Updated at Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. ET with new details, stories and behind the scenes images
The eyes of the country remain on on Los Angeles, where 2025’s first climate-related disaster is playing out in real time. On Tuesday Jan. 7, a severe windstorm swept through the L.A. region, igniting several fires that spread to engulf three major areas, including the Pacific Palisades, Eaton Canyon, and Sylmar.
Nearly a week later, the wildfires are estimated to have killed at least 27 people, and burned nearly 40,000 acres in the Los Angeles area. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires, placing them among the five most destructive fires in California’s history. The economic loss from the disaster is estimated to top $250 billion.
National and local news outlets have been covering the wildfires on the ground since Jan. 7. TVNewser has collected the following accounts from correspondents in the field and their teams back in the studio as events unfold.
What’s been the most defining or haunting moment in this story for you so far?
Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist/chief climate correspondent for ABC News
After the sun came up in Altadena, we drove around and started speaking to neighbors. We found out quickly that this part of Altadena has a concentrated population of first responders. Many of which have lost their homes in the Eaton fire.
We met a Captain for LAFD who’d just wrapped his shift when he learned both his house as well as his childhood home were being threatened by the Eaton fire. By the time he got there, there was a wall of fire consuming his neighbors’ homes right across the street. He told me it was surreal, even as a seasoned fire captain, to see how far the fire had moved into this community he grew up in. Luckily, he was able to get a fire hose from Pasadena fire and LA fire to use and he and his brother, who is also a firefighter, hooked it up to the fire hydrant on their corner. The hose only reached four houses in, but he was able to save at least those four.
The defining moment was seeing the sorrow in him and regret for wanting to have been able to do more. Here’s a man who has built a career fighting fires but has never experienced a fire this close to home.
Chace Beech, multimedia journalist for Spectrum News 1
A defining moment for me was driving back to the Palisades village on Wednesday and seeing a neighborhood I’ve known well completely devastated. It’s a sight that’s hard to process.
Stephanie Sy, national correspondent for PBS News Hour
I interviewed a young woman at the main evacuation center in the Palisades. She had been staying at a church-run shelter for a few months to escape an abusive relationship. The Palisades fire reached the church and caught on fire in the middle of the night while she was sleeping. She fled with her backpack and took several buses and got to the evacuation center on foot. She was reading the Bible when I noticed her and seemed at peace. But as she recounted what she had just been through, she just started shaking and sobbing. She asked, when is all this pain going to end? I had no answer. But she said she would keep praying.
Dan Grossman, national correspondent for Scripps News
The image of a man walking down Iliff Street in the Pacific Palisades with nothing but a trash bag will stick with me for the rest of my life. He walked with a hunch; smoke, ash, and collapsed rubble lining both sides of the street next to him. As he approached, I asked if he lived in the area and if he needed any help. He looked up, eyes streaming with tears, and mumbled “my home” through a broken voice. It’s all he could say as he passed and wept.
I covered the Lahaina wildfires for 9 days. I rode out Hurricane Ian and covered the aftermath. I reported on the Marshall Fire in Colorado the night it broke out, but nothing broke me like this one encounter. There is something about witnessing an event’s darkest moments at the same time those affected are experiencing them that is tragically beautiful. It’s the human experience in its rawest state. It’s what makes these stories matter. It’s what connects us all.
Natasha Chen, national correspondent for CNN
The very first day, I watched parents of elementary-aged kids trying to rush past the roadblock in the Pacific Palisades to reach their kids at Marquez Elementary. Officers wouldn’t let anyone past. Many of them parked their cars at the foot of the hill and ran up toward the fire to find their children. I knew that LA Unified was already in the process of trying to evacuate the students. I also knew—as a mom of a 1-year-old—what that could feel like as a parent, doing everything you can to get your child. I could feel their panic. Marquez Elementary ended up being one of the schools that sustained significant damage.
I also won’t forget the people that day going in the OTHER direction, racing down the hill, abandoning their cars and dragging suitcases on foot, pets in tow. Finally, on Thursday, I met a lot of evacuees at the Pasadena Civic Center, one of the evacuation shelters. I spotted my friend that I knew from tap class. As soon as she saw me, she hugged me and broke down. Her house had burned to the ground. This is one of those moments where I felt that a big city became a small town. These fires are so large, in so many places, that everyone knows someone who’s been affected.
