What we covered here
• Deadly LA fires: Several major wildfires are burning in Los Angeles County. At least 10 people have died, but officials warn the actual toll will remain unclear until it’s safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been impacted by evacuation orders since the blazes began.
• More wind and flames: Firefighters made progress as Santa Ana winds weakened, but gusts picked up across the region as the day went on. Officials also launched a major response to a new fire near the border of LA and Ventura counties, which prompted evacuations. Residents are also contending with polluted air and other hazardous conditions.
• Neighborhoods devastated: As many as 10,000 structures have been destroyed between the coastal Palisades Fire, which is now the most destructive ever to hit Los Angeles County, and the Eaton Fire, which has devastated communities.
• How to help: For ways to help Los Angeles County residents, visit CNN Impact Your World.
Our live coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires has moved here.
Wildfire evacuees in utter disbelief over lost homes, possessions, family heirlooms
As ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles rage on, residents staying at an evacuation shelter in Pasadena are wrapping their heads around the scale of their losses.
“Just imagine if you go to the front door and behind it, it’s nothing, and you walk in and you have your car keys, but there’s no place to put it, and then there’s no place to lay your head, and you don’t have a blanket, a towel,” Kimiko Warner-Turner told CNN.
For Warner-Turner, the thought of rebuilding a new life is just too overwhelming.
Another evacuee at the shelter, Raya Reynaga, told CNN that as the fire crept up to her historic home, she resisted leaving for a while, fearing what she would lose if she didn’t.
“I tried to save my house because that’s all I have. Everything I’ve ever worked on for my entire life was there,” she said, in tears.
Reynaga, who is a trained first responder, said she had to be physically removed from her property after four to five hours.
"Looting will not be tolerated": Gov. Newsom deploys California National Guard to assist law enforcement
The California National Guard will be used to help law enforcement after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a request for assistance from Los Angeles County.
Authorities in the area have been warning of looters and scammers “who are targeting vulnerable victims” and have confirmed arrests have been made.
Hundreds of members of the National Guard will be sent to boost capacity of local law enforcement and stationed at traffic control points to ensure safety, according to a statement from Newsom’s office.
The deployment will bring the number of personnel, including firefighters, on the ground to 8,000, the statement said.
Newsom also thanked first responders and emergency personnel for their hard work and described the deployment as part of the state’s move to “throwing everything at our disposal” to protect communities.
At a news conference Thursday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the county would impose a curfew on impacted areas that are under mandated evacuation. It is in place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. until officials lift the order, the county said in a statement.
“Once we get everything done, we may enact it tomorrow night,” he told reporters.
Hurst Fire is now 37% contained, fire officials say
The Hurst Fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, is now more than one-third contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – an improvement from 10% contained earlier Thursday night.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office urged residents to “stay safe and be alert.”
According to Cal Fire’s website, here is where major fires stand as of Thursday night:
Palisades Fire: at least 19,978 acres and 6% contained
Eaton Fire: at least 13,690 acres and 0% contained
Hurst Fire: at least 771 acres and 37% contained
Kenneth Fire: at least 1,000 acres and 35% contained
Lidia Fire: at least 394 acres and 75% contained
Containment numbers should go up as weather conditions improve, according to Capt. Adam VanGerpen, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
This post has been updated with the latest figures.
Devastation is partly a result of “chronic underinvestment in critical infrastructure,” Los Angeles councilmember says
Traci Park, councilmember for Los Angeles’ District 11, which includes the Pacific Palisades, said the ongoing blazes have been “horrifying, terrifying and traumatic,” and that the people who are affected are not just her constituents but also her friends.
“This is a community that is no stranger to fires,” Park told CNN, adding that people in the district are very familiar with what she described as faulty protocols required of them in an emergency situation like this.
“It is indicative of chronic underinvestment in critical infrastructure as well as in public safety.”
Park told CNN that the number of fire stations and firefighters in the city of Lost Angeles has remained the same for 50 to 60 years –– despite a need for at least 62 new fire stations to serve the average daily demand.
