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See photos of the wildfires raging in Los Angeles

January 08, 2025

WBUR News & Wire Services

Multiple massive wildfires are tearing across the Los Angeles area with devastating force. The flames drove residents to make desperate escapes from burning homes through ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke. At least two people have died and numerous have been injured. Thousands of firefighters are battling at least three separate blazes in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, which is home to the famed Rose Parade.

See images from photographers from the AP and Getty as they document this disaster.

Thick heavy smoke from wildfires passes over the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Richard Vogel/AP) — Thick heavy smoke from wildfires passes over the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8. (Richard Vogel/AP)

Thick heavy smoke from wildfires shrouds downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Richard Vogel/AP) — Heavy smoke from wildfires shrouds downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Richard Vogel/AP)

A surfer takes off on a wave in Santa Monica, Calif., during sunset under a blackened sky from the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Richard Vogel/AP) — A surfer takes off on a wave in Santa Monica, Calif., during sunset under a blackened sky from the Palisades fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7. (Richard Vogel/AP)

A woman cries as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Etienne Laurent/AP)

Water is dropped on the advancing Palisades Fire by helicopter in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday. (Ethan Swope/AP) — Water is dropped on the advancing Palisades Fire by a helicopter on Tuesday. (Ethan Swope/AP)

A resident climbs a fence to check on a home as flames from the Palisades Fire approach on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) — A resident climbs a fence to check on a home as flames from the Palisades Fire approach on Tuesday. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

People watch smoke from the Palisades Fire from Santa Monica on Tuesday. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty)

A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California on Tuesday. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty)

Fire crews battle the Eaton Fire next to a fully engulfed residence on Wednesday in Altadena, Calif. (Nic Coury/AP) — Fire crews battle the Eaton Fire next to a fully engulfed residence on Wednesday in Altadena, California. (Nic Coury/AP)

Fire explodes out of a window of the Altadena Community Church, Wednesday in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (Chris Pizzello/AP) — Fire explodes through a window of the Altadena Community Church on Wednesday in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, California. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

A firefighter is silhouetted in front of a burning structure as the Palisades Fire sweeps through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday. (Etienne Laurent/AP) — A firefighter is silhouetted in front of a burning structure as the Palisades Fire on Tuesday. (Etienne Laurent/AP)

A statue and other structures are burned as the Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds on Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday. (Ethan Swope/AP) — The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence on Tuesday. (Ethan Swope/AP)

A wildfire-ravaged property is shown after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes/AP) — A wildfire-ravaged property is shown after the Palisades Fire swept through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

A man walks his bike among the ruins left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes/AP) — A man walks his bike among the ruins left behind by the Palisades Fire on Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)