The fifth wildfire that broke out in Los Angeles County on Wednesday night has so far burned 27,000 acres across the county, an area roughly the size of San Francisco, and has forced more evacuations. are.
The Sunset Fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills above Hollywood Boulevard near Runyon Canyon and threatened some of Los Angeles' most popular tourist attractions, including the iconic Hollywood sign.
The street along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, about a mile away from the fire, was busy with cars passing by the TCL Chinese Theater and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Some people carried suitcases out of hotels, while others walked toward the flames and recorded the fire on their smartphones as sirens wailed and low-flying helicopters flew overhead, dropping water on the blaze.
The fire comes as firefighters from Los Angeles and nearby areas battle the Palisades, Hearst, Lydia, and Eaton fires, the latter of which claimed five lives. At least 130,000 people are under evacuation orders.
Live updates: California wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, kill 5, threaten thousands of homes
Helicopters dropped water on the Sunset Fire burning in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed nearly 2,000 homes, businesses, and other structures.
Lt. Eric Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department said they were able to stop the Hollywood Hills blaze because “we fought it hard and fast, and Mother Nature was a little bit more aggressive today than she was yesterday.” Because he was kind to us,” he said.
Firefighters are battling strong winds that are further fanning the flames.
The Palisades Fire destroys an oceanfront property in Malibu, California, on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Sheila Kelliher told Fox News on Wednesday that she witnessed winds “reaching 70, 80 and even 160 miles per hour” and moving the scorched hillsides in “dramatic, apocalyptic conditions.” ” was expressed.
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Wind gusts in the area are expected to reach up to 55 mph Thursday.
The region's two largest fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, remain 0% contained, Cal Fire announced early Thursday. Meanwhile, fire officials said the Hearst Fire was 10% contained, and the Lydia Fire was 40% contained.
A house went up in flames Wednesday in Pacific Palisades, California. (Teyfan Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 7,500 fire personnel were on the scene battling multiple blazes, which officials said had burned a total of about 42 square miles.
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A red flag warning is currently in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to “rapid fire spread and the potential for extreme fire activity,” according to the National Weather Service.
Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz and Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