“During last year’s budget, I fought to retain those positions, and I was successful in doing so. But it’s only a drop in the bucket,” she said. Park said the calls for service had tripled.
“The strains and the underinvestment in our public safety in Los Angeles is absolutely untenable, and so I think that our residents and constituents are right to be angry. I am glad to hear Mayor Bass’ commitment to accountability,” she said.
Firefighting aircraft collides with illegally operated drone
An aerial firefighting aircraft collided with a drone flying in restricted airspace over the Palisades Fire on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Super Scooper plane Quebec 1 “sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service. There were no reported injuries,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said.
The collision caused the temporary grounding of all aircraft responding to the Palisades Fire, The War Zone reported, citing Cal Fire. It was one of the two planes deployed with the ability to scoop up more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water to drop on active fires, The War Zone said.
The midair collision is now under investigation by the FAA, which says the firefighting aircraft landed safely.
The FAA underscored late Thursday that it “has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones” in restricted airspace put in place over the wildfires.
It said that drones near aerial firefighting can ground air tankers, slow fire response, and cost lives.
The FAA did not specify which agency was operating the aerial firefighting aircraft. Flight tracking data showed Cal Fire air tankers and helicopters as well as those from county fire departments and government contractors operating over the LA wildfires Thursday.
Couple loses home of 40 years to Eaton Fire, determined to rebuild amid devastation
Walter and Yalda Seace’s home in Altadena, where they lived for 40 years, is among those that have been reduced to rubble by the Eaton Fire, CNN affiliate KABC reported.
“Here we are with nothing,” Walter Seace told the news outlet, grappling with the magnitude of their loss.
The couple captured the flames approaching their home on their Ring cameras Tuesday night, which overlooked their residence at the top of Altadena Drive. They still clung to a sliver of hope that they would have a home to return to. The Eaton Fire has burned 13,690 acres and is currently 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.
His wife, Yalda Seace, remains determined to rebuild their home.
“It’s overwhelming. I don’t know how we’re going to get through it. We will. It’s just going to be a long process,” she said to KABC. “We’re going to get back. It’ll be fine. Unfortunately, there are so many other people in the same situation. It’s devastating, actually.”
What remains for them is each other, a few basic belongings they managed to grab during their evacuation, and their two dogs.
“This is home. I’ve always wanted to live in Altadena,” Yalda said. “I’ll find a way.”
Eight C-130s with aerial firefighting capabilities are deployed in response to LA wildfires
Eight C-130 military transport planes have been activated to support firefighting efforts across Los Angeles, US Northern Command announced on Thursday.
Planes equipped with Modular Aerial Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) along with their crews will be brought in from Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado to the Channel Islands in Southern California, joining other MAFFS-equipped aircraft in California, according to a statement from US Northern Command.
Some aircraft will be ready to assist with firefighting efforts as early as Friday, with all being ready by Sunday.
“Providing support to civil authorities is a valued part of our homeland defense mission. We’re well-practiced and in position to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Interagency Firefighting Center (NIFC), and the state of California to assist the many citizens in need,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander of US Northern Command.
MAFFS are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be loaded into C-130 cargo planes without major structural modifications converting them into air tankers, according to the US Forest Service. The system helps provide “surge” capabilities that “can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts.”
They can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, and can be refilled in less than 12 minutes, according to the Forest Service.
There have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in Los Angeles County, medical examiner says
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said it has received notification of 10 fire-related deaths as of Thursday evening.
No names were released by the medical examiner. All cases are pending identification and legal next of kin notification, the department said.
Flames largely out in Altadena but Eaton Fire rages in the mountains, satellite imagery shows
Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows that fires were largely going out across much of Altadena over the past 24 hours.
At 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the space tech firm’s satellite detected fires (seen in orange below) across much of Altadena, using shortwave infrared imaging.
By 11:00 a.m. Thursday, barely any fires were detected in Altadena, though much of the Eaton Fire continued to rage in the mountains east of Altadena.
"He was not going to leave his son behind": Amputee and son died in Altadena wildfire
An amputee and his son died in the wildfire in Altadena, the Washington Post reported.
