Posted on 01/08/25
| News Source: Times of Israel
California firefighters battled wind-whipped wildfires that tore across the Los Angeles area, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled and straining resources as US officials prepared for the situation to worsen early Wednesday.
The fires appeared to destroy scores of homes, business and other structures in three separate areas of southern California, with at least one synagogue completely destroyed by fire and other Jewish institutions under threat.
All three fires were at 0 percent containment as of early Wednesday.
In Pasadena, a blaze dubbed the Eaton Fire consumed over 1,000 acres as flames raced down Eaton Canyon toward homes and assisted living facilities, forcing thousands to race for safety, with winds expected to continue whipping up into the early morning hours.
Footage showed the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center completely gutted, with much of the Spanish-style structure reduced to flaming rubble. The Conservative congregation, founded in 1921, had been in the building since 1941, according to its website.
“The roof of this building, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, has completely collapsed,” KABC correspondent Jaysha Patel reported from the scene as flames consumed the building. “In a matter of minutes, this has just completely collapsed.”