Los Angeles wildfires latest: Nearly 180,000 people under evacuation orders, county sheriff says

The wildfires around Los Angeles continued to rage Thursday, disrupting an area that millions call home.

At least five people have been reported dead due to the wildfires. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference that nearly 180,000 remained under evacuation orders. Earlier in the day, though, orders in Hollywood Hills were lifted.

"I cannot emphasize enough that I urge residents that are asked to evacuate to follow our warnings," Luna said.

Five fires have been confirmed. The first fire erupted Tuesday morning in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles County neighborhood. It remains 0% contained.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said Thursday that the Hurst Fire in Slymar is 10% contained, while the Lidia Fire burning through Acton is 40% contained.

The wildfires also impacted numerous industries in the region, including entertainment. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was among the shows whose production was affected. Universal Studios Hollywood and the shopping complex known as Universal CityWalk were also closed Thursday.

— NBC News contributed reporting. Disclosure: Universal is owned by CNBC's parent company NBCUniversal.

Correction: In the photo accompanying this article, Steve Salinas is seen shielding himself from intense heat as he hoses down a neighbor's rooftop in Altadena, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. A previous version of the caption misidentified the person in the photo.

The wildfires wreaking devastation in the Los Angeles area could become the costliest blaze in U.S. history.

The insured losses from this week's fires may exceed $20 billion, according to estimates published by JPMorgan on Thursday. Those losses would far exceed the $12.5 billion in insured damages from the 2018 Camp Fire, which was the costliest blaze