Hajime White, an Arkansas resident, told the Post that she last communicated with her father, Anthony Mitchell, on Wednesday morning.
“He said, ‘Baby, I’m just letting you know the fire’s broke out, and we’re going to have to evacuate,’” White recounted. “Then he said, ‘I’ve got to go — the fire’s in the yard.’”
Mitchell, 67, a retired salesman and amputee who relied on a wheelchair, lived in Altadena with his son Justin, in his early 20s and living with cerebral palsy. Another son, Jordan, also in his 20s, was in the hospital at the time, leaving no caregivers available, according to the Post.
White received the news that neither her father nor Justin had escaped the flames. “They didn’t make it out,” she told the Post. Authorities informed the family that Mitchell was found by his son’s bed, leading his family to believe he was trying to save Justin.
“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” White told the Post. “It’s very hard. It’s like a ton of bricks just fell on me.”
White described her father as a generous man who adored his four children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, the outlet reported. The Arkansas-based family affectionately called him FaFa, short for “far away.”
Satellite imagery shows near complete destruction of Pacific Palisades
The Palisades Fire has nearly completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, new satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows.
The imagery was taken in false color, which is a wavelength that helps better visualize burned areas. Anything in the imagery that shows up red is vegetation that remains post-fire.
Almost every structure north of Sunset Boulevard in the town is burnt to the ground. The same is true for the buildings and homes around Marquez Charter School, which is also destroyed.
"Unspeakable": kidney transplant recipient who evacuated the Palisades Fire describes his heartbreak over lost home
A kidney transplant recipient who fled the Palisades Fire with his family and his medicines called the loss of his home “unspeakable.”
Jeremy Hunter, 53, from Altadena, California, told CNN Thursday he was unaware a fire broke out near his neighborhood on Tuesday until a former informed contractor reached out to him. Hunter’s 9-year-old son then looked out the window and could see the smoke from a distance.
Since he lived in a fire zone, Hunter knew to prepare for incidents like this, so he gathered “all the necessary stuff” to keep him and family alive including his medicines.
Hunter lived with kidney disease for 17 years before having a transplant in 2008, he told CNN.
Hunter said he and his family masked up, packed up their car, and headed to a friend’s house on the west side of Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Hunter found out his home was destroyed in the blaze. After visiting the charred remains, he is unsure about what’s next. Hunter assumes he and his family will eventually go back to rebuild their home, but he said the repairs could take years.
"We found his bones; his whole body was intact": Altadena grandfather dies in wildfire
Family members have identified 83-year-old Rodney Nickerson as one of the victims of the catastrophic wildfires that erupted in California, according to CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS.
“We found his bones; his whole body was intact,” his daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, shared with the local outlet.
Nickerson was discovered by family amid the charred remnants of his home after the Eaton Fire swept through his Altadena neighborhood, KCAL/KCBS reported. Despite local evacuation orders, Nickerson chose to remain in his home, his daughter said.
Extremely challenging for LA fire department to battle fires while facing staffing and resource shortages, captain says
It has been “extremely challenging” for the Los Angeles City Fire Department to battle the historic wildfires ripping through the county while already facing staffing and resource shortages, according to Captain Erik Scott.
On average, the department runs 1,500 emergency incidents and 911 calls per day, Scott told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday evening. The agency is now running nearly 4,000 during the wildfires, said Scott: “There is no stop.”
The fire captain said mutual aid is critical in battling the fires, along with getting resources from out of state.
When asked whether he’s concerned if a fire could explode in other areas in the county overnight, Scott said: “No bets are off. Los Angeles is unique – you got 470 square miles, maybe 20% of that is brush. Any of those areas that are backed up to brush are our potential targets.”
Scott then urged people to heed wireless emergency alerts on mandatory evacuation orders.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reflects on childhood home lost in Pacific Palisades wildfire
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared that his childhood residence was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.
Kerr said that his parents bought the house in 1969, where he grew up.
