New Zealanders in Los Angeles wildfires

The story so far

Wildfires swept through Los Angeles in early January 2025, and New Zealanders were among those forced to flee.^{9, 10, 11 Jan 2025} Officials first ordered about 70,000 people to evacuate, and later evacuation orders covered nearly 200,000 residents.^{9, 10 Jan 2025} The death toll rose from at least two to at least 10 over the following days, and nearly 10,000 buildings were destroyed.^{9, 10, 11 Jan 2025} New Zealanders affected include a former Dunedin resident who evacuated her home, a former Wellington resident who lives near the Eaton fire evacuation zone, and a New Zealander whose seaside Malibu home burned to the ground.^{11, 12, 13 Jan 2025} At least two New Zealanders have lost homes in the fires.^{13 Jan 2025}

Latest

A Kiwi-owned cafe in West Hollywood is offering free coffee to frontline workers and people evacuating from the Palisades fires.^{16 Jan 2025} The cafe's owner said the blaze has hit an area with a high population of New Zealand expats.^{16 Jan 2025}

Key moments

1. 9 Jan 2025New Zealand's consul-general and a Football Fern flee wildfires; 70,000 ordered to evacuate.
2. 10 Jan 2025Death toll reaches at least five; evacuation orders now cover nearly 200,000 residents.
3. 11 Jan 2025Death toll rises to at least 10; nearly 10,000 buildings destroyed.
4. 12 Jan 2025Former Wellington resident near Eaton fire zone describes destruction of neighbourhoods.
5. 13 Jan 2025New Zealander watches seaside Malibu home burn to the ground on television.
6. 16 Jan 2025Kiwi-owned West Hollywood cafe offers free coffee to evacuees and frontline workers.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.