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ONE building dubbed the "luckiest home in LA" is the last standing after the whole district erupted into flames by the wind-fuelled blazes.

The two most dangerous fires, Palisades and Eaton, have already burned through 30,000 acres of land and led to 130,000 people being evacuated.

One home appears to be the only one that survived the fires
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One home appears to be the only one that survived the firesCredit: X
Fire engulfs a structure as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm
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Fire engulfs a structure as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstormCredit: Reuters
he remains of a destroyed home, lost in the Palisades Fire
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he remains of a destroyed home, lost in the Palisades FireCredit: Getty
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Enclaves in the Hollywood Hills and Pacific Palisades have turned to ash in what officials say are the most destructive blazes in the city's history.

One aerial picture proves just how devastating the fires have been, with each street containing nothing but remnants of the homes that stood there a mere few days ago.

Each building has completely disintegrated, with no structures visibly left - except one.

On the right of the image, there is one massive home that appears to have kept intact despite experiencing deadly fires trying to raze it.

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It appears to be the only one to have survived in the area, with its neighboring properties turned to dust and rubble.

Grey smoke is captured still floating over the residential area after the fires that Donald Trump and LA locals have dubbed "apocalyptic".

Satellite pictures have also revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.

Before photos show the neighbourhoods full of green trees, multi-colored roofs, and grey roads.

While the after photos of the same areas show bright red and orange fires burning, thick smoke flying into the air, and brown rubble where houses were.

Houses sitting along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
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Houses sitting along the Pacific Coast Highway in MalibuCredit: Reuters
Houses reduced to rubble along Pacific Coast Highway - with one fire still burning
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Houses reduced to rubble along Pacific Coast Highway - with one fire still burningCredit: Reuters

Only one of the fires which started in LA are under control - the Woodley fire in Van Nuys.

Of those that continue to burn, the closest to being curbed is the Lidia fire on 40 per cent containment, according to LA Fire.

Two blazes which started in neighboring Riverside County, named Tyler and Scout, have been brought under control.

Some evacuees were caught in gridlock traffic as people desperately try to drive away from disaster.

Smoke from the Palisades Fire is seen during a commercial flight
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Smoke from the Palisades Fire is seen during a commercial flightCredit: AP
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood
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The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhoodCredit: AP
Alamy Live News. 2S3D4B1 Altadena, California, USA. 8th Jan, 2025. A house near the corner of Glenrose and Loma Alta Drive bursts into flame and black, noxious smoke in the residential neighborhood of East Altadena, next to Pasadena, in Los Angeles, California: It has been totally devastated due to sparks from the Eaton Fire, named for Eaton Canyon a popular Los Angeles hiking destination. The flames were fanned by the hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds. Most of the homes have been decimated and dozens are still bursting into flames and smoldering. (Credit Image: ¿ Amy Katz/ZUMA Press Wire) EDITORIAL USAGE ONLY! Not This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check.
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A house near the corner of Glenrose and Loma Alta Drive bursts into flameCredit: Alamy Live News

A bulldozer had to be brought in to clear cars abandoned in the middle of Palisades Drive after drivers fled the cars as the fire approached.

Other evacuees could be seen carrying their most prized belongings on their backs as they walked their way to safety through the thick smoke.

Melissa Rivers, daughter of comedian Joan Rivers, told CNN she grabbed only the most important items.


It comes as...

  • Five people have died as uncontrolled wildfires engulf Los Angeles
  • At least 130,000 have been evacuated and schools have closed
  • Nearly 400,000 homes are left without power as over 2,000 buildings destroyed and 30,000 acres burned
  • Firefighters are "maxed out" and reportedly running out of water
  • Harrowing footage shows the city up in flames
  • Celebrity homes have been torched, including A-listers like Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Anthony Hopkins
  • Joe Biden slammed for announcing granddaughter's baby news during LA fire presser

She said: "That's how my son and my fiancé and our dogs (are safe), and we had time to grab passports, important paperwork.

