When did the wildfires start in the LA area? What to know about Palisades, Eaton Fire, and more

Multiple deadly wildfires that have erupted across Los Angeles continue to blaze as firefighters try to control the blazes.

According to Cal Fire , as of Thursday, at least five fires were active in Los Angeles County, burning more than 40 square miles in the region. Almost 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate with another 200,000 facing evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said .

Luna also said it is too early to provide a death toll at this time, but 20 people have been arrested for looting.

More: Where are mandatory evacuation orders in place for California wildfires? See maps

Extreme Santa Ana winds have caused the fires to spread after breaking out earlier this week, the same winds that have made fires worse also hindered firefighting operations. According to the National Weather Service, critical fire weather conditions are expected to last through Friday.

But officials believe they are in a much better position to battle the fires as the week progresses, here is what you need to know about the fires blazing.

Palisades Fire

• Start Date: Jan. 7, 2025

• Size in Acres: 17,234

• Containment %: 0%

• What to know: One of the largest fires burning inside of Los Angeles County at the moment, the Palisades Fire has destroyed hundreds of structures in the Pacific Palisades area, according to Cal Fire . Officials said that more than 800 personnel have been deployed to the area to try and control the blaze.

Eaton Fire

• Start Date: Jan. 7, 2025

• Size in Acres: 10,600

• Containment %: 0%

• What to know: Burning in the Altadena/Pasadena area, the Eaton Fire has claimed two civilian lives, according to Cal Fire . The fire has forced the closures of about 10 school districts in Los Angeles County due to fire conditions in the area.

Hurst Fire

• Start Date: Jan. 7, 2025

• Size in Acres: 855

• Containment %: 10%

• What to know: According to Cal Fire , the blaze has been contained north of the I-210 Foothill Freeway, with crews now working on limiting the fire's further spread. Officials said about 300 personnel have been deployed to the area.

Sunset Fire

• Start Date: Jan. 8, 2025

• Size in Acres: 60

• Containment %: 0%

• What to know: The latest starting fire out of the five, the Sunset Fire, has threatened the Hollywood Hills, forcing mandatory evacuations in Hollywood, including iconic locations like the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but as of Thursday, those evacuations have been rescinded.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When did the wildfires start in Los Angeles? What to know