Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least ten people, and forecasters warn more high winds may fan the flames further
Los Angeles's medical examiner confirmed ten fire-related deaths on Thursday evening
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says it hasn't been safe to reach many hard-hit areas and the death toll is "absolutely going to change"
A man has been detained on suspicion of lighting the latest fire, which broke out on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Thursday
Arson investigators are looking into the start of another fire, in the Palisades, which has gone on to destroy more than 5,300 structures
The Eaton fire is estimated to have destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures
A curfew is planned for some areas after police arrest 20 people for looting abandoned homes
Crews dealing with the blaze tell our reporter they are desperately short of water - and fear they are fighting a losing battle.
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A third brush fire has broken out in Los Angeles.
The fire in Sylmar, a suburban neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley, was first reported at 22:10 local time (06:10 GMT) and has already burned 100 acres of brush.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for people living north of the 210 Freeway, from Roxford Street to the Interstate 5 / 14 split.
Amrita Khalid, a journalist who lives in coastal city of Santa Monica, evacuated a short while ago. She tells BBC World Service's Newsday radio programme that the day began like any other.
"I can't stress to you how normal this morning was in Santa Monica. It just seemed like another nice winter morning. But then, I was walking home from the gym and I just noticed big black billowing clouds of smoke."
She then decided to leave her home for a safer location and says a photo of her neighbourhood that was shared with her affirmed her decision to leave.
"It looks like Mars, it looks bright red," she said. "So I'm kind of glad I left. I think better be safe than sorry."
Although wildfires are "a daily reality of living in California," she says this fire is unsettling because it's affecting more populated areas.
"Just seeing it so close, it kind of unravels you. You associate wildfires, as unfortunate as they are, with remote areas, and this one is hitting very close to home."
Image source, Julian MartinezA photo of the neighbourhood reinforced Amrita's decision to flee
Image source, EPAThis map gives you some perspective on how far the Palisades fire has spread.
It covers more than 2,900 acres near Los Angeles and stretches down towards Santa Monica, a coastal city. The fire is fanned by gusty winds and dry conditions.
Thousands of people in the wealthy Pacific Palisades community have been forced to evacuate.
Watch: 'A total loss' - homes engulfed by flames in Pacific Palisade neighbourhood
Watch these apocalyptic scenes from a Pacific Palisade neighbourhood, where the inferno has levelled homes while it rages on
At the scene, CBS reporter Jonathan Vigliotti says firefighters are no longer trying to save these structures; they are just trying their best to stop the fire from spreading.
The White House has mobilised federal resources and funding to help suppress the fires and reimburse firefighting costs, according to a statement, external from Kamala Harris.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also announced the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to respond to the blaze in Los Angeles County.
A California native, Harris also said she was praying for "fellow Californians who have evacuated" and thanked "the heroic first responders who are risking their own safety".
Harris added that she is getting regular updates on the efforts to contain the fires and urged residents in affected areas to be vigilant and follow evacuation instructions.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersIf you're just ing us, here's what you need to know about the wildfires in Los Angeles, which have been spreading ferociously since they broke out Tuesday evening:
Stay with us as we bring you the latest.
Dozens of elderly people have been evacuated from a senior centre in Pasadena. Footage from the BBC's US partner, CBS News, shows hospital beds and wheelchairs lining the streets, and a huge law enforcement presence in the area.
A supervisor told CBS that about 95 residents from The Terraces at Park Marino have been evacuated. It is unclear where they would be taken. The centre is about two miles from Eaton Canyon, where we earlier reported that a second brush fire had been spreading.
Authorities have tried to use any available vehicles to evacuate the residents, including an armoured vehicle typically used to transport SWAT officers, CBS reported.
Image source, CBS / KCALThe number of people left without power across LA county is rising fast.
According to the power outage tracking website, PowerOutage.us, some 200,000 customers are now affected.
In neighbouring San Bernardino county, which is also seeing the impact of the Santa Ana winds, an additional 13,600 people have also lost electricity.
It follows warnings from officials that strong winds during the night would increase the chance that trees could be knocked over, taking out power lines and blocking roadways.
Palisades Charter High School is a famous filming location in LA and has been featured in at least 30 movies and TV shows - including Carrie, The Parent Trap and Teen Wolf.
The school's alumni include prominent Hollywood figures like JJ Abrams and will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas.
