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California fires live updates: 18 arrests so far in Eaton, Palisades fires

Thousands of firefighters are battling the sprawling wildfires across LA.

ByJon Haworth, Emily Shapiro, Nadine El-Bawab, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 5:08 PM EST

At least 10 people are believed to be dead -- with the Los Angeles County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as devastating fires spread across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the LA area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 20,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 8% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and 0% contained. More than 150,000 people are under evacuation orders.

David Muir anchors a special edition of "20/20" with continuing coverage of the deadly California fires. “American Catastrophe: LA Burning - A Special Edition of 20/20” starts tonight at 9/8c on ABC.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
11:43 AM EST

If you fly a drone, you’ll be prosecuted: DA

A super scooper plane fighting the Palisades Fire struck a drone on Thursday, leaving it out of commission until at least Monday as it gets repaired, officials said.

A helicopter flies over the Kenneth Fire, Jan. 9, 2025, in the West Hills section of Los Angeles.
Eric Thayer/AP

This was one of only two super scoopers available, officials said.

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned that anyone flying a drone will be prosecuted.

"If you're thinking that it's fine to send a drone up in the area for your own amusement, or you want to get information that nobody else can get, and you do it in one of these areas that for which drones are not permitted … you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law," he said.

Overview of beachfront homes after fire swept along La Costa Beach, in Malibu, Calif., in a satellite image provided by MaxarTechnologies.
@MaxarTechnologies

11:32 AM EST

Eaton Fire now at nearly 14,000 acres, with thousands of structures damaged, destroyed

The Eaton Fire is now at 13,956 acres with 3% containment. The fire is believed to have damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

There are currently 5,527 firefighters responding to the fire.

The fire did make a push toward Mount Wilson Observatory on Thursday, but the building did not suffer any damage. One firefighter was injured due to a fall while responding to the fire, but the firefighter is currently recovering.

The region is in a "much better posture" than it was earlier this week, Marrone said at a press conference Friday.

The red flag warning will continue until Friday at 6 p.m. PST, but firefighters will be preparing for the next red flag event expected to begin on Monday, Marrone said.

11:19 AM EST

Palisades Fire scorches over 20,000 acres, 8% contained

The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades has now scorched over 20,000 acres -- larger than all of Manhattan, which is 14,600 acres.

Thanks to favorable wind conditions overnight, the Palisades Fire is 8% contained, LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference early Friday.

An aerial view of an emergency vehicle (C) driving past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Jan. 9, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Wind gusts are expected to increase Friday morning; firefighters are prepared, Crowley said.

The Palisades and Eaton fires have become the No. 1 and No. 2 most destructive fires in Southern California history in terms of structures burned.

The Pacific Palisades are seen before and after a fire swept through the area in a satellite image provided by MaxarTechnologies.
@MaxarTechnologies

11:11 AM EST

Despite 'frustration' from erroneous alerts, public shouldn't disable phone messages: Official

Multiple erroneous evacuation emergency alerts have been sent to Los Angeles County residents' cellphones, sparking an "extreme amount of frustration, anger [and] fear," LA County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan said.

A beach house is engulfed in flames as the Palisades Fire burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images

The cause is under investigation and McGowan stressed at a news conference that the alerts were not "human driven."

Even though the erroneous messages are "painful" and "scary," he implored the public to not disable their phone's emergency alerts.

Embers from the Eaton Fire fly down a residential street in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

"These alert tools have saved lives during this emergency," he said.

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