“It’s surreal and devastating, but fortunately, almost everyone escaped,” he added. “The pictures reminded me of Lahaina from a couple years ago. And I’m so happy that there wasn’t the loss of life that people in Hawaii experienced. But it’s hard to even fathom how Pacific Palisades rebuilds and how it becomes a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.”
Kerr recalled dining at his family home two days before the game and reminisced about his lasting memories from celebrating his mother’s 90th birthday there last summer with 100 guests.
Reflecting on his connection to the area, Kerr, whose father taught at UCLA, spoke of taking countless drives down Sunset Boulevard to campus.
“It’s an idyllic place, it’s a beautiful town, sunsets every night,” he said. “The memories are rich, but seeing the current images of Sunset Boulevard and the Palisades is shocking — it looks apocalyptic and devastating,” he said.
LA sheriff says it looks as though "an atomic bomb dropped in these areas"
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said it looks as though “an atomic bomb dropped in these areas” as wildfires rage in the county.
He confirmed five deaths that he was aware of from the devastating fires, although other officials have confirmed seven across the region.
“But even as I’m telling you that, it’s leaving my lips, I’m nervous about that number,” Luna said Thursday at a news conference.
The sheriff added that he is praying the death toll doesn’t increase, “but based on the devastation that is clear” he said he “doesn’t expect good news.”
Accidental evacuation warning alert was due to error with software, official says
An evacuation warning that was accidentally sent out as an alert to the entire county was due to an error with the software, said Kevin McGowan, director of LA County Office of Emergency Management.
The correct zone was selected within the software – which was for the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills – but an error made it go out to the entire county, he said at a news conference Thursday.
Asked about the alert at the same news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Rob Luna said that in the stressful situation facing LA residents, this is the “last thing we want to happen.”
But he added, “Sometimes technology isn’t perfect,” and said officials will work to fix it.
This post was updated with the sheriff’s comment.
LA mayor says her main priority is saving lives when asked about criticism
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized that her main priority is keeping residents alive as fires ravage her city.
When asked about complaints regarding her being away from the city during the devastation, she answered: “These fires are burning now. Our job is to make sure that people stay alive, that we save lives, that we save homes, that we save property.”
She went on to add that when the fires are contained, “we will look at what worked. We will look at what didn’t work.”
Bass added that she will not answer this question again.
Catch up on the latest from the wildfires raging in Los Angeles
Two deaths were reported from the Palisades Fire Thursday, bringing the total death toll to at least seven people from the Los Angeles fires that are raging this week.
Five of those deaths are from the Eaton Fire and officials have expressed concern the total may grow.
Meanwhile, the federal government is increasing its funding to fully cover the cost of recovery, President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
Here’s what else to know:
New fire: The Kenneth Fire, briefly named the Kennis Fire, spread to over 790 acres on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to an incident page from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Authorities shut down a portion of Highway 101 in response. While the fire grew quickly in just a couple hours, it appears to have slowed down in growth, video from CNN affiliate KABC shows. Small pockets of fire can be seen on the borders of the fire but the charred hillside seems mostly inactive.
Eaton Fire: The fire has blazed through 13,690 acres and is continuing to grow, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Thursday news conference. Potentially 4,000-5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, which includes single family or multifamily residences, commercial occupancies, outbuildings or vehicles, he added. It has reached the top of nearby Mount Wilson, threatening television transmitters on the peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to Carlos Herrera, a public information officer for Los Angeles County.
Death toll hard to investigate: There have been “multiple deaths” in the areas of Los Angeles County affected by ongoing wildfires, according to preliminary information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday that “frankly, we don’t know yet” where the true death toll stands. Homicide investigators have not had the chance to process any of the scenes due to dangerous conditions, including spot fires, downed power lines and leaking gas.
Firefighters: Many of the firefighters battling wildfires have been working non-stop and carrying up to 100 pounds of gear since they responded to the Pacific Palisades Fire on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the California Professional Firefighters union told CNN. Many firefighters had been working for 40 to 48 hours before they were sent to the initial fire and could be on duty for 24 to 48 hours until additional crews arrive, the union said. They are facing “extremely toxic smoke from all the chemicals from burning structures and vehicles,” spokesperson DeeDee Garcia added.
