At least 24 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple fires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue to rage across Southern California, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the historic destruction.
Thousands of firefighters are battling several sprawling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched nearly 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 11% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 14,100 acres and is 27% contained. The Hurst Fire near Sylmar has burned 799 acres and is 89% contained.
About 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection listed three ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area as of Sunday night.
The Palisades Fire began in the Pacific Palisades area of the city on Jan. 7. It is at 23,713 acres in size with 13% containment. Approximately 5,000 structures have been destroyed.
The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7. It is burning at 14,117 acres with 27% containment on Sunday. Around 7,000 structures are believed to have been damaged or destroyed.
The Hurst Fire in Sylmar, northwest of San Fernando, began on Jan. 7 and has burned 799 acres. It is at 89% containment.
Jan 12, 2025, 3:42 PM EST
Wildfire recovery fund surpasses $6 million, says LA Mayor
The California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund has collected more than $6 million in donations, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday.
More than 13,000 people from across the country and the globe have donated to the fund, Bass said during a news conference.
Bass said anyone who wants to help can donate to the fund at CalFund.org or contribute to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation at Supportlafd.org
Jan 12, 2025, 2:18 PM EST
Man dressed as firefighter arrested for burglary in fire zone: Sheriff
A man masquerading as a firefighter was among several people arrested over the weekend on charges of burglarizing homes in a mandatory evacuation fire zone, authorities said Sunday.
The man dressed as a firefighter was arrested on Saturday in the Malibu area, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference Sunday.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire behind a home with Christmas lights in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Ethan Swope/AP
Luna said that while touring fire-ravaged areas, he came across deputies taking the man into custody and initially mistook him for a real firefighter and asked him if he was OK.
"I didn't realize we had him in handcuffs and we were turning him over to LAPD," Luna said.
Luna said the total number of people arrested on charges of looting, burglary, or failing to obey a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is up to 29 since the fires started on Tuesday.
He said six people were arrested Saturday night at the Eaton Fire burning near the communities of Pasadena and Altadena.
Jan 12, 2025, 1:37 PM EST
Newsom signs executive order to speed up rebuilding
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday that he says will speed up the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed in the Los Angeles County firestorm.
Newsom said the executive order will cut bureaucratic red tape and streamline certain building permits for the thousands of people whose homes were leveled or substantially damaged by multiple wind-whipped wildfires ravaging the region.
Kevin Marshall sifts through his mother's fire-ravaged property in the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 11, 2025.
John Locher/AP
"When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks," Newsom said in a statement. "The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I've also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process."
Newsom's order suspends permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act to allow victims to restore their homes and businesses faster.
The governor said he is also directing state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements, including provisions of the building code, that can safely be suspended or streamlined to accelerate rebuilding and make it more affordable. He said he is also working with the state legislature to identify statutory changes that can help expedite rebuilding
Jan 12, 2025, 12:33 PM EST
Firefighters holding blazes in check, but new wind event on the way
Calmer winds gave thousands of firefighters battling several active wildfires a chance to expand containment lines overnight on two of the three biggest infernos, but officials said Sunday the fire threat remains high and winds are expected to pick up.
In this photo provide by Maxar Technologies, the Palisades Fire burns south of the Encino Reservoir, upper left, in Los Angeles, Jan. 11, 2025.
AP
The number of confirmed deaths from the fires stayed at 16 on Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.
32:58
California officials give update on LA wildfires
Thousands of firefighters are battling several blazes across Los Angeles County.
ABCNews.com
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference Sunday that 16 people remain unaccounted for in the Eaton and Palisades fires, but he expects that number to grow as search and rescue teams with cadaver dogs sift through the rubble.
Chief Anthony Marrone of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said containment on the Eaton Fire burning in the Pasadena and Altadena areas has been expanded to 27%. Marrone said firefighters managed to keep the fire in check at 14,117 acres.
Marrone said more than 7,000 structures have been destroyed by the Eaton Fire and that 3,155 firefighting personnel were assigned to the blaze.
Chief Kristin Crowley of the Los Angeles Fire Department said the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, the largest fire burning, had grown to 23,707 acres by Sunday morning and remained 11 % contained. More than 4,700 personnel were battling the blaze, she said.
Marrone said firefighters made significant progress on the Hurst Fire burning near Sylmar, getting containment up to 89% and preventing the fire from growing beyond 799 acres.
