The Palisades Fire, now the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, has left a trail of devastation, consuming 19,978 acres of land and destroying more than 5,300 structures. Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds earlier in the week, the fire has overwhelmed communities in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains. Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders or warnings as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze.
The fire erupted on Tuesday morning, quickly gaining momentum as hurricane-force winds propelled flames through residential and commercial areas. Officials have confirmed the destruction of homes, businesses, vehicles, and other properties, with damages expected to reach tens of billions of dollars. Despite the efforts of more than 3,000 firefighting personnel, containment as of Thursday night was limited to just 6%, with conditions remaining precarious.
"It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley during a press conference. She added that although winds have subsided, the fire continues to exhibit unpredictable behavior, posing significant challenges to containment efforts.
Residents have been left grappling with the staggering losses. Gerry Blanck, a karate instructor whose martial arts center was reduced to ashes, described the emotional toll of the disaster. "I keep hoping this is a dream," he said, holding a kettlebell salvaged from the debris. "I don't have millions of dollars, but I have millions of friends and millions of memories."
Nearby, Ralphs employee Rick Brissen recounted the loss of his condo, which had been his home for 31 years. Sitting on a cot at the Westwood Recreation Center, Brissen held the keys to the now-destroyed property. "I have nowhere to go," he said.
While the fire's official death toll stands at 10 across Southern California, including other wildfires in Altadena and Pasadena, the devastation has extended far beyond loss of life. More than 20 people have been arrested for looting in the affected areas, with Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warning of additional arrests. "These acts are despicable," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who toured the burned neighborhoods and described the scene as "apocalyptic."
Amid the destruction, firefighters have worked tirelessly to gain control of the inferno. Aided by calmer winds on Thursday, crews were able to deploy fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to limit the fire's progress. However, the weather forecast remains grim. Cal Fire has warned of critical fire weather through the weekend, with the potential for strong Santa Ana winds to return by Tuesday, further complicating containment efforts.
For many, the loss of homes and businesses has been accompanied by a deep sense of community trauma. Fifteen-year-old Eden Tishbi described the destruction of her family's home and her father's jewelry business. "There's nothing left," she said. "Everyone I know, their homes are gone. My elementary school, my middle school. We're just trying to get through it."
Mark Rampolla and his partner, Caroline Gamble, took a long walk through their neighborhood to check on their home. They found it mostly destroyed. "We need to rebuild this community from the bottom up," said Rampolla. Gamble, standing amid the rubble, choked back tears. "We've got an interesting journey, (but) we'll navigate it together in the coming months," she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has pledged to expedite rebuilding efforts, stating that federal aid will cover 100% of the wildfire disaster-response costs. "We're already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild," she said.