Mitigation efforts: Firefighting teams are expecting more wind and dry conditions to continue to complicate efforts into next week, Don Fregulia, the operations section chief with the California Interagency Management Team 5, said Thursday. Sheriff Robert Luna announced that his department has “officially requested the support of the California National Guard” for the Palisades and Eaton fires. Fire crews flew at least seven helicopters overnight as they battled one of the largest wildfires raging the Los Angeles area, Kenichi Haskett, a section chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department assigned to the Palisades Fire, told CNN. But with winds forecast to pick back up Thursday afternoon and into the weekend, Haskett said efforts will be limited again.
Palisades fire kills 2 people, damages over 5,000 structures, fire chief says
The wildfire in the Pacific Palisades has killed two people and damaged over 5,000 structures, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley.
The Palisades fire has burned 19,978 acres and damaged or destroyed 5,316 structures, Crowley said. The two fatalities increased the death toll from both the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire to seven.
Over 60 fire companies have been sent to respond to the Kenneth Fire, fire chief says
More than 60 fire companies were sent to respond to the Kenneth Fire that’s in the West Hills area of Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.
Additional resources have been requested, she said Thursday at a news conference.
Evacuation order downgraded in Kenneth Fire after growth to 790 acres
An evacuation order for the Kenneth Fire was downgraded to a warning after the blaze grew to over 790 acres, according to an incident page from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
An evacuation warning was also lifted.
While the fire grew quickly in just a couple hours, it appears to have slowed down in growth, video from CNN affiliate KABC shows. Small pockets of fire can be seen on the borders of the fire but the charred hillside seems mostly inactive.
This blaze is one of five major wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.
NFL relocates playoff game from Los Angeles area to Arizona due to ongoing wildfires
The NFL has announced that Monday’s wild card playoff matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams has been moved from Inglewood, California, to Glendale, Arizona due to the ongoing wildfires.
The wild card game will still be played at its originally scheduled time of 8 p.m. ET.
"I just can’t sleep at night": Woman sees house where she raised 4 children after it was destroyed
Seeing what remained of her home for the first time after it was destroyed by a wildfire in Los Angeles, Lonnie Wittenberg said the moment and the magnitude of the fires is “hard to wrap your head around.”
“Not only are our homes gone, but our entire community is gone,” Wittenberg told CNN’s Erin Burnett, who was standing in front of what was left of Wittenberg’s house on Thursday.
“Everything is just gone,” she said.
Wittenberg lived in her home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood for 41 years where she raised four children. She said her daughter was the last person at the house before it caught fire, but she was not able to take with her any family photos.
Wittenberg said her mother died in April, so all that she had left of her is also gone. “I just can’t sleep at night just thinking about everything,” she said.
She said she and her neighbors have been calling each other, but many of their houses are no longer standing either. As for the next steps, Wittenberg said she is confident that the Palisades will come back, but that it will be a hard process.
Officials mistakenly send evacuation warning to residents across Los Angeles County
Millions of residents across the greater Los Angeles area mistakenly received an evacuation warning alert on their phones late Thursday afternoon local time.
Officials quickly worked to correct the notice, which had indicated that recipients should be ready to leave their area immediately if called upon due to surrounding wildfires.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn wrote in a post on X that many had received the alerts by mistake “due to a technical error.” She added that “a correction will be issued shortly.”
“It was meant to be for the areas impacted by the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills,” Hahn said, referring to a blaze near the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
A short time later, many residents received a message reading, “Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING.” The follow-up message indicated the notice had only been intended for those near the Kenneth Fire.
Residents across the region — from Long Beach and the county’s South Bay to downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley — told CNN they had received the messages, which came at a time when nerves are already frayed by the ongoing deadly wildfires.
The director of the county’s Office of Emergency Management released a statement saying some 10 million residents in Los Angeles and some surrounding counties had received the alerts. He also appeared to acknowledge the concern the mistaken notices had caused.
McGowan confirmed the warning had only been intended for residents in the Calabasas, Agoura Hills and West Hills communities.
