Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, major wildfires near Los Angeles have burned nearly 5,000 acres and forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. At least five people have died, fire officials said.
About 5,000 firefighters are battling the fast-moving blazes in Los Angeles County, most of which are at “zero containment,” according to Cal Fire, California’s state fire protection agency.
The fires have destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, USA TODAY reported. The cause of the fires is unknown.
Cal Fire warned that wind gusts of up to 60 mph were expected through Thursday and possibly fuel more fires. The National Weather Service said the “most extreme conditions were expected this morning.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the fires were “unprecedented” and declared a state of emergency Tuesday. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration on Wednesday.
Where are the wildfires around Los Angeles?
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According to CalFire, fire locations and acres burned include:
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Palisades Fire: 17,234 acres; started 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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Eaton Fire: 10,600 acres; started 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Hurst Fire: 855 acres; started about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday; 10% contained.
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Lidia Fire: 348 acres; started Wednesday; 40% contained.
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Sunset Fire: 43 acres; started Wednesday.
Some residents who evacuated found themselves trapped in gridlock for hours as roads were choked with people fleeing.
Los Angeles County has a population of about 9.7 million people and covers about 3 million acres. Cal Fire says causes of the three primary fires − Palisades, Eaton and Hurst − are under investigation.
Before the fires started, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions for much of Los Angeles County, citing:
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Dry vegetation from lack of rain
Wildfire season usually begins in July and ends around late November to early December, USA TODAY reported. This time of year has the driest conditions, which are perfect for igniting and burning vegetation.
Why wildfire smoke is a health hazard
Smoke from wildfires is a complicated mix of pollutants that can cause health problems for people who breathe it in, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulates that can irritate respiratory systems, the EPA says. Fine particles are respiratory irritants, and exposure to high concentrations can cause:
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Wheezing and difficulty breathing
Prolonged exposure to particulates can slow the respiratory system’s ability to remove viruses and bacteria from the lungs, the EPA says.
CONTRIBUTING John Bacon, Elizabeth Wise, Terry Collins, N’dea Yancey-Bragg and Kristen Apolline Castillo
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; National Weather Service
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where are the wildfires around Los Angeles? See maps