California fires live updates: At least 10 fire-related deaths, medical examiner says

The fire which ignited Thursday afternoon is spreading in the West Hills area.

ByRiley Hoffman, David Brennan, Kevin Shalvey, Nadine El-Bawab, Meredith Deliso, and Leah Sarnoff
Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 12:26 AM EST

At least 10 people are believed to be dead -- with the LA County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as a series of devastating fires grow uncontained across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the Los Angeles area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 19,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and remains zero percent contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and zero percent contained. More than 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as the infernos spread.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.

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Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 07, 2025, 11:26 PM EST

Biden urges residents to heed evacuation warnings

President Joe Biden is urging Los Angeles residents to heed evacuation warnings as two wildfires burn out of control.

Biden, who is in Los Angeles, was briefed twice throughout the day Tuesday as the flames spread and "encourages residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials—especially if ordered to evacuate," the White House said in a statement.

Biden traveled to California for a ceremony to designate two new national monuments.

Jan 07, 2025, 11:26 PM EST

Evacuation order issued in Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica issued an evacuation order for all areas of the city north of San Vicente Boulevard.

PHOTO: Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area
People evacuate along Sunset Boulevard as the Palisades Fire burns amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Apu Gomes/Getty Images

There is an "Immediate threat to life" in the area due to the Palisades fire, the order warned.

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