As per reports, the wildfire erupted in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles at approximately 1030 hours (local time) on Tuesday (07 January), rapidly expanding from 10 acres to over 1,200 acres within hours. This rapid escalation was fueled by 50 miles per hour wind gusts and extremely dry conditions which is expected to continue until Wednesday (08 January).

• The Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that more than 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with 13,000 buildings at risk. The wildfire, which has caused significant destruction in the coastal region, has left homes burning in the Pacific Palisades area, with footage showing residents fleeing the flames, abandoning their vehicles in the process.
• As the fire continues to spread, millions of Californians are under a red flag warning due to the extreme fire danger posed by the ongoing windstorm. A small fire has also been reported on the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum, though officials state that the building itself has not been damaged. The fire has nearly encircled the museum property. While efforts are being made to protect the building and surrounding homes, the Pacific Palisades area remains under immediate threat. Additionally, wind gusts have reached up to 100 miles per hour, the strongest in over a decade, exacerbating the fire risk.
• The wildfire has caused significant disruptions, including power outages, with Southern California Edison reporting more than 15,000 safety outages and an additional 420,611 homes under consideration for power shutoffs. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and warned Los Angeles residents to heed evacuation orders, as the dangerous winds are expected to persist into Wednesday (08 January).