- Major fires are burning throughout the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of buildings.
- Satellite images show flames wreaking havoc on houses and other structures.
- At least 5 people have died, and more than 100,000 residents were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday.
At least five people have died and more than 100,000 have been ordered to evacuate as uncontrolled fires continue to burn through parts of Los Angeles into a third day.
Five separate fires are sweeping through parts of the region in and around Los Angeles, with one of the biggest blazes, the Palisades Fire, expected to be the costliest in US history.
Satellite images provided to Business Insider by Maxar Technologies show the trail of destruction the fires have left in Altadena and Palisades, two of the most heavily affected areas.
Houses burned to the ground in Altadena
Satellite images show houses burned down in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles, one of the areas most affected by the Eaton fire.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of 3 a.m. Thursday local time, the fire had burned 10,600 acres in the area, and continued to grow with 0% containment.
Palisades Fire burning through Western Los Angeles
The Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood in the Westside region of Los Angeles, has also been devastated.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Palisades Fire has consumed about 17,234 acres, with 0% containment, as of 4 a.m. Thursday.
The Palisades fire alone has already become the most destructive fire ever to hit Los Angeles County, CNN reported Wednesday, citing CalFire data.
East Altadena Drive
Houses and buildings in East Altadena Drive are almost unrecognizable in these before and after images.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference Wednesday evening that residents could receive more evacuation orders as wind conditions continue to be "strong and erratic."
In an X post in the early hours of Thursday morning, she said firefighters would be working throughout the night to battle the blazes.
Tuna Canyon Road closed until further notice
The Tuna Canyon Road, the road connecting Malibu and Topanga, was covered in smoke and witnessed fires burning through nearby buildings.
In an X post on Wednesday night, the California Department of Transportation said highways were fully closed at various locations due to fires or wind-related incidents.
Meanwhile, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft were offering free rides to evacuation centers.
A historic windstorm
The fires are still burning, and satellite imagery from Wednesday showed the sheer scale of the fires in Altadena.
The National Weather Service called the windstorm "life-threatening and destructive."
Courtney Carpen, a warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said the fires would likely continue over the coming days.
"We're not out of the woods yet," she said, pointing to winds expected to continue through Friday afternoon, and dry weather conditions.
