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California fires live updates: Rain heading to LA this weekend

The rain begins Saturday and will linger through Sunday and Monday.

Last Updated: January 24, 2025, 3:50 PM EST

At least 28 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 77% 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.

Southern California firefighters continue to battle several fires across the region as red flag weather warnings stay in effect.
ABC News

Jan 15, 2025, 3:10 PM EST

Crews search for human remains

Urban search and rescue workers are using rakes to move debris as they search for human remains along the Pacific Coast Highway where homes were destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

Urban Search and Rescue responders are searching for human remains in the burned out beach front homes from the Palisades Fire.
ABC News

-ABC News’ Alex Stone

Jan 15, 2025, 11:29 AM EST

LA County under air quality alert

A new air quality alert has been issued for Los Angeles County until 7 p.m. local time "due to harmful particle pollution levels from windblown dust and ash."

This pollution can embed deep into the lungs and cause health problems including heart disease symptoms, asthma attacks and an increased risk for respiratory infections.

Smokes and flames overwhelm a commercial area during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Health experts and public officials have urged those impacted by the fires to protect themselves from air pollution carried by these winds by staying indoors, wearing protective equipment when needed and taking steps to purify air in the home.

Click here to learn how to protect yourself.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Jan 15, 2025, 11:22 AM EST

2 arrested for arson in separate incidents

Two people were arrested for arson in separate incidents just outside the fire zone on Wednesday, according to the LAPD.

In one incident, a citizen extinguished a fire in a tree and detained an arson suspect, police said. That suspect admitted to starting the fire because he "liked the smell of burning leaves," police said.

Later Tuesday night, crews responded to reports of a suspect setting trash on fire, police said. The fire was extinguished. That suspect said she set fires because she enjoyed causing "chaos and destruction," police said.

Jan 15, 2025, 11:17 AM EST

Critical fire weather conditions continuing through Wednesday evening

There’s been little to no fire growth at both the Eaton and Palisades fires over the last 24 hours, Cal Fire Incident Commander Gerry Magaña said.

But critical fire weather conditions will continue through Wednesday evening, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone warned.

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

Winds reached 30 to 40 mph overnight, LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said. Powerful 70 mph winds haven’t happened yet but are possible, Marrone said.

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