Michelle Fisher, co-anchor ABC7 Eyewitness News
As my photographer Tommy Harris and I drove down Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu late Tuesday night, the apocalyptic scene was unlike anything I have ever reported on. It was overwhelming in many ways, to not only see the burning homes, cars, and power poles on both sides of the highway, but also to feel the intense heat from the flames, through our news van. When I felt the heat, that’s when my adrenaline spiked, and I felt uneasy.
Watch behind the scenes footage from ABC News’ wildfires coverage
Kayna Whitworth, anchor for ABC News Live
The conditions are challenging, but it’s important for us to be in them and share with people what’s going on. The Eaton fire was specifically a challenge because winds kept pushing embers toward us.
On a personal note, I used to live in the Palisades area and have been under a mandatory evacuation for the second time in a month. This is a life defining moment, and I take pride in reporting on—and in—my community.
Marc Cota-Robles, anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News
The most haunting moment is difficult to answer, because there has been so much. From my personal experience of evacuating my children shortly after the fire started, and the intense winds, to seeing the widespread devastation firsthand. So many neighborhoods are reminiscent of a war zone, and that is no exaggeration. Home after home is leveled, and knowing that each property is tied to a family and thinking about the immense loss they have suffered is heartbreaking. On top of that, this is my extended community. I now know multiple people who have lost their homes. It is a community loss. Not only the homes, but the businesses devastated along N Lake Avenue and other areas. Places I have been. My children’s favorite park suffered significant damage. All of that combined is haunting, and I do dip in and out of emotion when the realization becomes overwhelming.
Jasmine Viel, anchor and reporter for CBS News Los Angeles
Covering the Palisades fire was an intense and humbling experience. When the wind suddenly shifted and flying ember suddenly hit me, while live on air, I was okay, but it was scary reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous these situations can be. While we’re trained for moments like this and we have our protective gear and are practicing all safety measures, it doesn’t make them any less real. But we do this work because it matters. Bringing critical information to our viewers—even in the face of danger—is why we do what we do.
Amanda Starrantino, reporter for CBS News Los Angeles
As journalists, we strive to bring our communities the news with composure and clarity, even in the most difficult moments. Covering the Eaton fire today became deeply personal when I realized the neighborhood I was reporting from included the home of close family friend, now reduced to ashes. Balancing my role as a reporter with the emotions of that discovery was one of the hardest moments in my career. Off -air, I made the difficult call to confirm to my friends their home was lost, and then I was back on-air within minutes with the intention to ensure our viewers receive the information they needed during this devastating fire.
Jacob Soboroff, correspondent for NBC News
To see the community I grew up in completely obliterated overnight is an experience I thought—if I ever had—would come with an earthquake. And I never expected it to be this literal firestorm that has overtaken a place that I love so much, so quickly, and do so much harm to so many people.
Bob Van Dillen, meteorologist for Fox Weather
The most harrowing moment we saw on Fox Weather was a man running through flames and flying embers to escape the Palisades inferno. In the next clip he was breaking down while hugging two of his friends after he made it out. I was stunned, but that was just one story out of the many we heard of people fleeing by foot. At the height of the maelstrom, embers were being picked up and thrown a mile ahead of the main fire line racing down the mountains, sparking new spot fires. It’s hard to explain the chaos that was happening with the evacuations, all in the darkness of night.
Nancy Loo, national correspondent for NewsNation
I could go on and on. I’ve covered major disasters all over the country for over three decades— hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and more. I also spent time in Lahaina after the Maui fire. What I’ve experienced and seen covering the wildfires this week in Southern California is incomparable. It’s no surprise so many of us have been using the word “apocalyptic.”
Matt Gutman, chief national correspondent for ABC News
Even though we arrived in Palisades on Tuesday afternoon the fire had already gripped the town, the defining moment for me is the following Wednesday morning when I drove down a deserted Sunset Boulevard at 3 a.m. to meet our crew for Good Morning America. Almost every building I had come to know in the Palisades in the three decades I’ve been coming here to see family, was on fire. And not just fire but what looked like flame throwers blasting fire out of gutted buildings and into the road.
