A chilling footage taken from a plane shows the devastating extent of the Los Angeles wildfires.
As widely reported, Southern California is in crisis as raging wildfires forced over 179,000 residents, including several Hollywood stars, to evacuate their homes, per CBS News.
Three separate blazes, the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and the Hurst Fire, have erupted across the area since Tuesday (January 7).
Per the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the death toll has tragically risen to at least five, and more have suffered significant injuries, AP News reported.
The Palisades Fire poses a significant threat to over 60,000 structures across the county. Estimates of the destruction caused by the fire vary, with Cal Fire reporting at least 300 structures destroyed, while Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone placed the figure as high as 1,000.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, warning that conditions in the state could exacerbate.
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk — and we’re not out of the woods. We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes,” Newsom said in a statement.
“Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire. If you’re in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials,” he added.
He has obtained a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden to support the ongoing response efforts related to the major wildfires in Los Angeles.
Amid the destruction, a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) has shown a harrowing bird’s-eye view of the wildfires from a plane.
Watch the video below:
The footage reveals flames engulfing the landscape below.
A few users have reacted to the clip, with one stunned person writing: “That is crazy! It looks like something from an apocalyptic movie!”
Another commented, “It’s like something out of the movies. Praying for all of them,” and a third said: “This is so scary, my thoughts are with everyone, especially the most vulnerable.”
NWS Los Angeles has issued a severe weather warning, predicting strong winds with gusts reaching up to 100 mph in some areas, including East Los Angeles, El Monte, Burbank, Pasadena, and Glendale.
The devastating situation has prompted the Los Angeles Fire Department to take the unusual step of calling in off-duty firefighters to join the 1,400 personnel already battling the flames, Daily Mail reported.
Federal support has also been activated, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approving a grant to help cover firefighting costs.
Despite these efforts, the fires remain unpredictable, and authorities are urging residents in affected areas to remain on high alert.
