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Photos: Southland reels from catastrophic wildfires

A man walks on the beach as Mexican National Guardsmen help with the grim task of searching for remains.
A man walks on the beach as Mexican National Guardsmen help search for remains in the rubble of a beachfront home on Pacific Coast Highway on Tuesday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

In the past several days, crews have stopped the growth of last week’s devastating Palisades and Eaton fires and have rushed to boost containment ahead of more anticipated winds.

Firefighters continue to focus on hot spots to reduce the risk that winds will pick up smoldering embers and firebrands and carry them into new areas.

L.A. Times photojournalists have worked tirelessly to document these historic wildfires, to provide to you a glimpse of the tragedies that ensued.


Palisades fire

Sunset Blvd. sign in the Palisade fire zone on Tuesday in Pacific Palisades.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Sunset Boulevard sign in the Palisades fire zone on Tuesday.

Aerial view of a neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades Fire.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Aerial view Thursday of a neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades fire.

A firefighter battles a house fire along PCH as the Palisades Fire burns in Malibu Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A firefighter battles a house fire Jan. 8 along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Aerial view coastal homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire on Thursday..
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Aerial view of coastal homes Thursday.

A stairway is all that's left of a house that burned down from the Palisades Fire on PCH in Malibu.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A stairway is all that’s left of a house on PCH in Malibu.

Houses smolder from the Palisades fire on PCH in Malibu.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Houses smolder on PCH in Malibu.

A house burns along Pacific Coast Highway
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A house burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Jan. 8.

Houses smolder along PCH as the Palisades Fire burns for a second day in Malibu Wednesday.

Houses smolder along PCH.

ATM machines are burned and partially melted at the Bank of America Financial Center.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

ATM machines are burned and melted among the ruins of a bank on Sunset Boulevard.

The Palisades fire rages inside the United Methodist Community Church in Pacific Palisades.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Fire rages inside the United Methodist Community Church in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7.

Beachfront homes are leveled by the Palisades fire on PCH in Malibu.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

The remains of beachfront homes in Malibu.

Homeless men walk along PCH with downed power poles and leveled beachfront homes destroyed by the Palisades fire.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Homeless men walk along PCH with downed power poles nearby.

A police officer escorts a homeless woman to evacuate away from Pacific Coast Highway
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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An L.A. County sheriff’s deputy helps a homeless woman evacuate Jan. 7 near Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

A firefighter battles a house fire along PCH as the Palisades fire burns in Malibu.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A firefighter battles a house fire along PCH in Malibu.

People evacuate at Sunset Blvd. and Palisades Drive in Pacific Palisades.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

People evacuate near Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive.

A surrounded by the flames of the Pacific Palisades fire along Sunset Blvd.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A car is engulfed in flames along Sunset Boulevard.

A firefighting plane makes a drop on a burning home from the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A firefighting plane makes a drop on a burning home.

Cici keeps a watchful eye on the Pacific Palisades fire that burns several miles behind the Santa Monica Pier.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A woman watches the Palisades fire burn behind the Santa Monica Pier.


Eaton fire

Firefighters extinguish hot spots at a home destroyed by the Eaton fire in Altadena Saturday
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters extinguish hot spots Saturday at a home in Altadena.

A helicopter makes a water drop on a burning ridge in Brentwood during the Palisades fire on Saturday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

A helicopter makes a water drop on a burning ridge in Brentwood during the Palisades fire on Saturday.

Altadena Community Church burned down by the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Altadena Community Church in Altadena.

Firefighters battle an intense apartment blaze fueled by high winds from the Eaton fire on East Pine Street.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters battle an intense apartment blaze Jan. 8 on East Pine Street.

 Abandoned wheelchairs remain on the front lawn and sidewalk after patients were evacuated
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Abandoned wheelchairs Jan. 8 after patients were evacuated from the Two Palms Nursing Center in Altadena.

A business and vehicle in flames.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

A car and businesses burn along Lake Avenue in Altadena.

Steve Salinas shields from intense heat as he hoses down a neighbors rooftop.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Steve Salinas shields himself from intense heat as he hoses down a neighbor’s rooftop in Altadena.

A man runs to get another hose as he helps try to prevent a home from catching fire as the Eaton fire continues to grow.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Samuel Girma runs to get another hose as he and others try to protect a home from flames on LaPaz Road in Altadena.

A man douses smoldering vegetation while trying to stop a neighbors house from igniting from the Eaton fire in Altadena.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Greg Voorhies douses smoldering vegetation while trying to stop a neighbor’s house from igniting in Altadena.

A man uses a fire extinguisher on a burning home in Altadena destroyed by the Eaton fire.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A man uses a fire extinguisher on a burning home in Altadena.

Homes are engulfed in flames in the wind whipped Eaton fire in Altadena.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Homes are engulfed as firefighters try to keep embers from jumping to nearby homes in Altadena.

Wind gust sends burning embers into the air fueling the Eaton fire in Altadena.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Wind gust sends burning embers into the air in Altadena.


Sunset fire

Los Angeles, CA - January 08: Fire fighters works the Sunset fire on Vista street
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters work on the Sunset fire on Vista Street on Jan. 8.

Los Angeles, CA - January 08: A fire fighters sprays water on the Sunset fire on Vista street
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

A firefighter sprays water on the Sunset fire on Vista street.

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