Fires whipped by 99 mph gusts destroy Southern California homes, businesses

Savage overnight winds lashed out across Southern California, where wildfires torched multimillion-dollar homes, businesses, medical centers and cultural icons from Los Angeles beaches to the foothills of Pasadena.

Fires stoked by gusts of up to 99 miles per hour tore through Pacific Palisades and Malibu, burning some of the region’s priciest homes and businesses, while a second uncontrolled blaze fueled by Santa Ana winds raged through neighborhoods around Altadena, with a third conflagration threatening Sylmar, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Tens of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. Some residents were forced to leave their cars on the side of the road while trying to flee. One firefighter sustained a serious head injury while battling the blaze, authorities said.

Pacific Palisades, CA – January 07: A Super Scooper drops ocean water on a hillside as the Palisades fire rages on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Fires whipped by 99 mph gusts destroy Southern California homes, businesses — PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 7: Homes burn as powerful winds drive the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025 in Pasadena, California. A powerful Santa Ana wind event has dramatically raised the danger of wind-driven wildfires such as the dangerous and destructive Palisades Fire near Santa Monica. The strong winds also forced President Joe Biden to cancel his plan to travel between Los Angeles and Riverside, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

The unusually fierce “wind wave” broke out Tuesday morning along Piedra Morada Drive in Pacific Palisades and by nightfall had grown to more than 2,900 acres. The winds were expected to roar through Thursday.

L.A. developer Rick Caruso said several homes around his Palisades Village shopping center were “fully engulfed,” while his seven-year-old retail center was damaged. His daughter’s home was destroyed, he said, while his family awaited word if one of his sons had lost his home.

The Pacific Palisades fire engulfed more homes along Pacific Coast Highway, with firefighters trying in vain to prevent the flames from destroying beachfront homes. Businesses were no less vulnerable.

Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio was torched, as was nearby Wylie’s Bait & Tackle, the Malibu Feed Bin and the Reel Inn. The art inside the Getty Villa museum, whose grounds caught fire, was threatened. Palisades Charter High School, a local landmark, was destroyed.

The fires consumed homes along Surfwood Road in Sunset Mesa, as well as Shoreheights Drive.

Meanwhile, the Eaton fire around Altadena and Pasadena burned uncontrolled as winds of up to 99 mph whipped out of the San Gabriel Mountains. An unknown number of homes were destroyed overnight by a fire near Eaton Canyon that by evening had consumed 1,000 acres.

Embers born by the winds tore into at least two medical facilities and destroyed a Jewish synagogue.

The Two Palms Care Center on Washington Boulevard, a long term care facility in southeastern Altadena, was burning Wednesday morning, its fire alarm still ringing.

The AltaMed Medical Center in Altadena, on Washington Boulevard, was ablaze, KABC-TV Channel 7 and KNBC-TV Channel 4 reported, as was the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center in Pasadena and the Terraces at Park Marina assisting living center.

Evacuation warnings were issued for residents from eastern Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and Altadena to Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia.

A third wildfire known as the Hurst Fire, has burned at least 500 acres in Sylmar, near where Interstate 5 meets the 14 and 210 freeways.

— Dana Bartholomew