Five people are dead as fires continue to rage in Los Angeles. More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders.
The five deaths are blamed on the Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 16 square miles and more than 900 structures, according to Inciweb.
In total, wildfires have burned more than 42 square miles of the city, which is nearly the size of San Francisco, the Associated Press reported.
The Palisades Fire is now the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Firefighters have made little progress against the blaze, which has consumed an estimated 1,000 structures. The neighborhood of Pacific Palisades bore the brunt of the fire, and has been reduced to little but ash and rubble.
The number of homes and businesses burned by the fires is expected to increase.
Several other fires were burning in the area, with the Sunset Fire cropping up in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard Wednesday evening. Firefighters quickly made progress on the blaze after it burned more than 43 acres.
(10:12 a.m. ET) Red Cross Opens Shelters For Evacuees
Those evacuating in the Los Angeles area are welcome to stay at a Red Cross shelter, several of which are now open:
Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S. Sepulveda, Los Angeles, 90025).
El Camino Real Charter High School (5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367).
Residents impacted by the Hurst Fire can seek emergency shelter at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center (10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331).
Residents impacted by the Eaton Fire can seek shelter at a City of Pasadena emergency shelter located at Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green, Pasadena, CA 91101).
Find an open shelter here.
(9:54 a.m. ET) How To Help Wildfire Victims
Looking to help? Many humanitarian organizations and non-profits are working to aid in response to the wildfires by providing staff, food and supplies to evacuation centers, funding fire departments for equipment and more. Here’s where you can donate or volunteer:
(9:06 a.m. ET) Insurance Agencies Cut Fire Coverage Months Before Los Angeles Wildfires
Major insurance companies have decreased property coverage in California since 2022. According to Business Insider, State Farm, the largest home insurance provider in the state, canceled 72,000 property policies, including 69% of their policies in Pacific Palisades, the neighborhood devastated by the Palisades Fire.
The recent fires will encourage agencies to write even fewer policies for threatened areas, and possibly pull some more existing policies as well, according to insurance and real estate experts.
(8:28 a.m. ET) Hundreds Of Thousands Of Power Outages In Southern California
More than 257,000 customers are without power in Southern California, according to PowerOutage.us. Los Angeles County reports more than 82,000 outages. Tens of thousands of outages are reported from Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino counties as well.
(7:57 a.m. ET) More Than Half A Dozen Schools Damaged Or Destroyed
At least eight schools are impacted by fire, Los Angeles Daily News reports. One of the schools burned is Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in several Hollywood films. According to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, the school is 30% destroyed.
Five Altadena schools in the Pasadena Unified School District are substantially damaged. Those schools include Elliot Arts Magnet School, Aveson Charter School, Loma Alta Elementary School and Noyes Elementary School.
Many schools in the Pasadena district are still threatened by the Eaton Fire.
(7:40 a.m. ET) Airbnb Is Offering Temporary Housing For Displaced
Airbnb.org is working with 211LA to provide free shelter to those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles. Many Airbnb hosts are sharing their homes to evacuated individuals for free.
The company is working with local organizations to identify those with the greatest need for housing. Residents who have lost their home or have been evacuated from Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar are getting top priority.
Residents can apply for housing through Airbnb by filling out this 211LA form.
(7 a.m. ET) Fire Threat Continues Despite Weaker Winds
Winds have slowed throughout Los Angeles, but red flag warnings remain in place.
According to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce, another round of strong Santa Ana winds are in store for the region tonight into Friday. “Critical fire conditions will persist across the Southland into Friday evening.”