Rapid Spread of the Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire erupted with alarming speed, initially covering 10 acres within the first report and expanding to 200 acres just two hours later. By 2 p.m., the blaze had ballooned to over 700 acres, ultimately growing to nearly 3,000 acres within hours, making it one of the most catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles history. This rapid escalation was attributed to extremely high winds, some reaching up to 80 miles an hour, which hindered firefighting efforts and led to the grounding of aircraft meant to combat the flames. Many firefighters struggled to manage the situation as numerous structures, including homes and iconic buildings, were threatened or destroyed within a short timeframe.