A wind-driven brush fire nearly doubled overnight in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, now having charred an estimated 5,000 acres and destroying approximately 1,000 structures, authorities said. The Palisades fire is “burning both east and west,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said in Wednesday morning, Jan. 8. “We’re going to have more winds today and tomorrow. Likely the biggest growth that we are seeing is to the west and our biggest priority is life and structure defense.” Los Angeles fire officials said they were transitioning to Cal Fire for management of the fire. The fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the area of Pedra Morada and Monte Hermoso drives and quickly caused havoc, swelling due to significant Santa Ana winds and forcing thousands to flee their hillside homes. Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said an estimated 1,000 structures were destroyed, but LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley said her agency was still vetting that information. A 25-year-old firefighter suffered a serious head injury Tuesday, Scott said. Marrone said there were no fatalities, but a “high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate in addition to first responders who are on the fire line.” More than 1,000 fire personnel were battling the blaze, Marrone said. The fire’s cause was under investigation. Air tankers and helicopters have made water drops, while firefighters from across the region flooded the area. Those aircraft were grounded overnight due to the high winds. Some 30 vehicles were ditched along Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive by people fleeing the flames. Some were plowed out of the way by a Los Angeles County bulldozer to provide clear access for firefighters and others, officials said. Vegetation around both the Getty Villa and LAFD’s Palisades station also erupted, but officials said neither building burned. Crowley said Los Angeles firefighters responded to more than 3,600 911 calls over a 24-hour period, more than doubling the agency’s average. Evacuation orders were affecting some 37,000 residents, while about 15,000 homes in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas were threatened by the fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday. About 20,000 additional residents and 6,500 structures were under evacuation warnings, Luna said. Scott, the spokesman, said firefighters on Wednesday were “concentrating on structure defense.” He said wind gusts up to 100 mph, coupled with surrounding topography, “makes it extremely challenging for us firefighters to really get a handle on (the fire). … There are a ton of power poles and lines that are down in multiple locations and Mandeville Canyon continues to be a significant concern for us today.” Firefighters will have to contend with another day of strong Santa Ana winds, which are anticipated to continue until at least Wednesday afternoon. Los Angeles police Chief Jim McDonnell said first responders huddled in their vehicles to avoid getting burned by the fire. He urged people to avoid the area to not create extra gridlock. “If you have a way to stay out of the Westside today, if you can work from home, if your employers are OK with that, please take advantage of it,” McDonnell said. A state of emergency was declared for Los Angeles, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday approved a grant to help with firefighting resources, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palasdes, CA. ..(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) As dawn breakes firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Cyn Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) As dawn breakes firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Cyn Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Luxury beachfront homes go up in flames in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Cyn Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palasdes, CA. ..(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle fire from the surf as beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Firefighters battle winds and flames as multiple beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Surrounded by the ruins of a mobile home park destroyed by a wildfire, an American flag waves through smoke-filled high winds in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer) Firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Con Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Beachfront property lies in ruin in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Cyn Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Luxury beachfront homes go up in flames in Malibu along PCH near Carbon Cyn Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 12Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palasdes, CA. ..(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Expand   On Tuesday night, Santa Monica declared an evacuation order for all parts of the city north of San Vicente Boulevard. An evacuation center was set up at the Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., just east of the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles, officials said. The site also accepts small animals, fire officials said. For updated news on evacuations and shelters: fire.ca.gov. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Map: See where the Eaton, Hurst and Palisades fires are burning in Southern California Crime and Public Safety | Eaton fire doubles overnight to 2,227 acres — 100 structures and 2 lives lost Crime and Public Safety | Fast moving, wind-driven Hurst fire forces evacuations in Sylmar Crime and Public Safety | LA County is facing a swarm of wildfires powered by a rare windstorm. Here is what we know. Crime and Public Safety | Bass, Barger, Newsom make emergency declarations in response to LA County wildfires