President Biden says he has instructed the US military to provide extra assets to help firefighters battle a series of devastating wildfires currently raging in and around Los Angeles. Newshour hears from Malibu resident Marika Erdely. Also in the programme: Greenland's strategic significance and new artefacts shed light on Egypt's Queen Hatshepsut (Picture: People embrace as they evacuate following powerful winds fuelling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025. Credit: Reuters)
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Hello and welcome to NewsHour Live from the BBC World Service.
In London, I'm Rebecca Kesby.
If you get an evacuation order, leave immediately.
This is not a drill.
That's the official, official message coming from the authorities in Los Angeles as hundreds of firefighters are struggling to contain several ferocious wildfires that are at the moment burning out of control around the city.
70,000 people are under evacuation orders.
Two people have been killed, but the conditions firefighters are working in are horrendous.
High winds with some gusts at hurricane levels are are exacerbating efforts to contain the flames.
And that wind is causing them to spread at terrifying speed across the program today.
We'll bring you the latest as an eerie, bright orange glow and dark plumes of smoke hang over some of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States, including the Hollywood Hills.
There are four major fires.
A smaller one is being contained, we understand, but the four main ones are in Hearst, Eton, Woodley and Palisades.
Los Angeles Street County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney gave more details.
The Palisades fire is located in both LA City and LA County.
We have well over 5,000 acres that have burned and the fire is growing.
We have no percentage of containment for the Eaton fire.