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.

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.

Jan 09, 2025, 3:00 PM EST

Owner of destroyed Malibu restaurant says they are in 'shock'

Iconic Malibu seafood shack Reel Inn was among the businesses destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

Owner Teddy Leonard told ABC News Live on Thursday that they are still "in a bit of shock" about the loss of the decades-old Malibu fixture.

Teddy Leonard, owner of Mailbu's Reel Inn, discusses the ongoing Southern California wildfires that burned down her iconic family owned business.
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Longtime Malibu restaurant the 'Reel Inn' burned down in LA wildfires

Teddy Leonard, owner of Mailbu's Reel Inn, discusses the ongoing Southern California wildfires that burned down her iconic family owned business.
ABCNews.com

"We are devastated for our crew," she said, noting that they have launched a fundraiser to help support the staff. "We also didn't have time to really process the restaurant because we are evacuated. So at the moment, we don't know the condition of our home or if we are going to have one to go back to."

Leonard said her son and sister have lost their homes, though her family is otherwise safe.

"At the end of the day, that's really all that matters," she said. "And I'm glad we created a place for family memories."

Santa Maria Fire truck speeds towards the fire as seen from the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in the town of Pacific Palisades, on the edge of Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2025.
Amy Katz/ZUMA Press Wire via Shutterstock

Leonard said they would love to rebuild though it would depend on if they are allowed to, noting they are on a lease from the state parks agency.

"My husband and I would love to and the community has responded in such a fashion that I believe that they would love to have us come back," she said. "Will it be the same? It won't ever be quite the same."

Jan 09, 2025, 1:57 PM EST

Tonight's Lakers game postponed

Thursday night's home Lakers game against the Charlotte Hornets has been postponed "to focus on what matters most today," the Los Angeles team announced.

"We're heartbroken for Los Angeles," the team said in a statement on X. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation."

Jan 09, 2025, 1:56 PM EST

Director Jon Turteltaub on Palisades devastation: 'It's done'

Director and producer Jon Turteltaub spoke to ABC Los Angeles station KABC about the devastation in the Pacific Palisades.

"Cool Runnings" director Jon Turteltaub, from Malibu, Calif., said the Pacific Palisades were totally wiped out by the Palisades Fire, adding, "there is no Pacific Palisades."
KABC

"We spend our lives in the Palisades. There are no Palisades. It's done," the "Cool Runnings" director and Malibu resident told the station on Thursday. "I don't know what you do."

Turteltaub remarked how what's known as the "Alphabet Streets" in the neighborhood were largely leveled.

"Pacific Palisades, right now, could just be taken off the map," he said. "There is no Pacific Palisades."

Aerial view of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 9, 2025.
KABC

Jan 09, 2025, 1:27 PM EST

Military stands ready to provide more assistance, Austin says

The Pentagon "will continue to stand ready to surge support as needed" to the wildfire response, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press briefing in Germany on Thursday.

That includes offering "federal air assets that California can request to help fight the fire from the sky" and any assistance in personnel and equipment that can be surged from U.S. military bases in California, he said.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden directed the Department of Defense to provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities, including ordering 10 Navy helicopters with water buckets from San Diego to head to Los Angeles to help put out the fires. Two Modular Air Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) units are also being deployed from each of the California and Nevada National Guards to spread fire retardant.

An American flag flies amid burned structures at the Altadena Town & Country Club during the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Asked why more troops and aircraft haven't been sent to assist California and whether it was because California hasn't asked, Austin reiterated that the "U.S. military stands ready to assist in any way that we possibly can to help the people of California" and pointed out that the state "has a lot of capability on its own."

He agreed that the fires are "pretty significant" and that while "few requests have been made thus far, we stand ready to surge capability in as quickly as possible."

Austin pointed out that the MAFFS systems have been sent and will be used when the winds allow.

"We're going to make sure that we remain closely linked to the director of FEMA and the leadership in California to ensure that if they have a need, then we're ready to respond," he said.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

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