<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/los-angeles-residents-flee-fire-as-potentially-lifethreatening-destructive-winds-gain-strength/1dfdfd78-b942-4e6d-8927-63844144f6e7" rel="" target="_blank" title="devastating wildfires in Los Angeles"><span>devastating wildfires in Los Angeles</span></a><span>, which have wiped out thousands of structures and killed five people so far, are uncontrollably burning during </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/california" rel="" target="_blank" title="California's"><span>California's</span></a><span> cool season.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the USA, winter months are from December to February and the Golden State's often-</span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/los-angeles-fires-in-pictures-wildfires-race-across-southern-california/81b15bf5-586a-42ca-95c9-dc1882febeae" rel="" target="_blank" title="catastrophic fire season"><span>catastrophic fire season</span></a><span> usually kicks off mid-year, around May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This year, however, the blaze has whipped up a horror winter firestorm in the middle of Hollywood's hometown and already scorched tens of thousands of acres much earlier than anticipated.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/los-angeles-fires-2025-live-updates/e49ede15-05b5-45af-913d-c400decd05d5" target="_blank"><strong><span>LA fire most destructive in city's history with over 1000 buildings lost</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>LA's dry winter, the powerful Santa Ana winds and a long drought have combined for deadly cocktail of dangerous fire conditions, stoking multiple out-of-control wildfires throughout the city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's how the wildfires began and why it's happening now.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Why are the wildfires so bad in LA?</span></h3></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/la-fires-2025-what-started-it-everything-to-know-explainer/2542c14a-1c3c-476b-9beb-9db0a9d17fef" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Los Angeles is situated in southern California, where the dry landscape is extra flammable following a prolonged drought over the warmer months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The city sits at the centre of mountains and foothills. The deadly fires have torn through the region and rapidly scorched entire suburbs and towns across Eaton, Lidia, Hurst, the Palisades, Woodley and Sunset.</span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/01/08/11/43/los-angeles-fires-in-pictures-wildfires-race-across-southern-california"><img alt="A satellite image shows the Eaton wildfire has set nearly every building in western Altadena in Los Angeles on fire." sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/C7q3sUnhthMEvZZgojp0Kx9Xedg=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F07cd529c-b177-4395-b731-4a4c36adaa72" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/C7q3sUnhthMEvZZgojp0Kx9Xedg=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F07cd529c-b177-4395-b731-4a4c36adaa72 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/drNyVMEiAQxMuXNhff7TynQ86oI=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F07cd529c-b177-4395-b731-4a4c36adaa72 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Grim shot shows extent of fires in LA</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/01/08/11/43/los-angeles-fires-in-pictures-wildfires-race-across-southern-california">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fires are fuelled by something called the Santa Ana winds, which generally arrive during LA's coolers months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These hurricane-force winds are powerful, dry gusts which blow in from the western desert close to southern California.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mixed with the dried vegetation and dry conditions, it provides a perfect firestorm, stoking some of LA's worst wildfires in history.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Weather conditions during the past two years in southern California have also fuelled the wildfires.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The previous winters have seen heavy rain, which sprouted vegetation in LA.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Coupled with a lack of rainfall in December, the drought has dried out the trees, grasses and shrubs in the region which are powerful kindling for the wildfires.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/los-angeles-palisades-wildfires-police-academy-actor-steve-guttenberg-helps-firefighters/c5824357-5888-4b26-aca2-41e29249ca72" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hollywood icon puts life on the line to save homes in LA</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Why are there fires in LA in winter?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state's fire season, which once took place from May to October, now extends throughout the winter months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"November, December, now January – there's no fire season; it's fire year," California Governor Gavin Newsom said today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Temperatures in Los Angeles are moderate in winter, rarely dropping below 3 degrees even during the coldest part of December-February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dry, hot conditions are also spurred on by the vicious Santa Ana winds, which are particularly bad for wildfires following a long drought in southern California.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These hurricane-force winds have fanned the flames of the wildfires and are making it close to impossible to get the blazes under control.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, the climate crisis is also influencing fire conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A rise in global temperatures have brought about more fire weather, even during the cold months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These fires are a terrifying realisation for Australians watching events unfold in California, that fire crews are coping with longer and longer fire seasons," said Amanda McKenzie, Climate Council chief executive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/why-trump-wants-to-take-over-greenland-panama-canal-military-plans-usa-news/4ea372fe-b81d-4da3-9e5d-99c337b11416" target="_blank"><strong><span>Why Donald Trump won't rule out using military to control Greenland, Panama Canal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>What caused the fires in LA?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fire officials are still investigating the exact origins of the multiple wildfires burning throughout LA.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Palisades fire, which is on the coast, began burning on Tuesday local time and scorched thousands of acres across beach towns in Los Angeles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fire in Eaton broke out that evening and a smaller blaze in Hurst followed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It remains unknown how these three fires began, however the Santa Ana winds have contributed to their fast-moving pace.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The combination of low humidity, dry fuels and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion," California Fire said in an update.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ferocious wildfires in LA are often started from natural causes, such as lightning, which can spark a fire in an area with dry vegetation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gusts from the Santa Ana winds can also damage power lines, which generate sparks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Humans can also cause wildfires accidentally, by leaving campfires unattended or sparks from chains on trucks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/missing-hiker-hadi-nazari-new-photos-of-the-moment-he-was-found-in-kosciuszko-national-park-nsw/496b1fb3-3b1b-4dad-92b4-e1f5bd57266c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Moment missing hiker is found by group of friends in Kosciuszko National Park after 13 days</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Where exactly are the fires?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are multiple major active fires in Los Angeles which have travelled across the city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Five people are dead and "likely more" have lost their lives, while at least 130,000 people are under evacuation orders and warnings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 17 million people living across Southern California are covered by smoke and dust advisories issued for the three wildfires, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Palisades and Eaton fires have left tens of thousands of people evacuated from their homes and have destroyed over 1000 structures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New fires also broke out in the Hollywood Hills, near Runyon Canyon, earlier today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can see a map below detailing the fires sweeping southern California.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>What are the Santa Ana winds?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Santa Ana winds, which are sometimes referred to as the Devil Winds, are powerful, hot and dry winds which blow in from inland regions to the Californian coast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They usually arrive in winter and windspeeds can reach around 130km/h.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The high pressure that develops over that region, coupled with lower pressure down over southern California, creates this strong flow of air that comes out of Nevada and hits our coastal mountain range, the San Gabriel Mountains, and out to the Inland Empire area," Mike Wofford, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service, told </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252535/palisades-fire-california-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds" rel="" target="_blank" title="NPR."><span>NPR.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The winds are infamous for stoking the flames of wildfires and can cause the temperatures of LA to climb across December to February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gusts from the Santa Anas can reach hurricane-strength and are violent and destructive particularly when wildfires are sweeping the city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because they flow downhill, through mountain passes, the winds speed up and create a type of wind tunnel.</span></div></div>