Photos: Los Angeles wildfires threaten lives, homes and cultural landmarks

NPR Staff | January 9, 2025

Firefighters in Los Angeles hope to make progress against several wildfires that have destroyed more than 2,000 structures.

The Palisades, the Eaton and the Hurst fires have also killed at least 5 people. A new fire has erupted in Hollywood Hills.The fires have been so overwhelming that L.A. fire authorities don’t have enough crew to cope.

West of Los Angeles, the fire hydrants went dry early yesterday morning as fire crews battles the Palisades fire.

Thurs., Jan. 9: Debris from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Thurs., Jan. 9: Debris from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Damian Dovarganes | AP)
Wed., Jan. 8: Fallon Prockiw-Kline, center, gets emotional in front of her home which was damaged by the Palisades Fire, in Malibu, California.
Wed., Jan. 8: Fallon Prockiw-Kline, center, gets emotional in front of her home which was damaged by the Palisades Fire, in Malibu, California. (Etienne Laurent | AP)
Thurs., Jan. 9: Debris covers the ground after the Palisades Fire ravaged a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Thurs., Jan. 9: Debris covers the ground after the Palisades Fire ravaged a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Damian Dovarganes | AP)
Wed., Jan. 8: Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Wed., Jan. 8: Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Ethan Swope | AP)
Thurs., jan. 9: Josh Lederer wears a mask to protect him from fumes as he retrieves his children's clothes from his fire-raved property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Thurs., jan. 9: Josh Lederer wears a mask to protect him from fumes as he retrieves his children’s clothes from his fire-raved property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Jae C. Hong | AP)
Wed., Jan. 8: Smoke and flames overwhelm a commercial area during the Eaton fire.
Wed., Jan. 8: Smoke and flames overwhelm a commercial area during the Eaton fire. (Josh Edelson | AFP via Getty Images)
Wed., Jan. 8: Before/after view of burning and destroyed houses near Marathon Road, Altadena.
Wed., Jan. 8: Before/after view of burning and destroyed houses near Marathon Road, Altadena. (Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Wed., Jan. 8: Residents walk past homes burnt by the Eaton Fire.
Wed., Jan. 8: Residents walk past homes burnt by the Eaton Fire. (Robyn Beck | AFP via Getty Images)
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Etienne Laurent | AP)
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters prepare to fight flames from inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School auditorium as the school burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area.
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters prepare to fight flames from inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School auditorium as the school burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area. (Josh Edelson | AFP via Getty Images)
Wed., Jan. 8: Shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor images of burning homes in Altadena.
Wed., Jan. 8: Shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor images of burning homes in Altadena. (Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Wed., Jan. 8: Beach front homes are destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Malibu.
Wed., Jan. 8: Beach front homes are destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Malibu. (Mark J. Terrill | AP)
Wed., Jan 8: Claudio and Kathleen Boltiansky embrace in their fire-ravaged neighborhood.
Wed., Jan 8: Claudio and Kathleen Boltiansky embrace in their fire-ravaged neighborhood. (Etienne Laurent | AP)
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters battle flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Wed., Jan. 8: Firefighters battle flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Eric Thayer | Getty Images)

 

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