In pictures: Dramatic scenes as wildfires sweep through west LA

09/01/2025

A wildfire that started in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Tuesday morning has spread across the west of the city at an alarming rate throughout Tuesday and overnight.

High winds and very dry conditions further fuelled the flames, causing the blaze to rip through neighbourhoods at alarming speeds. The fires reportedly spread from a size of 10 acres to nearly 3,000 in a matter of hours.

Firefighters have been battling the flames throughout the night, as residents were forced to flee amid evacuation orders affecting tens of thousands of people.

Photographers have captured dramatic scenes across the west of the city as firefighters work to control the fires.

David Swanson/AFP A helicopter drops water over burning hills, with a huge plume of smoke rising above them, in Pacific Palisades. — Thick smoke has engulfed huge areas of the city as wind gusts of more than 80mph (126km/h) fanned the flames

On fires raging out of control, leaving those without power and phone signal unable to receive updates on the latest evacuation alerts.

Meanwhile, CBS reporter Jonathan Vigliotti said firefighters were no longer “trying to save” houses in the Palisades, “they’re trying to prevent these flames from jumping to other neighbourhoods”.

Ringo Chiu/Reuters Sparks and debris fly through the air with a firefighter holding a water cannon in the foreground and a fence and trees in the background, on the west side of LA. — Firefighters battled windy conditions as debris blew through residential areas

Caroline Brehman/EPA A group of firefighters walk through a clearing in woods with a burning hill in the background, in the Pacific Palisades. — California Governor Gavin Newsom said that more than 1400 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the “unprecedented” fires

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images A police officer escorts a homeless woman pushing her belongings on a trolley, on a street with a police car and burning mountain in the background, in Topanga Canyon Blvd. — Police officers have been out on the streets, escorting people to safety and aiding evacuation efforts

Caroline Brehman/EPA A close up view of a group of firefighters as they climb a smoky burnt hill with trees on it, in the Pacific Palisades. — Los Angeles County firefighters took up positions to tackle the blaze

Caroline Brehman/EPA A woman holds her dog and belongings while evacuating, as she walks down a street with fire in the background, in the Pacific Palisades. — More than 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate the area

David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News Firefighters are silhouetted against a yellow sky as they battle fire from the on the beachfront along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. — Beachfront homes along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu are at risk of being engulfed by the flames

Caroline Brehman/EPA A Los Angeles firefighter drags a hose past cars trying in a smoky street in Pacific Palisades. — Firefighters had to dodge residents evacuating areas affected by the fires

Caroline Brehman/EPA Rear view of a firefighter wearing a yellow helmet with the word 'Williams' on the back of it, as they fire a water cannon at a burning building in the Pacific Palisades. — They deployed water cannons to extinguish the flames in affected areas

David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News A sign saying 'Malibu: 21 miles of scenic beauty' is seen in front of a burning building with firefighters in front of it, in Malibu — The Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles borders well-known Malibu and Santa Monica

Mike Blake/Reuters People walk through a car park carrying luggage and belongings, with a smoky background and palm trees bending in high winds, on the west side of LA. — People rushed to gather important belongings and pets while fleeing

Josh Edelson/AFP A McDonald's restaurant is seen behind a burning palm tree bent by high winds in Pasadena — The usually iconic-looking palm trees of Los Angeles have bent and burned in the wake of the wildfires

David Swanson/AFP A silhouetted firefighter fires a water cannon in front of huge flames in a valley with burning hills and a fire helicopter in the background in Pacific Palisades — Helicopters worked alongside fire officers to try and stop the spread across hilly, wooded areas of west LA

Caroline Brehman/EPA A firefighter helps their colleague wrap up in gear with burning forestry in the background in the Pacific Palisades. — Weary firefighters have been battling the wildfires throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday

09/01/2025

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