This post has been updated with a statement from the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
LA Chargers’ head coach inspired by people helping each other during wildfires
Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said he has been inspired by the efforts of others in the face of the deadly wildfires in the area.
“My heart goes out and our prayers go out, abundant prayers, to all those that have been affected by this tragedy,” said Harbaugh, wearing a Los Angeles Fire Department cap, at a news conference Thursday.
Harbaugh said he’s been “inspired greatly by the first responders, the firefighters, and the residents that have pulled together and had each other’s back.”
The Chargers travel to Houston to face the Texans on Saturday in the opening playoff game of the NFL’s wild-card weekend.
Kenneth Fire inches closer to nearby homes, KABC video shows
The Kenneth Fire, which popped up near the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties a little over an hour ago, is inching dangerously close to homes in the area, video from CNN affiliate KABC shows.
The fire, which appears to have started in the nearby hills, is right on the edge of the Hidden Hills neighborhood. An evacuation order is in place.
Billowing smoke from the quickly spreading fire is obscuring the view significantly.
Winds and dry conditions could complicate firefighting efforts into next week, official says
Firefighting teams are expecting more wind and dry conditions to continue to complicate efforts into next week, Don Fregulia, the operations section chief with the California Interagency Management Team 5, said Thursday.
Fregulia said there’s even the possibility of “maybe even more robust winds” as far out as next Tuesday.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said earlier Thursday that winds are expected to pick up this afternoon local time and remain gusty into at least Friday afternoon in the fire zone. Another round of Santa Ana winds is likely Saturday evening into Sunday.
Statewide, California has seen coverage of severe drought (Level 2 of 4) double, to 10% of the state, mostly in the south and southeast, according to new data from the US Drought Monitor released on Thursday.
CNN’s Allison Chinchar and Brandon Miller contributed reporting to this post.
No issue with water pressure at fire hydrants in Altadena area, fire chief says
The Los Angeles County Fire Department did not encounter low water pressure and did not run out of water while fighting the Eaton Fire, Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Thursday news conference.
The agency is in “close coordination” with the Department of Public Works and has not been advised of any issues with low water pressure, he added.
Residents should not go back to their homes until evacuation order is lifted, Pasadena mayor says
Residents who are currently under an evacuation order should not return to their homes until they hear from officials that it is allowed, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said on Thursday.
Along with multiple other fires, the Eaton Fire is burning in parts of Pasadena. About 180,000 people across Los Angeles County still have active evacuation orders in place.
“We’re starting to see people go back in those areas and our message to you is: stay out of those areas until you hear officially that the orders have been lifted,” Gordo said.
The message that people can go back to their homes will come from the City of Pasadena or the county, the mayor said.
Mandatory evacuation order starts for new fire on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties
A mandatory evacuation order is in place after a new fire spread approximately 50 acres on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The Kenneth Fire, briefly named the Kennis Fire, in Woodland Hills is burning south, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an updated alert.
“LAFD is issuing a Mandatory Evacuation Order for Vanowen south to Burbank Blvd. County Lane Road east to E Valley Circle Blvd. This is an immediate evacuation order for all residents within this area,” the alert says.
This post has been updated with new information.
Altadena library and community church are destroyed in the Eaton Fire, congresswoman says
Democratic Rep. Judy Chu said Thursday she “could not believe the destruction of Altadena and Pasadena,” the areas destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
“Mariposa Junction, which had so many thriving small businesses — gone. Institutions like the Altadena library and the Altadena Community Church — destroyed and gone,” she said.
Her tour of the destroyed areas was led by Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, she noted.
Eaton Fire is now estimated at 13,690 acres and continues to grow, fire chief says
The Eaton Fire has blazed through 13,690 acres and is continuing to grow, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Thursday news conference.
The Eaton Fire remains at 0% containment, the fire chief said.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the Eaton Fire
The cause of the Eaton Fire remains unknown and is under investigation by officials, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
At a Thursday news conference he said that if the fire was caused by arson, any death resulting from it would be considered a murder and would then be investigated by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s department hopes to implement curfew in areas surrounding Palisades and Eaton fires
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is hoping to implement a curfew this evening in the areas surrounding the Palisades and Eaton fires, but are working through legal approvals to do that, Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday.