And then just hours later I’ve been passed through downtown Pacific Palisades I drove to my aunt’s house right off of Sunset and – there, next to the old oak split in half and sagging powerlines – I found it destroyed. Previous night I had grabbed some things from her place thinking I would have time the next day to get more. But as it was for so many time ran out.
And like so so many here in LA County, my family packed our bags, grabbed our documents and some cash, and we’re ready for the evacuation order.
It was in that moment early Wednesday morning that I realized that this town is likely never going be the same.
Watch behind the scenes footage of ABC News’ Kanya Whitworth covering the wildfires
Alex Stone, national correspondent for ABC News Radio
I’ve covered wildfires for almost 30 years and I have never seen wind like I saw arriving in Altadena. Early Wednesday morning the wind was hitting 100 miles an hour. As we drove into the fire you could not see five feet in front of the car, there was fire everywhere, and huge pieces of homes and trees were flying in the wind slamming into the car. It was just incredible to see the wind and the frantic attempts by people to get out in terrible conditions. On radio we were able to bring that right into the listener of just how windy it was and how dangerous it was for those trying to evacuate.
Tony Cabrera, weathercaster and general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News
The most defining moment for me was driving through the Pacific Palisades with flames and smoke on both sides of the road, then seeing the destruction when the sun came up. We saw home after home, business after business destroyed. Not just clusters, but rows of structures burned to the ground on nearly every block. Then driving up and down PCH in Malibu and seeing almost every beachfront property gone, completely changing the landscape of such a beautiful coastline. It was unrecognizable.
What precautions are you and your crews taking during you reporting? Have there been any moments where you felt in danger?
Natasha Chen, national correspondent for CNN
I had to get out of the Palisades that first night after our last live shot was done, and that was the most terrifying exit I’ve ever made from a story.
Stephanie Sy, national correspondent for PBS News Hour
Our team’s focus was on telling the stories of people who had to be evacuated and had lost their homes. We weren’t attempting to be the ones with the most dramatic live shots from the frontlines and frankly we weren’t equipped for that. We did go into evacuation zones, but we felt relatively safe doing our jobs.
Michelle Fisher, co-anchor ABC7 Eyewitness News
In fire coverage particularly, that’s the challenge we navigate as journalists; we want to get as close as possible to give viewers the most accurate account and images of what is happening. But the situation can escalate and become life threatening within seconds—where do we draw the line for our own personal safety?
In an active fire situation, one of the main precautions we take is to always identify an exit strategy and always have the news van facing out toward the exit in case you must hop in quickly and escape a situation.
Tim Wieland regional GM, President of CBS News Los Angeles and CBS News Colorado
Our reporters have received significant training in advance of covering events like this. We also take extreme caution when sending them out to provide coverage, and we provide protective gear.
Examples below:
-Crews are required to attend annual Wildland Cal Fire training
-Reporters and Photographers are assigned respirators that require fitting tests by Cal OSHA-certified technicians
-Crews have access to N95 masks, water, first aid kits.
-All news vans have fire extinguishers and are checked daily with OSHA required checklist
-Photographers and Reporters are assigned Nomex Fire gear consisting of a jacket and pants, and safety goggles
We had a moment when CBS Los Angeles anchors Pat Harvey and Juan Fernandez were live doing a talkback with reporter Jasmine Viel, when the wind suddenly shifted, and she was briefly hit with flying ember while reporting. We evacuated her immediately out of the Temescal Canyon/Palisades area.
Nancy Loo, national correspondent for NewsNation
Despite consistent use of goggles, masks and fire protection, exposure to these elements after 2+ days of coverage is definitely catching up to me and my cameraman, Nate Fiery. Fortunately, conditions are improving. And I always try to keep perspective in check—our personal issues seem trivial. I’m okay; people have lost their lives and loved ones, and far more have lost everything.