"I grabbed my Mom's Emmy, a photo of my Dad, and a drawing that my mother had done.

"My heart is so broken, not just for myself, but going through this town, it’s wiped off the map."

The Palisades fire is the most destructive in Los Angeles's history and has burned more than 17,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Most of those blazes started Tuesday, but new fires continue to start with a blaze in Studio City being extinguished.

Flames from the wind-driven Eaton Fire engulf a house in Altadena
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Flames from the wind-driven Eaton Fire engulf a house in AltadenaCredit: AFP
Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills
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Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood HillsCredit: AP
The Palisades Fire burns a beachfront property
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The Palisades Fire burns a beachfront propertyCredit: AP

Some 7,500 desperate firefighters are bravely trying to contain the fires and have been able to restart air drops on Wednesday after hurricane-strength gusts.

With all the smoke air quality has plummeted across the city to a hazardous level - Altadena is currently seeing worse air than New Delhi.

The origins of the Palisades fire and Eaton fire are still unknown and are under investigation.

But the Palisades blaze is believed to have started in a backyard and then quickly spread in the dry bushes in the mountainous hills.

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At least three million homes and businesses across Los Angeles County are without power, according to , an electrical service company.

Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.

LA wildfires by the numbers

There are five main fires which have hit LA over the last two days and are now threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.

Here's a list of the key facts for each of the blazes:

Palisades fire:

  • Started: 10.30am Tuesday near Palisades Drive
  • Size: 17,000 acres
  • Containment: Zero per cent
  • Injuries: Unknown number of “significant” injuries
  • Damage: At least, 1000 buildings burned with 13,000 more threatened
  • Evacuations: Some 30,000 people under evacuation orders
  • Summary: The Palisades fire spread quickly in the gusty, dry winds and dry brush and ran into celebrity enclave neighborhoods filled with multimillion-dollar homes.

Eaton fire:

  • Started: 6.18pm on Tuesday in Altadena near Eaton Canyon
  • Size: 10,000 acres
  • Containment: Zero per cent
  • Injuries: Five dead, unknown number of injuries
  • Evacuations: Some 100,000 people under evacuation orders
  • Summary: The Eaton fire spread rapidly and quickly threatened homes in the area more densely populated than Palisades.

Sunset fire:

  • Started: 6.00pm Wednesday
  • Size: 60 to 100 acres
  • Containment: Zero per cent
  • Injuries: Unknown
  • Evacuations: Orders issued for parts of Hollywood, but since lifted
  • Summary: The Sunset fire has burned some of the most iconic LA real estate including Sunset Boulevard. It has also threatened Hollywood Boulevard and the iconic Hollywood sign and Hollywood Bowl.

Hurst fire:

  • Started: 10.29pm on Tuesday in Sylmar
  • Size: 850 acres
  • Containment: 10 per cent
  • Injuries: None reported
  • Summary: The blaze broke out near the interstate on the fringe of the city of San Fernando. It is not thought to have damaged any homes so far.

Lidia fire:

  • Started: 2pm on Wednesday
  • Size: 350 acres
  • Containment: 40 per cent
  • Injuries: None reported
  • Summary: The Lidia fire is away from the city on the northern side of the Magic Mountain Wilderness Area. It is mostly burning through bush and does not threaten homes.
A firefighter from Costa Mesa works to extinguish a fire burning a home on Valleylights Drive
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A firefighter from Costa Mesa works to extinguish a fire burning a home on Valleylights DriveCredit: AP
A car burns as the Eaton Fire moves through the area
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A car burns as the Eaton Fire moves through the areaCredit: Getty
ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: A firefighter battles the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. Powerful Santa Ana winds pushed the fire across more than 10,000 acres in less than 24 hours, destroying potentially hundreds of homes and killing five people so far. At least 1,000 structures have burned and 70,000 people are forced from their homes in the Los Angeles area as multiple dangerous wildfires continue to erupt. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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A firefighter battles the Eaton FireCredit: Getty
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