California fires live updates: Mayor's office denies report LAFD chief was dismissed

The Los Angeles mayor's office said reports that LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has been fired or quit her post are false.

"The Mayor and Chief met," a statement from the office of Mayor Karen Bass said. "The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos."

The statement came after a published report that Crowley had been fired.

Crowley has appeared with the mayor at news conferences this week but gave multiple media interviews Friday criticizing city leadership over fire department funding.

A flare-up of the Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica mountains sent firefighters retreating as the flames approached some of their equipment.

The scene was captured by KABC's news helicopter. The flames approached and then appeared to overtake fire department vehicles near two helispots, which are designated areas where helicopters can safely land, take off and refuel.

No homes were immediately threatened by the flare-up and there were no new evacuation orders, according to KABC.

--ABC News' Jennifer Watts and Jeffrey Cook

Victoria DeSantis has seconds to evacuate her Altadena home this week from the Eaton Fire. She left so quickly, she left behind her wedding and engagement rings.

She returned to find her home of 20 years had turned into rubble. She sifted through the debris to find her melted engagement ring. She thought the wedding band had melted in with it as well.

A firefighter was on the ground with her and found the ring, seemingly untouched by the fire's wrath.

She says it was one bright light during a very dark week.

-ABC News' Zohreen Shah

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Friday it is investigating 11 fire-related deaths reported to the department.

Five cases are from the Palisades Fire and six from the Eaton Fire, the department said.

So far, three of the cases have been confirmed to be human remains, the medical examiner said.