Fire in Los Angeles: Malibu burned down in large parts

Malibu (USA) -Several forest fires are raging relentlessly in the Los Angeles area. 180,000 people have had to leave their homes. At least ten people have died. Entire streets have burned to the ground. Many have lost everything.

Smoke rises over Malibu. The Los Angeles suburb was devastated by the fire.
Smoke rises over Malibu. The Los Angeles suburb was devastated by the fire.  © Apu Gomes / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

A few days ago, Malibu was still considered a surfer's paradise on the Pacific and a place of longing for well-heeled house builders. Now the upscale suburb in the west of L.A. lies in ruins.

Pictures taken from a helicopter give an idea of the extent of the destruction. Hundreds of houses on the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, most of them with direct access to the beach, have been razed to the ground. The picturesque hills are charred - many of the villas that stood there are completely burnt out.

The so-called "Palisade Fire" broke out on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades district, developed into a major blaze within hours and then spread to neighboring Malibu. The fire has now devastated around 7700 hectares, reports AFP - an area the size of Lake Chiemsee.

5316 houses have fallen victim to the flames so far.

Pictures: This is how the fire raged in Malibu

A completely burnt-out house on the beach.
ContentImage.Description   © Zoë Meyers / AFP
There are hardly any houses left on the Pacific Coast Highway.
ContentImage.Description   © JOSH EDELSON / AFP
But there are also individual houses that have miraculously remained unscathed.
ContentImage.Description   © JOSH EDELSON / AFP
Emergency services try to save a house.
ContentImage.Description   © Zoë Meyers / AFP
The flames rage relentlessly.
ContentImage.Description   © Eric Thayer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
An entire neighborhood is completely burned down.
ContentImage.Description   © JOSH EDELSON / AFP

Palisade Fire in the Los Angeles area: Pensioner burns to death in his home

The number of deaths caused by the Palisade Fire in Malibu (population 10,000) and neighboring towns has not yet been conclusively determined. In at least two cases, human remains were found in burnt-out houses, reports KTLA. Gas leaks, downed power lines and flaring fires are complicating the firefighting efforts.

Retiree Rodney Nickerson is among the confirmed dead, KTLA reports. He had experienced many fires over the decades and had the feeling that the fire would soon pass, the 82-year-old told his daughter Kimiko. Nickerson burned to death in his house.

Paris Hilton (43) is also affected. The "It girl" had to watch helplessly on television as her dream villa burned down. After the inferno, the mother of two shared a video of her completely destroyed villa on X. "It feels like my heart has been shattered into a million pieces," Paris Hilton laments.

Paris Hilton's villa completely destroyed

So far, the Palisades Fire is only six percent contained, the authorities announced in the evening (local time). The fire is currently moving north from the coast. The situation remains tense. Regardless of this, five other major fires are currently raging in and around L.A.