Thousands of firefighters are battling the sprawling wildfires across LA.
Nearly a dozen 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 22,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 11% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 14,100 acres and is 15% contained. More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders.
President Joe Biden received an updated briefing on the federal response to Los Angeles fires, the White House said.
Biden also spoke by phone separately with Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long to discuss the latest updates on the wildfires across Los Angeles, according to the White House.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Seventy firefighters from Mexico, including three information officers, were expected to arrive in California at 1 p.m. on Saturday, according to Cal Fire.
They're being sent to the Noble Creek Operations Base pending specific assignment to the fires in the Los Angeles region.
Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled California's National Guard deployment to the Los Angeles fires to 1,680 service members.
"We are continuing to rush in resources to rapidly respond to the firestorm in Los Angeles fueled by hurricane-force winds. The men and women of the California National Guard are working day and night to help Los Angeles residents during their greatest time of need. We are grateful for their continued bravery and commitment to be of service to others," Newsom said.
Price gouging during a state of emergency like the ones in effect in Ventura County and Los Angeles County is illegal, California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned at a press conference Saturday.
"If you're trying to take advantage of somebody. You're burglarizing in one of these evacuation areas. You're trying to scam somebody. We're going to get you," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
California law prohibits a business from charging more than 10% more for a good or service than they did before the emergency. If a business only began selling the item after the emergency declaration, they can't charge more than 50% of the cost of the item, Bonta said.
"We have reports that listing agents are raising rents on the spot, preying on families who have been displaced, many of whom have lost their homes or don't even know what the current status of their home is," Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
