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

As fires across Los Angeles County continue to spread and impact residents, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a bulletin to insurance companies on Thursday "to help speed the recovery process" for those affected.

Lara highlighted that companies must supply advance payments on claims submitted by policyholders who "suffered a total loss" in the wildfires, citing legislation that was passed in the state after the 2018 fires.

Without filing an itemized claim, companies must supply funds that are 30% of the policy’s dwelling limit, up to $250,000, according to the bulletin.

Additionally, insurers must provide policyholders with an advance payment of no less than four months of living expenses, according to the bulletin.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.