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.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 08, 2025, 3:48 AM EST

Los Angeles schools to close amid fire threat

The Los Angeles County Office of Education reported Wednesday school closures in 19 districts due to spreading wildfires and related weather conditions.

Among them was the Los Angeles Unified School District, which announced that six schools will close on Wednesday "due to the fire activity across the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area."

A woman waters the area in front of her house before leaving following an evacuation order, as a wildfire burns in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles, in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 7, 2025.
Daniel Cole/Reuters

In a statement, the district said Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary, Canyon Charter Elementary School, Marquez Charter Elementary School, Palisades Charter Elementary School, Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Topanga Elementary Charter School would all be closed.

Los Angeles' Griffith Park will also be closed, while classes at the North Hollywood High School's Zoo Magnet are cancelled, the district announcement said.

"Students at the six closed schools will pivot to continuity of learning where they will have access to academically enriching digital resources," the district said.

Los Angeles Unified said it would "continue monitoring the situation" and, if necessary, extend online learning into Thursday.

"The high winds and red flag warnings will remain through Wednesday and Thursday," it added.

"We urge everyone to be careful and cautious when commuting to school or work, especially in areas with extreme wind and heavy smoke. Please make the right decision for you and do not compromise your safety or security."

Jan 08, 2025, 3:19 AM EST

Eaton Fire spreads to 1,000 acres

The fire that broke out at about 6:12 p.m. near Eaton Canyon in Pasadena had spread by midnight to about 1,000 acres, the Angeles National Forest said in an update.

Firefighters work to extinguish flames as the Eaton Fire burns in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

-ABC News’ Marilyn Heck

Jan 08, 2025, 3:12 AM EST

Pasadena issues mandatory evacuation orders

The City of Pasadena issued mandatory evacuation orders for the area north of Orange Grove and Rosemead Boulevard, east of Lake Avenue and west of Michillinda Avenue as the nearby Eaton Fire continued to grow.

A firefighter walks toward a burning structure as the Eaton Fire advances on Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, California.
Ethan Swope/AP

The city earlier said on its X account that those subject to emergency evacuation orders should go to the Pasadena Convention Center.

The Eaton Fire is burning in the hills northeast of the city, posing a direct threat to the northern suburb of Altadena.

Jan 08, 2025, 2:46 AM EST

Firefighter injured, 'multiple' people burned in Palisades Fire

Erik Scott, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said that a 25-year-old female firefighter "sustained a serious head injury" during the response to the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County on Tuesday evening.

A building burns during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mike Blake/Reuters

"She received immediate treatment at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation," Scott said in a statement posted to X.

Scott also said that "multiple burn victims" were identified "walking toward a nearby restaurant," which he later identified as Dukes.

"Incident operations redirected medical resources to the location to provide evaluation and treatment," he added.

-ABC News' Marilyn Heck

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