California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 29

The additional fatality was attributed to the Palisades Fire, officials said.

Last Updated: January 27, 2025, 7:53 PM EST

At least 29 people have died as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across Southern California.

Thousands of firefighters have been battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, remain active. One of the latest, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area, has prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.

ABC News has kicked off "SoCal Strong" (#SoCalStrong), highlighting the impacted communities and offering fundraising opportunities for victims of the fires. The coverage will continue across multiple ABC News programs and platforms.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 24, 2:20 pm

Tracking ongoing California wildfires

The Palisades Fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures. It's covered more than 23,000 acres and is at 87% containment.

The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and is at 95% containment.

Jan 23, 2025, 3:37 PM EST

Forward progress of Laguna Fire in Ventura County halted: Official

Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the Laguna Fire that broke out Thursday in Ventura County and prompted the evacuation of California State University Channel Island, officials said.

The blaze broke out just before 9 a.m. on agricultural land close to the university in Camarillo and spread to a nearby ridge. Fire crews quickly attacked the blaze from the ground and air to prevent it from spreading beyond 50 acres, officials said.

Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, credited "aggressive firefighting" for halting the blaze that erupted amid strong winds and single-digit humidity levels across the region.

"Having all these resources available and ready to respond within minutes of this fire breaking out made a huge difference in our ability to bring this under control," Dowd told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

Jan 23, 2025, 2:24 PM EST

College under evacuation order as new fire erupts in Ventura County

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department issued an evacuation order on Thursday for California State University Channel Island after a fire erupted on nearby agricultural land.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department on Jan. 23, 2025, issued an evacuation order for the California State University Channel Island near Camarillo after a fire broke out nearby agricultural land.
Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Laguna Fire started about 8:51 a.m. local time in a field near the university in Camarillo, 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, according to the sheriff's department. The Ventura County Fire Department said the blaze spread to the nearby ridge.

The evacuation order included the school's University Glenn on-campus housing complex, according to the sheriff's office.

The Laguna Fire has burned about 50 acres and is 0% contained, fire officials said. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or structures being damaged.

Jan 23, 2025, 12:21 PM EST

Firefighters save the Getty museum, again

A wildfire that erupted late Wednesday night in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood was stopped by fire crews before it could reach the Getty Villa art museum, officials said.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Sepulveda Fire started just after 11 p.m. on the Sepulveda Pass near the 405 Freeway.

Firefighters save Getty museum.
ABC News, Google Earth, NIFC, RDI.CALFIRE

As flames quickly spread up a hillside in the direction of the Getty Villa, hundreds of firefighters attacked the fire from the ground and air. Evacuation warnings were issued for the surrounding neighborhoods, including some in nearby Sherman Oaks.

The Sepulveda Fire that broke out early this morning near the Getty Museum, in Los Angeles, Jan. 23, 2025.
KABC

By 2 a.m. local time Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department declared "all forward progress stopped" on the Sepulveda Fire and lifted the evacuation warnings. As of 8:30 a.m., the fire was 60% contained after consuming 40 acres, the LAFD said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

It was the second time in 15 days that flames have threatened the Getty Villa, home to more than 125,000 priceless artifacts. On Jan. 8, embers from the Palisades Fire engulfed the hillside the Getty Villa is perched atop, but fire crews stopped the blaze from reaching the museum.

Jan 23, 2025, 6:36 AM EST

Hughes blaze expands to 10,000 acres within hours

The rapidly spreading brush fire that ignited Wednesday near Castaic Lake grew to 10,176 acres by early Thursday, according to local officials.

A firefighter battles the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake, north of Santa Clarita, California, Jan. 22, 2025.
Ringo Chiu/Reuters

Firefighters battling the blaze in the brush north of Santa Clarita and Valencia had it about 14% contained on Thursday morning, according to Angeles National Forest officials.

The fire, about 45 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, erupted around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings for about 50,000 people, officials said.

Hughes Fire
ABC News, Google Earth, NIFC

As more than 4,000 firefighters responded to the scene, an air tanker and four helicopters attacked the blaze from the air, preventing it from jumping nearby Interstate 5, officials said.

Flames rise behind vehicles as the Hughes Fire burns in Castaic Lake, Calif. Jan. 22, 2025.
David Swanson/Reuters

The Hughes Fires is just the latest in a series of wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County, since Jan. 7. Strong Santa Ana winds, which are forecast to buffet the area through Friday, have fanned the fires, causing some to spread quickly.

Apparatus sits on Sepulveda Blvd. as fire burns along Interstate 405, Jan. 23, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Mark J. Terrill/AP

Red flag fire warnings remain in place for Los Angeles County and much of Southern California.

Related Topics