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 09, 2025, 6:49 PM EST

Cal Fire to assist with recovery operations

Cal Fire has been assigned to assist with recovery operations in the search for potential victims of the Eaton Fire, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during the afternoon briefing.

"Recovery operations consist of trying to coordinate all of our human remain detection teams that will be going house to house to make sure that we can account for anybody who's been killed in the fire," he said.

A view of homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire on Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The confirmed death toll in the Los Angeles County fires remains at five, Sheriff Robert Luna said during the briefing, noting that the number of reported fatalities "continuously fluctuates."

"We're in a very chaotic scenario," Luna said. "We're still working in a very fluid and active environment."

Jan 09, 2025, 6:31 PM EST

Firefighter suffers 'significant' injury in fall

A firefighter suffered a "significant" injury in a fall Thursday morning, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during the afternoon briefing.

The firefighter is in stable condition and he is expected to make a full recovery, Marrone said.

Jan 09, 2025, 6:28 PM EST

National Guard called in to assist

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office has requested the support of the California National Guard for securing evacuation zones, traffic control and to prevent looting, Sheriff Robert Luna said during Thursday's press briefing.

"For the last 24 hours or so, we have had approximately 400 National Guard members throughout the state ready to support us, and as I just stated, they will be coming in," he said. "We expect that they may be on site as soon as tonight."

Jan 09, 2025, 6:23 PM EST

Evacuation order issued for new LA County fire

The Los Angeles Fire Department has issued a mandatory evacuation order due to the new Kenneth Fire, which has burned 50 acres in West Hills.

The immediate evacuation has been issued for Vanowen south to Burbank Boulevard County Lane Road and east to East Valley Circle Boulevard.

Traffic backs up as residents evacuate ahead of the Kenneth Fire, on Jan. 9, 2025, in Calabasas, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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