"A fire in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles on Wednesday [6 December 2017]." Image Source: Reed Saxon/Associated Press/NYT.
The mainstream media are reporting that several fires are devastating Southern California and are now ravaging Los Angeles, including Bel Air. This is the biggest wildfire event to threaten LA since 1961. The Getty Museum has closed to safeguard its art collections from the Skirball Fire, which is burning just west of UCLA, the Los Angeles Country Club, and Beverly Hills. The Getty announced, here, that they will reopen on 8 December. Similarly affected, UCLA will reopen on 8 December. The San Fernando Valley, including North Hollywood, is threatened by the Skirball Fire on one side, and the Creek Fire on the other. KTLA reports that for the first time, firefighters have used drones to assess where the Skirball Fire is traveling and how hot it is.
Fire has reached oceanfront homes as it moves toward the coast at San Diego and at Santa Barbara. The largest fire is the Thomas Fire, which has burned 115,000 acres, which (for comparison) is just over one quarter the size of Greater London, UK. 200,000 people have been evacuated. But the whole area under fire alert is vast, extending as far east as Tuscon, Arizona.
There are now 6 major wildfires burning in Southern California. #RyeFire #SkirballFire #CreekFire #ThomasFire #LilacFire and #LibertyFire all being fanned by continued #SantaAnaWinds and low humidity. Get information at: https://t.co/OtkdreDFEq pic.twitter.com/XG8WUVGNak— CAL FIRE PIO (@CALFIRE_PIO) December 7, 2017
#RedFlagWarnings in effect until Saturday covering much of Southern California. Extremely dry conditions and #SantaAnaWinds will continue to elevate fire danger. Prepare now to ensure if evacuated you and your family are ready to GO!: https://t.co/vpyKMHygCF pic.twitter.com/ynFTsKcWag— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 7, 2017
You can follow local fire maps, with names of highways and towns, here, here and here. You can follow CalFire on Twitter here and the LAFD here. There are lots of Instagram accounts following the fires. Here is the view from someone's bedroom.
Video by Ben Laffin on 6 December 2017. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images. Video Source: NYT.
"The remains of the Vista del Mar hospital after the Thomas wildfire swept through Ventura." Image Source: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images/ Guardian.
Man jumps out of car to rescue wild rabbit from raging Californian wildfires (7 December 2017). Video Source: Guardian via Youtube.
As most of us rest our weary head in peace, in the comfort of our home... these images show some of the horrifying struggles the people of California are dealing with tonight. Please, keep them in your heart and prayers this evening! 🙏 #CaliforniaWildfires #SkirballFire #LAFire pic.twitter.com/jLWKkIFOoa— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerTW) December 7, 2017
See the tiny HOLLYWOOD SIGN? That’s the horrific scale of the FIRES now raging across Los Angeles. Praying for the safety of all 🙏— KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) December 6, 2017
Thanks to Diane Mantouvalos and @AndoniaPR for the photo.#LA #LAfire #lafires pic.twitter.com/bMxkLnDKtM
This is My drive to work this. Lord “Be still”.— CoCo Mayo♏️🦂 (@CoCo_Mayo76) December 6, 2017
Praying 🙏 for ppl up in those mountains, LA County and myself this morning. FYI anyone on the #405 turn around ITS ON 🔥 #SkirballFire pic.twitter.com/F0rMsotbTa
I have KTLA local news on my TV by satellite and they are covering the valiant efforts of firefighters in different areas of the city. You can watch their channel live stream and reports on the Internet, here. In the video directly below, you can see the city's famous skyline on the night of 6-7 December, with different fires clearly visible on three points on the horizon.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES Thousands of people have fled their homes as wildfires continue to burn (7 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
Deadly California wildfire forces thousands to flee (5 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
THOMAS FIRE In Ventura County Santa Paula Ojai California - WILDFIRE Creek Brush Fire 12/5/2017!!! (5 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
New Fire Erupts In Bel Air As Destructive SoCal Wildfires Rage (6 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
LIVE ON THE SCENE: The Thomas Fire continues to burn in Ventura County, California. 12.7.17 (7 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
Celebrities Post Video of Fires, Flee Their Homes as Los Angeles Is Engulfed in Flames (7 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.
CALIFORNIA FIRE SCARY FOOTAGE, DAMAGE, CAUGHT ON CAMERA DECEMBER 2017 (6 December 2017). Video Source: Youtube.