Alex Stone, national correspondent for ABC News Radio
We train every year with CalFire and years ago when I lived in Denver I actually fully trained with Boulder Fire to meet firefighter training and standards. We wear our Nomex clothing, helmets, and we carry emergency fire shelters for use in an absolute worst-case scenario. As we are moving into the fires we are alongside the firefighters and if they get into trouble, we get into trouble. So, we have to be ready.
Marc Cota-Robles, anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News
The most in danger we felt was during the overnight hours of the Eaton fire as it consumed homes in Upper Hastings Ranch. The fire had started a few hours earlier. We had to be mindful of powerlines, and of course, flying embers as the winds remained incredibly intense at times. We have training to always prepare for an exit route, making sure our news van is pointed in the right direction to leave in a hurry if necessary. And it goes without saying, we had goggles, masks, and nomex fire gear. All of it is essential to keep us safe. It is not an enjoyable experience healthwise, but it’s part of our job that we have signed up for. And equally gratifying to provide a service to our viewers and community, when they’re wondering what is happening on the streets they evacuated.
Tony Cabrera, weathercaster and general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News
This is the most dangerous story I’ve ever covered. Fortunately, our photographers do a great job selecting live shot locations that help tell the story, but are safe at the same time. Whenever we felt it was too dangerous, we backed off and found a new spot. There were a few tense moments when there were flames on both sides of the road and thick black smoke in between that made it hard to see what was ahead of us. There were also times when the winds really picked up and I was concerned about trees or power lines coming down or debris flying in our direction. We quickly packed up and went to another location.
Watch behind the scenes footage of ABC News’ Alex Stone in Los Angeles
What should viewers be aware of as coverage continues?
Chace Beech, multimedia journalist for Spectrum News 1
Viewers—especially those affected by the fire—should know that we will provide continuous reports. Thankfully, Spectrum News 1 has the capability to provide continuous news coverage, and we, as reporters, will continue to share the stories of what happened to these neighborhoods, businesses, and homes—and we will be here to tell the stories of rebuilding as they unfold.
Natasha Chen, national correspondent for CNN
Don’t think for a second that this emergency only affects the wealthy, coastal residents in Barbie mansions. The other fires have wiped out entire communities who are middle class and low income—not only their homes, but also their businesses. So there are some with no place to live and no way to work. I personally know of some nannies who had lived in apartments close to their work. Not only did their apartments burn, but so did their employers’ homes, so they have no home and no job.
Stephanie Sy, national correspondent for PBS News Hour
Like many disasters this will likely play out as one that is about the haves and have nots among us. There is loss and grief all around but in the aftermath the most vulnerable are the ones without family or friends to shelter them, or without the financial cushion to weather the storm ahead. And I know we will keep trying to cover those stories at News Hour.
Tim Wieland, regional general manager and president for CBS News Los Angeles and CBS News Colorado
We have been on the air and streaming our coverage and warnings around the wildfire since 10 a.m. PT yesterday, and we will continue to provide on-the-ground reporting for our viewers, keeping them updated and informed with as much information as we can, as it’s happening. If you don’t live in the area but have family and are concerned, or you have evacuated but you have your phone, you can go straight to the CBS News Los Angeles app and watch the coverage all day today.
We also want viewers to know that CBS Los Angeles has “The Desk,” which provides viewers with full access behind the scenes to what is happening during the wildfire as we receive the information. Assignment editors Mark Liu and, later in the day, Mike Rogers, will keep viewers informed all day. As we receive breaking news in our newsroom, they will receive the news, in addition to the on-the-ground reporting. We will also continue to update viewers on evacuation centers and shelters, and only when we can, will we update viewers who have called in asking if certain businesses have burned down or have survived.
Marc Cota-Robles, anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News
Viewers should be aware that our coverage will not stop. This is going to be a months long, even years long process to rebuild what was lost. But I have a feeling we will all witness an immense sense of unity and community. And we will be there alongside our viewers as eyewitnesses.
Tony Cabrera, weathercaster and general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News
I think viewers should remember that in times like this, things can change day to day, minute to minute. That’s why it’s important to get the latest, which is why sometimes we have wall-to-wall coverage. At the same time, it’s important to know how much you can handle. I myself have had to take brain breaks once home from work to distract me from it all, even if it’s 15 minutes to play a game with my kids.
