APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
California fires live updates: LA mayor's office denies report fire chief was dismissed
Thousands of firefighters are battling the sprawling wildfires across LA.
Nearly a dozen people are believed to be dead -- with the Los Angeles County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as devastating fires spread 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 LA area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 21,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 8% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and is 3% contained. More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders.
David Muir anchors a special edition of "20/20" with continuing coverage of the deadly California fires. “American Catastrophe: LA Burning - A Special Edition of 20/20” starts tonight at 9/8c on ABC.
Key Headlines
- New evacuation order issued for Palisades Fire
- LA Clippers game postponed due to wildfires
- LA County investigating why millions of residents got erroneous evacuation order
- LA mayor's office denies report fire chief was dismissed
- Flare-up of Palisades Fire in Santa Monica mountains brings intense flames
- Firefighter finds woman's wedding ring in rubble
- 11 fire-related deaths reported to medical examiner
- Newsom calls for independent investigation into water supply
- 18 arrests so far in Eaton, Palisades fires
- More than 100,000 residents under evacuation orders
LA mayor's office denies report fire chief was dismissed
The Los Angeles mayor's office said reports that LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has been fired or quit her post are false.
"The Mayor and Chief met," a statement from the office of Mayor Karen Bass said. "The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos."
The statement came after a published report that Crowley had been fired.
Crowley has appeared with the mayor at news conferences this week but gave multiple media interviews Friday criticizing city leadership over fire department funding.
Flare-up of Palisades Fire in Santa Monica mountains brings intense flames
A flare-up of the Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica mountains sent firefighters retreating as the flames approached some of their equipment.
The scene was captured by KABC's news helicopter. The flames approached and then appeared to overtake fire department vehicles near two helispots, which are designated areas where helicopters can safely land, take off and refuel.
No homes were immediately threatened by the flare-up and there were no new evacuation orders, according to KABC.
--ABC News' Jennifer Watts and Jeffrey Cook
Firefighter finds woman's wedding ring in rubble
Victoria DeSantis has seconds to evacuate her Altadena home this week from the Eaton Fire. She left so quickly, she left behind her wedding and engagement rings.
She returned to find her home of 20 years had turned into rubble. She sifted through the debris to find her melted engagement ring. She thought the wedding band had melted in with it as well.
A firefighter was on the ground with her and found the ring, seemingly untouched by the fire's wrath.
She says it was one bright light during a very dark week.
-ABC News' Zohreen Shah
11 fire-related deaths reported to medical examiner
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Friday it is investigating 11 fire-related deaths reported to the department.
Five cases are from the Palisades Fire and six from the Eaton Fire, the department said.
So far, three of the cases have been confirmed to be human remains, the medical examiner said.