In this provided photo, crews from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue are deployed to provide wildfire support in California, Jan. 8, 2025.
Courtesy of Kristen Henderson/TVF&R
The Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Sunset fires are burning in the Los Angeles area, fueled by powerful winds with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. By Thursday morning, the fires destroyed more than 2,000 structures and killed at least five people, according to the Los Angeles Times.
By Thursday afternoon, Cal Fire estimated more than 20,000 acres had burned, and the Associated Press reported more than 180,000 people were under evacuation orders. Unlike the Level, 1, 2 and 3 evacuations in Oregon, in California, an evacuation order means leave immediately.
Oregon has sent at least 370 firefighters from 21 strike teams with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office and Oregon Department of Forestry. The Washington Department of Natural Resources has sent two strike teams made up of 35 personnel and 10 engines. An additional nine task forces of 146 personnel have been sent from departments across the state.
“I have been in touch with Gov. Newsom and have assured him that Washington stands ready to do whatever we can to assist in this crisis,” Gov. Jay Inslee said.
Red Cross volunteers from Oregon and Southwest Washington flew to Southern Oregon Thursday to help evacuees at seven shelters in the LA area.
Darrell Fuller, a Red Cross volunteer from Kaiser, Oregon, set off from the Portland International Airport Thursday for two weeks.
Red Cross volunteer Darryl Fuller checks in at the Portland International Airport on Jan. 9, 2025. Fuller will join other volunteers in Los Angeles to help people impacted by the wildfires.
Kristian Foden-Vencil, Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
“We’re there to stand with them from the time they get to our shelter to the time they discover whether their house was destroyed or saved,” Fuller said. “We’re there if they learn a loved one, or a friend, or a pet, didn’t survive the disaster.”
The Red Cross in southern California is already staffing shelters providing visitors with everything from food to emotional support.
Fuller, who has served at similar natural disasters in the past, said crews are scaling up their response to the wildfires with hundreds of fire trucks making their way out there.
“It’s going to be chaotic for the first few days,” said Fuller. “We’re opening shelters as people request them. Winds can change and shelters have to close and be reopened someplace else.”
Nearly 180,000 people are under mandatory evacuations, according to the New York Times.
Red Cross is asking for people to donate money and blood as the fires have cancelled scores of blood drives at a time when supplies are low.
Gusty winds are expected through Friday afternoon with critically dry conditions in the LA area, according to the National Weather Service.
Last year, extreme weather events caused 24 different billion-dollar disasters across the US.