The blaze began shortly after the start of a Santa Ana windstorm that the National Weather service warned could be the strongest to hit Southern California in more than a decade.

A drone captured the charred remnants of Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles severely impacted by wildfire.

Powerful Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching hurricane strength, swept down the mountains outside Los Angeles and spread wildfires into several neighborhoods in early January 2025, creating a terrifying scene.

Battle-weary firefighters in Southern California are preparing for another Santa Ana wind event that will further compound efforts to contain the deadly and historic Palisades Fire – and potentially fuel new wildfires.

Coverage of the fires ravaging Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, including stories about the devastation, issues firefighters faced and the weather.

Fires ignited in Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, Altadena and Hollywood Hills, forcing thousands to evacuate amid a life-threatening and destructive windstorm slamming Southern California.