Live

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

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

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:

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, 11:23 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.

A Mexican military and fire aid team line up to board a plane bound for California to help fight wildfires, at Felipe Angeles International Airport in Zumpango, Mexico, Jan. 11, 2025.
Luis Cortes/Reuters

Jan 13, 2025, 8:10 AM EST

Edison International can’t rule out equipment role in wildfires, CEO says

Pedro Pizarro, the president and CEO of Edison International, told "Good Morning America" on Monday that the company cannot yet rule the possibility that its energy infrastructure played a role in sparking wildfires now raging around Los Angeles.

Southern California Edison workers service a utility pole in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, on Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, California.
Ethan Swope/AP

Fire agencies are investigating whether Southern California Edison -- a subsidiary of Edison International -- infrastructure sites caused fires in areas devastated by the Eaton and Hurst wildfires.

"You can't rule out anything ever until you can get your eyes on the equipment," Pizarro said.

"Typically, when there's a spark created by equipment, we will see the electrical anomaly -- we haven't seen that," Pizarro said of a possible incident involving Edison infrastructure and the Hurst Fire burning outside of San Fernando.

"That said, we have not been able to get close to the equipment," he continued. "As soon as we can get close to it, we'll inspect and be transparent with the public."

"We may find something different," Pizarro added.

Pizarro said Edison also recorded damage to equipment at the site of the Eaton Fire in the mountains north of Pasadena. "We don't know whether the damage happened before or after the start of the fire," he said.

Pizarro said that Edison International will be shutting off power to some California residents as a precaution amid red flag warnings.

"We have about 450,000 customers who we've warned they may need to have their power shut off," Pizarro said.

Related Topics