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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, 7:33 PM EST

'We have experienced a tremendous tragedy,' Pasadena mayor says

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo confirmed five people have died and "hundreds of homes have been lost" in the Eaton Fire during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

"We have experienced a tremendous tragedy here in our community," Gordo said.

Between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or lost, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin based on a preliminary assessment.

A pedestrian walks across from the burning Altadena Community Church, Jan. 8, 2025, in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif.
Chris Pizzello/AP

Miguel Márquez, the city manager for Pasadena, called firefighters' efforts "heroic" to battle the blaze in 80 mph winds and evacuate the area amid the "brutal conditions."

"They saved many, many lives in the last 22 hours," Márquez said during the press briefing.

With the fire still burning, officials urged people to follow evacuation orders.

Megan Mantia, and her boyfriend Thomas return to Mantia's fire-damaged home after the Eaton Fire swept through, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif.
Ethan Swope/AP

Jan 08, 2025, 6:52 PM EST

Malibu 'extremely hard it' by Palisades Fire: LAFD

Malibu took an "extremely hard hit" Wednesday afternoon in the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz told ABC News Live as the fire continued to burn uncontrolled.

The Palisades Fire is moving both east and west amid high winds, which are hindering firefighting efforts, Lantz said.

"We don't have a handle on it yet," Lantz said.

The remains of houses along the Pacific Ocean burned by the Palisades wildfire in Malibu, California, Jan. 8, 2025.
Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The fire department has been "overrun" by calls for service, with call volume increasing almost threefold in addition to the fires, Lantz said.

"We have a lot of agencies helping us, coming in from all over California and the western U.S.," she said. "We are extremely grateful for all of that help. But we are fighting against these winds right now ... and still trying to prioritize life safety before we really have any hope of getting a handle on these flames right now."

Jan 08, 2025, 5:52 PM EST

Death toll increases to 5 in Eaton Fire: Sheriff

Five people have now died in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed to ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

Previously, two deaths were reported.

People embrace as they evacuate following powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025.
David Swanson/Reuters

Jan 08, 2025, 5:41 PM EST

5th fire now burning in Los Angeles County

A fifth fire is now active in Los Angeles County.

The Lidia Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon, has grown to 50 acres in Acton and has spread to the Angeles National Forest with 0% containment, officials said.

In this screen grab from a video, a structure burns in the Lidia Fire, in Acton, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
KABC

In this screen grab from a video, the Lidia Fire burns in Acton, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
KABC

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