United States - January 07, 2025 Dramatic footage shows firefighters battling the Palisades Fire as it continues to rage out of control, scorching over 5,000 acres with 0% containment. Fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds gusting up to 60 mph, the fire has exhibited extreme behavior, with both short- and long-range spotting hindering firefighting efforts. By Wednesday morning, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that approximately 1,000 structures, many of them homes, had been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. He also reported a “high number of people who didn’t evacuate” suffering serious injuries. Evacuations remain in effect for the entire Palisades community down to the Pacific Ocean, with warnings extending into Santa Monica and Calabasas. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are impacted, and an evacuation shelter for people and pets has been set up at the Westwood Recreation Center on Sepulveda Boulevard. The fire, first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday near North Piedra Morada Drive, remains uncontained as high winds continue to drive flames through the area. Dozens of schools, including those in the Santa Monica and Las Virgenes Unified School Districts, remain closed due to the ongoing threat. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.