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LA fires live updates: 9 people charged with looting, DA says

A man has also been charged with arson for a fire in Azusa.

ByKevin Shalvey, David Brennan, Emily Shapiro, and Meredith Deliso

Last Updated: January 14, 2025, 4:01 AM EST

At least 24 people have died and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across the Los Angeles area.

Thousands of firefighters are battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. About 92,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 89,000 are under evacuation warnings.

Latest headlines:

Jan 13, 2025, 3:42 PM EST
Homeowners, renters sue utility company over Eaton Fire
Jan 13, 2025, 3:05 PM EST
Over 80,000 without power as red flag warnings expand
Jan 13, 2025, 1:45 PM EST
Biden: 'Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent souls we have lost'
Jan 13, 2025, 11:44 AM EST
Areas for worst wind conditions this week

Here's how the news is developing.

Jan 13, 11:28 am

Status of Palisades, Eaton fires

The Palisades Fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, has destroyed about 5,000 structures. It's covered more than 23,000 acres and is at 14% containment.

The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or damaged around 7,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and is at 33% containment.

Jan 13, 2025, 11:44 AM EST

Areas for worst wind conditions this week

The National Weather Service has highlighted these three areas where officials believe there’s the highest chance for explosive fire growth this week. The Hurst Fire is in the highlighted area and the Palisades Fire is near the highlighted area.

National Weather Service in Los Angeles highlighted 3 areas where they think there is the highest chance for potentially explosive fire growth.
ABC News

The extreme fire risk will last from 4 a.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday.

Winds could climb as high as 45 to 70 mph and humidity could be as low as 8 to 15%.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Jan 13, 2025, 11:23 AM EST

Crews finding remains in Altadena: Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he knows displaced residents want to return to their neighborhoods, but he warned, "we are in the third day of grid searching" in Altadena.

"It is a very grim task," he said, noting that every day crews are finding people’s remains.

Members of the California National Guard stand near rising smoke, as the Eaton Fire continues, in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 12, 2025.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Twenty-three people have been reported missing: 17 from the Eaton Fire and six in the Malibu area, the sheriff said.

Jan 13, 2025, 11:20 AM EST

Severe fire conditions to continue through Wednesday

Severe fire weather conditions -- high winds with low humidity -- will continue through Wednesday, keeping the fire threat in all of Los Angeles County critical, LA Fire Chief Anthony Marrone warned at a news conference.

A firefighter sets up a hose while fighting the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Eric Thayer/AP

Amid the "unprecedented disaster," Marrone shared positive news that the Eaton Fire in Altadena didn’t grow at all on Sunday.

The Eaton Fire has damaged or destroyed over 7,000 structures, Marrone said. He said damage inspections for dwellings are 26% completed.

A damaged children's toy sits on the lawn of a devastated home, as the Eaton Fire continues, in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 12, 2025.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The super scooper firefighting plane damaged by a drone last week has been repaired, Marrone said. Crews are waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration to give the OK to send the plane back in the air.

Jan 13, 2025, 9:04 AM EST

Ukraine offers aid

Ukraine may send rescuers to help fight the devastating fires in California, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives," Zelenskyy tweeted. "This is currently being coordinated, and we have offered our assistance to the American side through the relevant channels. 150 of our firefighters are already prepared."

Firefighters from Mexico and Canada have also been deployed to California.