Multiple reports in US media have said that flames were surrounding the school property, including this video, external posted on X by reporter Matthew Seedorff.
It was unclear, as darkness fell, if the school had burned down entirely.
The Los Angeles Times quoted an advisor to a school board member as saying that the baseball field and tennis courts were on fire, adding that it was not confirmed if the classroom bungalows had been burned down.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe school was also used for a celebrity charity football game in 2009
LA reporter battles heavy winds and flying ash during broadcast
Here's a video of a local television reporter, Elise Martinez with KCBS, who is reporting live near the Pacific Coast Highway.
"We headed down PCH and they're closing off a lot of the streets there," she says.
Martinez speaks to a resident who is evacuating when the interview is interrupted by a gust of wind that blows over a fence, almost hitting the man.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on X, external that authorities have declared a state of emergency to "amplify our response to this devastating fire and clear a path for a rapid recovery".
"The City is working AGGRESSIVELY to confront this emergency," she said, thanking firefighters and first responders who have been working to counter the blaze.
"To the thousands of families impacted by this horrific fire – the City of Los Angeles is providing resources and shelter as this fire continues," she added.
Lucy Sheriff
in Santa Monica
This morning at 10:45am I was watching small flames in the Santa Monica mountains, and within an hour Sunset Boulevard was gridlocked. Two hours later, there was mass panic as everyone tried to evacuate at once. I can’t get over how quickly it all unfolded.
I saw a father and his 10 year old daughter, in her school uniform, run down the street trying to get to safety. The girl was hysterical – she could see her house on the mountain being engulfed by flames, and repeatedly said her mother was in there and was going to die. I heard an elderly woman try to get a ride up to her house so she could get in her car and leave, but no-one would – or could – help her.
I never received a message about any evacuations or fire warnings – nor did my partner. I was informed by neighbours. The evacuation process was extremely hectic – everyone trying to get out at once on the same road – and it was disconcerting having so little information available. I’m lucky I have a press and I could approach emergency services to find out what news I could.
Firefighters are racing to extinguish flames that have turned entire homes into blazing infernos.
About 30,000 residents have been evacuated from 10,000 households so far, with strong winds expected to fuel the flames into the night.
Thousands of people don't know if their houses will still be standing when this crisis ends.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe fire near Eaton Canyon, above Altadena, has doubled in size in the past hour and is now at 400 acres, according to Angeles National Forest authorities.
High winds are driving rapid fire growth, posing a "significant threat" to nearby communities and making containment efforts challenging, according to officials from the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection.
"Firefighters are working aggressively to slow the spread and protect critical infrastructure under extreme conditions," it said.
Image source, Getty ImagesSmoke from the fire fills the sky as seen from Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica authorities have ordered residents in all areas of the city north of the San Vicente boulevard to evacuate.
"Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is closed to public access," authorities said in an X post.
Santa Monica is a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, famous for its beaches and the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
Image source, Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden has encouraged residents in fire-affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials.
In a statement from the White House, external, Biden said he has been "frequently briefed" on the situation and has offered federal assistance to state and local officials.
On Tuesday night, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a grant to affected areas and to reimburse the state for immediate firefighting costs.
"My istration will do everything it can to the response," Biden said.
Biden and first lady Jill are now in Century City, Los Angeles, just miles away from the wildfire. They had travelled on Tuesday to California's Coachella Valley to announce the creation of two national monuments.
Lucy Sheriff
in Santa Monica
I thought my home would be safe as it sits on the other side of Sunset Boulevard, across from the mountains. But when I got a text from a neighbour to say she saw Palisades High School on fire as she was evacuating, I knew that the fire was spreading further than I thought.
I’ve been watching the news – it’s hard to look away – and it’s been heartbreaking to see the school in flames, as well as some of our cultural landmarks, such as our local theatre.
Knowing that the wind speeds are only going to pick up this evening, and it’s much harder to fight a fire in the dark, I realised at that moment my home might not make it.
Timelapse footage captures rapid growth of California wildfire
Watch this timelapse video to see the wildfire's explosive growth. You'll see how the plume of smoke billowed over the city.
The blaze grew from 10 acres to more than 2,900 acres in mere hours.
Earlier we reported on a new brush fire above Altadena, near the Eaton Canyon. The blaze has now grown to over 200 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for residents in the area, as authorities warn of an "immediate threat to life".