How many wildfires broke out in Los Angeles since Tuesday? Details explored as residents are forced to evacuate amid shattering destruction

On Tuesday afternoon, a strong windstorm fanned the flames of a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. In Pasadena, firefighters could not tame the destructive fire because the storm fanned the flames. The fire put nearly 130,000 under evacuation orders.

The deadly wildfire in Hollywood Hills broke out on Wednesday night. Around 400 firefighters were deployed to battle the devastating fire.

As per The Guardian's January 9 report, 5 significant wildfires have broken out, and 5 people have died so far. The wildfires have destroyed nearly 1900 structures, including famous landmarks.

So far, the five wildfires have destroyed nearly 29,000 acres of land. Two of the five wildfires, the Hurst and Lidia fires, have been somewhat controlled. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Sunset fire has affected 42.8 acres. The Fire Department has also issued a statement, lifting the evacuation zone for the Sunset fire.

As per The Guardian, the Palisades fire is the largest of the five, covering 17,234 acres (70km sq). The Eaton fire is the second-biggest, affecting at least 10,600 acres.

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The shattering destruction caused by the wildfire

Firefighters continue battling Palisades fire in Los Angeles (Image via Getty)

Tony Espinoza, the Los Angeles County fire victim, told CNN affiliate KSNV on January 9, how he and his family left their house in a panicked state as they could not breathe.

"We left in a hurry. We only had a few hours to pack. My neighbors were still in their houses. We couldn’t breathe anymore. We had all the filters going in the house, the HEPA filters and nothing seemed to work."

Espinoza shared he left with 13 family members to a relative's house in Las Vegas. He expressed that he could only stay in his relative's house for three days. After that, he must go back to his daily life as he has bills to pay.

"We packed our bags only for about three days. Because we all have jobs to go to. We have rent to pay. Bills are still due," he said.

Hollywood stars Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, streamer HasanAbi, and Eugene Levy are some of the celebrities who lost their homes to the wildfires. In a statement to CNN on January 8, Billy Crystal expressed his sadness as his 46-year-old home burned down.

"Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy," Billy Crystal said.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr's mother's house has burnt down as well. The coach expressed his sadness as he shared that his 90-year-old mother had to evacuate the house.

Paris Hilton shared on Instagram that she saw her Malibu house burn down on TV, and this affected her greatly as her son Phoenix took his first steps in that house. Hilton expressed gratitude that her family is safe and said she is praying for all the victims.

"This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London. While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family is safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires," Hilton wrote.

Ariel Cohen, one of the meteorologists from the US National Weather Service, has told CNN that although the winds are not as intense as last night, everyone must stay on alert as the fire could spread further.

"Just because we’re not seeing the same strength of winds as we saw last night, I urge everyone to remain at a high state of vigilance, as we still have these fires growing, and we still have the winds to create the rapid spread."

While some netizens have started developing conspiracy theories as they react to the wildfire news, people request that misinformation regarding the devastating fire be avoided.