fire,” but “the campus is strewn with debris and downed tree limbs and will need a major cleanup,” the post said.

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The school “will respond to this crisis as a community of faith and compassion grounded in our Holy Child mission, helping one another during this difficult time.”

Another, La Salle College Preparatory also in Pasadena, said on its website that the school would be closed until Monday, at which point it would be open “for students who need to be dropped off due to parent/guardian work obligations.” Classes would not resume until Tuesday at the earliest, it said.

“Please know that the safety and well-being of our entire school community is our top priority,” the school said. It invited community members to either share if they had been impacted by the fires or offer support to those who had been.

On X, Colorado-based Father David Nix said in a post that he had spoken to a friend in Los Angeles whose neighborhood had suffered terrible devastation from the fires.

“Many of the homes around him burned down, but his home had the purple scapular and they doused the home in holy water (and that family lives a very holy life),” the priest said.

“Miraculously, their home is fine. Pray for all the others in the area (and them too),” he wrote.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over the fires. On Wednesday he wrote on X that “more than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners” to respond to the crisis.

“Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight,” the governor said. “Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you’re near impacted areas.”

In Pasadena, meanwhile, St. Andrew School Principal Jae Kim told Angelus: “Every hour, I’m getting a phone call from another family who’s lost everything.”

“You can hug them, pray with them, listen to them as best you can,” Kim told the outlet. “What else is there to do?”