A Firefighter fights the flames from the Palisades Fire burning the Theatre Palisades during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California.

Intense fires in Southern California have ravaged iconic areas, caused billions of dollars in damages and tragically killed five people at press time.

According to CNN, over 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and 200,000 residents are under evacuation warnings in the Los Angeles area.

Officials have called the Palisades Fire one of Los Angeles' "most destructive" fires in history. Videos on social media show infernos engulfing Malibu and Santa Monica, making beloved spots into unrecognizable metal frames. The brutal high Santa Ana winds and intense drought conditions have further helped embers to spread, smolder and create more fires.

Five fires are happening in the Los Angeles area: The Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Lidia Fire, and the Sunset Fire. The fires have scorched over 30,000 acres combined, and JP Morgan's analysts estimate nearly $20 billion in damages.

In the face of such devastation, the resilience of the Los Angeles community shines through. Here's how we can help victims, first responders and animals. Every small action helps in rebuilding lives and restoring hope.

Many animal shelters in Southern California have asked the public to help with donations and monetary support.