California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 24

The Palisades fire kept growing Saturday — coming dangerously close to the Brentwood neighborhood.

ABC News' Matt Rivers spent Saturday in Brentwood, following firefighters as they snaked hoses through the exclusive suburb, winding into the backyards of multi-million dollar homes replete with views of the Mandeville Canyon.

There was less wind and more firefighting resources available, Capt. Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News as flames crept closer and closer to the balcony of the mini-mansion where he stood.

"Right now, this is our biggest threat. This is where a fire is burning right up to homes," he said. "This is an all hands on deck."

The flames were shooting up the hill in bursts every time the wind blew, but nothing like the screaming hellscape Pacific Palisades saw days earlier. The windspeeds were low enough that well-positioned firefighters continued to battle back the flames each time they got too close.

Spotting a nearby indoor pool, a couple of firefighters went in with a pump and started sending pool water through a hose to fight the fire below. The house aiding in its own defense -- firefighters using water no matter its source.

"Dude, get out of the canyon!" a firefighter frantically yelled to a man who was deep in the canyon’s shrubbery below using a garden hose in a fruitless attempt to tame the flames. He listened.

The other massive difference was air power. Drop after drop after drop, an unrelenting drumbeat of thrumming helicopter rotors and roaring jet engines made a visible difference on the hillside fires.

The result was keeping this fire under control, at least for now, and keeping this neighborhood standing. But that can all change if the winds come back. No one in this neighborhood feels ready to claim victory.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Saturday it is investigating 16 fire-related deaths reported to the department.

Five cases are from the Palisades Fire and 11 are from the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area, the department said.

So far, 10 of the cases have been confirmed to be human remains, the medical examiner said.

One of the cases involved a person who died at the hospital, who was a man in his 80s, the medical examiner said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office launched a website Saturday debunking several falsehoods that have spread online about the fires over the last couple of days.

The site addresses several issues and including the budget for state firefighters, reservoir levels and false claims made by conservative pundits about the fires.

Dr. Anish Mahajan, the chief deputy director of LA County Public Health, issued a smoke advisory for Saturday evening that he said would likely last longer.

The smoke from the fire has produced large quantities of small particles, gases and water vapor that is dangerous for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, according to Mahajan.

"It's those small particles that get into our noses and throats and cause sore throats and headaches," he said.

Mahajan warned residents to stay indoors while the advisory is in effect and said anyone who needs to work outside should wear a N95 mask.