Anna Waldman told the BBC she was forced to flee her home with her three dogs.Rapidly Expanding Hollywood Hills Blaze Sparks Evacuations
A fire official has confirmed that a wildfire in Hollywood Hills is "rapidly expanding," prompting mandatory evacuations across the area as wildfires continue to sweep through Los Angeles.
California battalion fire chief David Acuna told the BBC there has been "zero progress" in containing the fires, citing high winds and dry conditions.
"The wind has been blowing consistently at 60-100 mph (95-160 km/h) since yesterday morning," Acuna said. "It actually blew harder last night."
Currently, at least five active fires are raging across Los Angeles, with five fatalities reported.
While wind speeds have decreased to about 30 mph, Acuna cautioned that the conditions remain dangerous. "It is still significant, and with so many open areas, the risk is extremely high," he said.
Over 130,000 people have been evacuated, with numerous homes—including those of celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal—destroyed in the fires.
The first blaze began Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood near Malibu, followed by additional outbreaks in the northern parts of the city.
As of 20:15 local time (04:00 GMT), four fires in areas including the Palisades, Pasadena, Sylmar, and Hollywood Hills have collectively consumed over 27,000 acres (42 sq miles; 109 sq km) and remain 0% contained, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
One fire in the Acton area has been partially contained, while two others have been fully contained.
The Hollywood Hills fire, which started around 18:00 local time Wednesday, quickly escalated, blanketing the heart of Hollywood with thick smoke. Palm trees lining the streets were barely visible, and many residents scrambled to evacuate.
People covered their faces with sweatshirts or masks to breathe as they hastily gathered belongings. Some wore only pyjamas, carrying bags and talking on their phones while navigating gridlocked streets.
Key roads near the fire, including Hollywood Boulevard—home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame—were jammed with traffic. Desperate to escape, some drivers resorted to using the wrong side of the road.
Survivors’ Stories
Anna Waldman, a Hollywood Hills resident, told the BBC she had just stepped out to walk her dog when she smelled smoke. Looking out her window, she saw flames rapidly approaching her home.
"I can't believe this," she said, visibly exhausted as she adjusted her face mask after evacuating with essentials for herself and her three small dogs.
Makayla Jackson, 26, and her two-year-old son, Ramari, were evacuated from a nearby homeless shelter. They waited on the street for transportation to a high school offering assistance to displaced residents.
"They just told us to get out and go," Jackson said.
Impact and Response
Authorities are working around the clock to control the fires as Los Angeles grapples with the devastation. High winds, arid conditions, and climate change are believed to be fueling the crisis.
For the latest updates, live coverage, and maps of affected areas, follow ongoing reports.
By Wednesday night, Sunset Boulevard, the iconic strip in West Hollywood, was reported to be in ruins, according to the LA Times.
Local residents shared with the newspaper that banks, cafes, and supermarkets they had frequented for decades had been completely destroyed.
Michael Payton, the store director of the Erewhon supermarket chain—renowned for its popularity among Los Angeles A-listers—revealed that while the store itself had survived, the surrounding area had been devastated.
"The whole Palisades is done," Payton told the newspaper. "The whole town is done. This is complete devastation."
Firefighters battling the blazes faced significant challenges, including water shortages. In some cases, they resorted to drawing water from swimming pools and ponds.
Officials explained that three one-million-gallon water tanks were full before the fires began. However, the elevation of the fires prevented water from being transported quickly enough to hydrants in the affected areas.
Los Angeles is not accustomed to wildfires of this scale—the Palisades blaze has already become the most destructive in the city's history. The local infrastructure, designed primarily for urban use, is ill-equipped to handle such catastrophic wildfires.
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