Fierce, fast-moving fires ripped through Southern California on Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The Pacific Palisades inferno burned approximately 3,000 acres by Tuesday evening. “California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as the Palisades Fire threatens more than 13,000 structures and displaces approximately 30,000 people, prompting expanded evacuations across Los Angeles County,” Rawsalerts wrote. #BREAKING: California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as the Palisades Fire threatens more than 13,000 structures and displaces approximately 30,000 people, prompting expanded evacuations across Los Angeles County. pic.twitter.com/TvnPkqfuhl — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 8, 2025 Fires also erupted in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sylmar. “At least three named fires – the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires – erupted Tuesday amid intense winds that have amplified the devastation of the blazes. Two more fires erupted early Wednesday,” the Los Angeles Times wrote. WATCH: @ABC7 Fire in Sylmar above the 210 and Yarnell St #SaddleRidge pic.twitter.com/047oBZ4y1H — IAR Nick Krall aka Prof Rockstar-Invest in You (@njckrall) January 8, 2025 #BREAKING: Yet ANOTHER fire has broken out in Los Angeles County — this time near Sun Valley This is NOT connected to the Palisades or Eaton Fires in the area The fire has grown to over 50 ACRES in just the last ten minutes, per scanner traffic. pic.twitter.com/4lmOswAH0B — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 8, 2025 This is what’s left of the Pacific Palisades. The mall survived. Most everything else is gone. Homes, apartment complexes… businesses. pic.twitter.com/Vfz721V48J — Jonathan Vigliotti (@JonVigliotti) January 8, 2025 From the Los Angeles Times: The “life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm” was expected to be strongest overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts of up to 99 mph were recorded in the region Tuesday night. Weather service officials issued red flag warnings for large swaths of L.A. and Ventura counties, warning Southern California residents to expect power outages. Combine the strong winds with the fact that this year’s wet season has so far not lived up to that title and it’s clear that the region is primed for devastating fire. Much of the Southland is now considered in moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Current forecasts show little hope that a needed storm could develop in the next few weeks,” Times reporter Grace Toohey wrote last week. “And the Southern California landscape — ripe for wildfire and never far from chronic water shortages — is paying the price.” “California secured Fire Management Assistance Grants from @FEMA to help further ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the #HurstFire, #EatonFire, & #PalisadesFire. Firefighters are working through the night to save lives & battle these aggressive fires,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. NEW: California secured Fire Management Assistance Grants from @FEMA to help further ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the #HurstFire, #EatonFire, & #PalisadesFire. Firefighters are working through the night to save lives & battle these aggressive fires. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 8, 2025 The Los Angeles Times reports that the Hurst fire erupted Tuesday night and burned more than 500 acres by 2 a.m., threatening areas of Sylmar. “The fast-moving blaze broke out Tuesday night in the hills above Altadena near Eaton Canyon, burning more than 400 acres and resulting in mandatory evacuations in parts of Pasadena, eastern Glendale, all of La Cañada Flintridge and northern Monrovia,” the outlet added. Los Angeles skyline from an airplane shows how massive the Palisades fires is pic.twitter.com/aTn6rXFlQ6 — TaraBull (@TaraBull808) January 8, 2025 Per NBC Los Angeles: As the strong Santa Ana winds continue Wednesday morning, a red flag warning remains in effect until Thursday afternoon. The strongest wind gusts are expected through the first half of the day Wednesday. There are extreme fire conditions over Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to the combination of strong winds and very low relative humidity and dry vegetation. Through sunrise, the winds may get stronger in a few locations. Around noon, the winds will slow down just a bit for a few locations. The red flag warning will remain in effect through Thursday afternoon and a high wind warning will remain in effect through Wednesday evening. Due to the smoke and poor air quality in some areas, it is recommended to keep windows and doors closed. Elevated fire danger will continue to the weekend.