In Pictures: Fire in ‘paradise’

A fast-moving wildfire, dubbed as "Paradise Fire", has torn through parts of Los Angeles, scorching thousands of acres and forcing widespread evacuations.

Known for its serene landscapes, the affected region has been transformed into a fiery battleground as emergency crews struggle to contain the blaze. 

This illustration photo taken January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, shows the recall message of an evacuation warning issued by the LA County Office of Emergency Management on the screen of a mobile phone in front of a screen showing a photo of the Eaton Fire. Emergency managers in Los Angeles apologized on January 10 after false evacuation alerts sparked panic in a city on edge over an unprecedented wildfire disaster. Millions of mobile phones blared on the afternoon of January 9and again on January 10 morning with automated warnings urging people to be ready to flee. Photo: AFP

The fire ignited late Friday, propelled by dry conditions and fierce winds, which caused it to spread rapidly across the area's rugged terrain. Local authorities declared a state of emergency on Saturday, mobilising additional resources to combat the flames.  

Dramatic images from the scene depict towering flames lighting up the night sky, thick plumes of smoke blanketing neighborhoods, and residents fleeing with whatever belongings they could carry. Firefighters have worked tirelessly to protect homes, using air tankers and helicopters to drop water and fire retardant. Despite these efforts, several structures have been destroyed, and vast swaths of natural vegetation have been reduced to ash. 

Clara-Lisa Kabbaz, president of the international private school Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, stands amid the rubble of the school's Palisades campus after it was destroyed in the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." Photo: AFP

A plume of smoke rises behind a firefighting helicopter as the Palisades fire grows near Encino Hills in Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." Photo: AFP

Flames and smoke are seen near power lines as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 16 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." Photo: AFP

The light of a fire fighting helicopter illuminates a smouldering hillside as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." Photo: AFP

This satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on January 11, 2025 shows an overview of the Palisades Fire as it continues to burn in the mountains north of Santa Monica, California, with the Encino Reservoir in the distance (L). The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." Photo by Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP