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LA fires live updates: At least 25 fire-related deaths, medical examiner says

The wildfire threat is ongoing as dangerous winds hit the Los Angeles area.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025, 10:47 PM EST

At least 25 people have died 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 88,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 84,000 are under evacuation warnings.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 14, 9:39 pm

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 18% 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 35% containment.

Jan 14, 2025, 10:46 AM EST

Wind gusts reach 72 mph overnight

Dangerously high winds that could fuel wildfires are impacting the Los Angeles area Tuesday and Wednesday.

A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire stands in front of a home that survived in Altadena. Calif., Jan. 13, 2025.
Noah Berger/AP

The highest wind gust recorded so far was 72 mph in the western San Gabriel Mountains, which is in northern LA County.

A 50 mph wind gust was recorded in Malibu Hills.

The Palisades Fire leaves total devastation in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 13, 2025.
John Locher/AP

The gusty winds will spread from the mountains into the valleys and the canyons by Tuesday afternoon.

A slight break in the wind is expected Tuesday evening before the rough winds pick back up Wednesday morning.

The winds will stay strong into Wednesday afternoon and then finally begin to relax Wednesday night into Thursday.

Jan 14, 2025, 6:58 AM EST

'Dangerous' winds to pick up across Los Angeles, Ventura counties

A "particularly dangerous situation" with a red flag warning will go into effect in western Los Angeles County and most of Ventura County on Tuesday, weather officials said, with winds threatening to further fuel historic Southern California wildfires.

The warning begins at 4 a.m. local time. Winds are forecast to gust between 45 mph to 70 mph, with relative humidity as low as 8%.

An ABC News graphic shows the extreme fire risk in Southern California on Jan. 14, 2025.
ABC News

Winds overnight and early on Tuesday have been gusting up to 67 mph in the mountains near Los Angeles. The West San Gabriel Mountains have seen gusts up to 67 mph, with the Central Ventura County Valley hit about 66 mph.

The strongest gusts are expected Tuesday morning and early afternoon, which will then be followed by a break in the evening. More gusty winds are expected Wednesday morning.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

Jan 14, 2025, 4:00 AM EST

Firefighters stop forward progress of Auto Fire

Firefighters stopped forward progress of the Auto Fire in Ventura County late Monday night, the Ventura County Fire Department said, with the blaze mapped at 55.7 acres with 0% containment.

Firefighting teams "remain on scene mopping up hotspots and working to increase containment," the department said. "The fire was confined to the river bottom and no structures were threatened. The cause of the fire Is under investigation."

-ABC News' Marilyn Heck

Jan 14, 2025, 3:35 AM EST

LA mayor issues executive order to expedite rebuilding

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order late Monday that her office said "will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities" devastated by local wildfires.

Firefighters hose down hotspots in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on Jan. 13, 2025.
John Locher/AP

"This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion," Bass said in a statement. "We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home."

The order was issued as dangerous wind conditions threatened additional homes across the Southern California area.

"This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response," Bass said.

A mayor's office press release said the executive order will coordinate debris removal from all impacted areas, expedite all building permit activity and take immediate action to make 1,400 units of housing available.

The order also set a one-week deadline for all city departments to list relief needed from state and federal authorities.

-ABC News' Tristan Maglunog

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