APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
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.
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
- Firefighters stop forward progress of Kenneth Fire
- New satellite images show extent of LA wildfire devastation
- Recent LA County evacuation warning alert sent in error
- Kenneth Fire grows to nearly 1,000 acres with 0% containment
- Federal government to cover 100% of disaster response for 180 days
- Eaton Fire burns near Mount Wilson Observatory
- LA mayor dodges question on criticism over trip to Ghana, budget cuts
10 dead in LA fires: Medical examiner
There have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in Los Angeles, according to the county's Department of Medical Examiner.
The identification is expected to take several weeks "as the Department of Medical Examiner is not able to respond to all death locations due to the fire conditions and safety concerns," a statement read late Thursday evening.
"The Department of Medical Examiner understands how important it is to identify those lost in the wildfires and is working diligently, while following safety protocols, to provide the information to the next of kin as soon as reasonably possible," the statement continued.
Firefighters stop forward progress of Kenneth Fire
Firefighters in Ventura County have stopped the forward progress of a rapidly burning wildfire that originally broke out Thursday afternoon in the West Hills area of Los Angeles.
The blaze is holding at 960 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. All evacuation orders for LA County have been reduced to warnings and evacuation warnings in Ventura County have been lifted, the fire department said.
About 400 firefighters will remain at the scene of the fire overnight to work on knocking down hot spots.
There have been no reports of any structures damaged or destroyed from the Kenneth Fire. The fire is still described as 0% contained.
Death toll remains at 5
At least five people have died in the Los Angeles fires, the LA County Sheriff's Office clarified Thursday night.
There have been at least three victims in the Eaton Fire and two in the Palisades Fire, according to police.
During a press briefing Thursday afternoon officials had incorrectly said there were five victims in the Eaton Fire and announced two victims from the Palisades Fire.
New satellite images show extent of LA wildfire devastation
New satellite images are showing the extent of the devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles.
The images were released by Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based satellite company.
The photos show the damage to hard-hit neighborhoods, such as Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
The photos also show heavy clouds of smoke from the Palisades and Eaton Fires billowing over the landscape as seen from above.