As of January 13, 2025, the Palisades Fire was at 14 percent containment.
eley archive/Shutterstock
Several major wildfires erupted in the Los Angeles area last week following a catastrophic windstorm that broke out on January 7, scorching acres of land and homes in their path and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee as evacuation orders went into effect. As of press time, these are three of the major active wildfires in the Los Angeles area:
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, evacuation orders remain in place for the Palisades and Eaton fires, which are 14 and 33 percent contained, respectively. L.A.’s mayor’s office is directing residents to the city’s Emergency Management Office for the latest on evacuation orders. A Disaster Recovery Center (with online resources available, too) is slated to open on January 15 at 10850 Pico Boulevard, where impacted residents can get assistance regarding lost homes or businesses, help with their lost documents (such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses), and mental health counseling, among other services.
Throughout Los Angeles and the entire state of California, hotels, lodging companies, and restaurants have stepped in to help first responders and those who have been displaced by the fires.
Airbnb.org, Airbnb’s charitable arm that provides crisis housing, has partnered with social services nonprofit 211 LA to connect those in need of housing with a free place to stay. The focus is on residents who have lost their homes or who have been forced to evacuate from the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar areas of Los Angeles. To request temporary housing, residents can fill out an intake form with 211 LA. Those interested in offering free or discounted accommodations to people affected by the wildfires can sign up to be a host at Airbnb.org. On Friday, January 10, Airbnb reported that it remains committed to housing 25,000 more evacuees.
Discover Los Angeles has compiled a list of hotels in the L.A. area that are offering lower nightly rates for fire victims. In West Hollywood, properties including 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Kimpton La Peer, and Mondrian have special offers in place for first responders and affected residents. And hotels in Santa Monica are offering reduced rates for evacuees of the Palisades Fire.
The recently opened Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells in the Coachella Valley is offering stays for as low as $99 per night to fire victims.
Colin Robertson
About an hour and a half north of the city, displaced residents can seek refuge in the coastal enclave of Santa Barbara, where numerous hotels are offering reduced rates. Or they can head out to the desert, with properties in the greater Palm Springs area offering up space at lower nightly pricing for L.A. fire victims—some as low as $99 per night. Another option is heading south to Orange County, where hotels in Anaheim are offering discounted stays as well. Also in Orange County, along the water, Laguna Beach hotels and resorts have slashed nightly rates for both residents and visitors affected by the fires. And even further south along the coast, San Diego hotels have a long list of L.A. fire relief offers as well.
The Los Angeles Times has compiled a list of restaurants throughout the region that are offering food and shelter to first responders and those who have been displaced. Time Out LA has also put together a list of restaurants offering free meals to those in need. That’s in addition to countless grassroots and community-led efforts to feed and house firefighters and victims.
As for airports and travel to, from, and through the area, the largest airport in the region is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is on the western side of the city about 20 miles south of the Palisades Fire near the coast. At press time, LAX reported that it remains open and is advising passengers to check their flight status with their airline.
Afar contributor and aviation reporter Chris Dong flew into LAX from Las Vegas on Wednesday and said that while the flight arrived as planned and the airport was open, it was a surreal experience flying into Los Angeles above the blazes.
“It was easy to spot the two major wildfires from my window seat. Both the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire have essentially surrounded L.A. proper, and it felt extremely eerie as we made a wide turn over the Pacific to land,” said Dong. “You could actually smell the smoke as we descended to around 5,000 feet through a cloud of embers. As we got closer to the ground, conditions eventually cleared.”
On the eastern side of the city, Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), 13 miles northwest of Pasadena, currently remains open, but an airport spokesperson told Afar in an email that “it’s at the airlines’ discretion in terms of arriving and departing the airport.” The airport is asking that departing passengers check the status of their flight before heading out.
All major U.S. airlines have issued travel waivers for flights to and from Los Angeles and Southern California, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
There are also a number of road closures in the areas surrounding the active fires. Anyone who needs to drive around Los Angeles should make sure to check their route in advance.
Numerous Los Angeles tourist attractions remained closed on January 13, including the Getty Center museum and Getty Villa, the Skirball Cultural Center, Griffith Observatory, areas of Griffith Park, the L.A. Zoo, and Warner Bros. Studio Tours.
“The situation remains dynamic, and our focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of residents, visitors, and first responders across our city,” Discover Los Angeles, the city’s tourism marketing arm, wrote in a statement on its website. “We urge everyone to stay informed and follow all warnings and evacuation orders from first responders.”
One way to stay informed is to register your mobile number and/or email address with NotifyLA, the city’s emergency alert system that issues up-to-date information on events like mandatory evacuations. Residents and visitors alike can also download the Watch Duty app for real-time wildfire maps and alerts, plus updates on air quality and smoke conditions. Cal Fire’s up-to-the-minute wildfire data shows the precise location and coordinates of fires, as well as where there are evacuation orders and evacuation warnings in place.
Smoke from the Eaton fire just northeast of Glendale.
Photo by Brendan George Ko
Travelers looking on with concern can support organizations that have jumped into action to assist firefighting efforts and residents.
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This charitable group is focused on longer term recovery efforts with regards to issues such as climate change and the effect they have on underserved and marginalized communities. California Community Foundation has established a Wildfire Recovery Fund that aims to support communities with both intermediate assistance and long-term support. The organization partners with other groups to obtain grants, which it has previously used to replace and rebuild homes for the displaced, restore lost belongings, and assist with employment. Additional services include case management support, mental health services, financial assistance, and follow-up medical care.
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This nonprofit group gives assistance to firefighters and the communities they protect. It is currently working with local fire agencies and organizations in Los Angeles to offer financial support to impacted residents.
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The nonprofit arm of the LAFD has issued an emergency funding alert to help provide firefighters with personal fire shelters, a critical compact device designed to reflect radiant heat and trap breathable air for when firefighters are overwhelmed by flames; hydration backpacks that can carry up to three quarts of water; and brush-clearing tools that are used to create protective fire barriers.
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This organization is committed to combatting food insecurity throughout the L.A. region and serves more than 900,000 people each month. Each dollar donated translates to up to four meals. In the wake of the wildfires, the Food Bank is working with its 600 partner agencies to feed those in need. An interactive map of food pantries is available online. In addition to financial and food donation assistance, the Food Bank welcomes volunteers.
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This matchmaking aid group that connects those in need with support groups has created an extensive online Google list of fire resources throughout the Los Angeles area, including where specific resources such as animal boarding, prepared meals, donations, shelters, free wifi and charging, horse hauling, and free items are available. The document includes specific calls for volunteers and donations as well.
This story was originally published on January 9, 2025, and was updated on January 13, 2025, to include current information.
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