In maps: Thousands of acres on fire in LA

In Los Angeles, wildfires are currently raging across several areas, fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions. Firefighters are facing a tough battle as they struggle to contain these fires, which are rapidly expanding. One fire official mentioned that the situation is still evolving, and the largest fire, located in the Pacific Palisades area, is now considered the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. This fire has already destroyed more than 1,000 buildings, and the situation is changing quickly. Maps and images are being used to track the spread of the fires, showing their locations and how they appear from space. On Wednesday, a new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, an area that overlooks Hollywood. Thick smoke covered many roads, causing traffic jams as people attempted to evacuate. Currently, firefighters are battling five significant blazes in the Los Angeles area. The Palisades fire is the largest, burning between Santa Monica and Malibu, with a burnt area exceeding 17,000 acres. At least 30,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes. The Eaton fire, the second-largest, is burning north of Pasadena and has consumed over 10,000 acres, with at least five reported fatalities. Other smaller fires, such as the Hurst fire, Lidia fire, and Sunset fire, are also active but have not caused as much destruction. Fortunately, two smaller fires have been contained: the Woodley fire, which burned 30 acres, and the Olivas fire, which affected 11 acres. The Palisades fire has spread alarmingly fast. Just hours after it ignited, it grew from covering 772 acres to over 17,000 acres. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate, and more than 1,400 firefighters are working tirelessly to control the blaze. To illustrate the size of the Palisades fire, comparisons have been made with maps of New York and London. The fire's size is comparable to a large area in London or significant parts of New York City. NASA has even captured satellite images showing the smoke from the Palisades fire drifting out to sea, highlighting the scale of the disaster. The Eaton fire has also had a devastating impact on neighborhoods, particularly in Altadena. Before-and-after images reveal the destruction of homes and businesses. One image shows a house before the fire and another after it was engulfed in flames. A liquor store in Altadena was also destroyed, with firefighters battling the flames. Additionally, the historic Jewish Temple in Pasadena was lost to the Eaton fire. This temple has served the community since 1941 and had a congregation of over 400 families. The wildfires in Los Angeles are a serious crisis, and many people are working hard to protect lives and property.