Over 1,100 structures said destroyed by Los Angeles California wildfires: LA Fire Chief

According to the latest news reports and a statement by the local fire chief, more than 1,100 structures are said to have been destroyed by the wildfires that continue to burn out of control in the Los Angeles, California suburbs.

As we reported this morning, a state of emergency had been raised in the Los Angeles aware as a fast developing wildfire situation emerged with the Pacific Palisades fire having expanded to over 3,000 acres on the back of a Santa Ana wind event, with many properties said burned and 13,000 buildings believed to be threatened.

That fire is now estimated to have burned over 5,000 acres and the Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said recently that it has now resulted in at least 1,000 structures being destroyed.

This fire in the Pacific Palisades suburb remains 0% contained at this time.

Another wildfire, the Eaton fire burning in the Angeles National Forest, has also destroyed more than 100 structures, according to Marrone who was speaking at a press conference today.

Now, more than 37,000 people remain under evacuation orders just from the Palisades fire, with 15,000 buildings said at risk of burning and with critical fire weather continuing the wildfires are expected to cause further damage before authorities can begin to contain them meaningfully.

Fire Chief Anthony Marrone explained that the US National Weather Service predicts the continuation of a red flag weather event with strong winds for the Los Angeles county region, which it calls a “particularly dangerous” situation.

As well as the areas already burned, neighbourhoods such as Santa Monica, Topanga and Malibu are under threat from the still expanding Palisades fire at this time.

Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter has provided some useful historical context, saying, “Since 1980, six fires have impacted the geography of the Palisades Fire, though none have encompassed the municipalities of Pacific Palisades or Brentwood. The most damaging of these was the Woolsey Fire in 2018, which resulted in the third-highest insured loss in California history, amounting to USD 5.5 billion (2024). This devastating fire led to the loss of 1,650 structures. The Woolsey Fire occurred west of Malibu, compared to the Palisades Fire, which is located to the east of Malibu.”

Also read: LA wildfires bring aggregate cat bond attachment erosion into focus: Icosa Investments.