The curfew would be from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. PT and would be enforced by the sheriff’s department, he said.
If they are not able to implement it tonight, they will try for tomorrow night, he added.
Up to 5,000 structures potentially damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, LA County fire chief says
The Eaton Fire has potentially destroyed or damaged about 4,000-5,000 structures, which includes single family or multifamily residences, commercial occupancies, outbuildings or vehicles, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
That is up from 1,000 structures reported damaged or destroyed earlier today, he added.
LA county sheriff confirms 5 deaths from fires
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed five deaths between the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fire. He said the death toll will change.
Luna had previously said that all five deaths were from the Eaton Fire.
Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart has also confirmed one additional death.
LA County has requested the support of California National Guard for the Eaton and Palisades fires
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that his department has “officially requested the support of the California National Guard” for the Palisades and Eaton fires.
The soldiers will be armed, Luna said, but did not offer details on weapons.
“But I don’t want anybody in the community to be intimidated by that. Please remember there are members of the California National Guard that are your neighbors, that are your family members and friends,” he said. “They are our people. Trust them, they’re here, they’re serving us.”
While the request was made through the Sheriff’s department, Luna said it is working together with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Santa Monica Police Department.
“Any other chiefs of police who may need additional resources as a result of these fires, we’ll make sure” that their needs are met, he added.
20 people arrested in Los Angeles County as wildfires burn, supervisor says
At least 20 people have been arrested in Los Angeles County for looting during the wildfires that are raging through the area, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said.
“We will not allow this to continue to happen,” she said at a news conference on Thursday.
She called the looters “opportunists,” adding, “I will not stand by and allow an already traumatic experience to be further compounded.”
However, later in the news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said it is their preliminary count that 20 people total have been arrested. He said at least 12 of those were related to looting, but added that “number hasn’t been confirmed.”
He said the arrests happened “at the multiple impacted areas” throughout the county.
Tens of thousands of people are still under evacuation orders.
This post has been updated with comments from Luna.
City of Malibu reports first death in Palisades Fire, bringing total deaths to at least 6 in Los Angeles fires
The first known death from the Palisades Fire was reported by the City of Malibu Thursday, bringing the total death toll to at least six people from the Los Angeles fires that are raging this week.
No other details surrounding the death were shared.
The other five deaths reported were from the Eaton Fire in eastern Los Angeles County, authorities have said.
Forward progress stopped in additional Angeles National Forest fire
Forward progress has stopped in a new fire that popped up in the Angeles National Forest Thursday, the same area where the Eaton Fire is also burning.
The Creek Fire burned at least one acre off Big Tujunga Canyon Road after a vehicle fell off the side of the road, Angeles National Forest said in a post on X.
The forest announced Thursday they would be “temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources” from 5 p.m. PT today until midnight January 15.
The fire was a little over 12 miles away from the Eaton Fire, which has killed five people. The Angeles National Forest, which covers a large stretch of Los Angeles County, is nearly 700,000 acres, according to their website.
This post has been updated to reflect the progress made by firefighters.
Here's a look at the damage wrought by the Eaton and Palisades fires
Take a look at the aerial images showing the devastation wrought by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Here’s what happened in Pasadena:
Here’s what happened to the Pacific Palisades:
More resources, including federal firefighters and planes, being sent to Southern California, Biden says
Over 400 federal firefighters, more than 30 firefighting helicopters and planes and eight Department of Defense C-130s are being supplied for Southern California, President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
In addition, the secretary of defense authorized 500 wildfire ground clearing personnel from the defense department, he said.
“I directed the department to continue working with Gov. (Gavin) Newsom to identify additional resources that can be provided for public safety and security,” Biden said.
The president pledged that the administration would continue to provide “literally every resource we can find that’s appropriate to help the governor and first responders.”
Los Angeles mayor faces criticism for timing of overseas trip
As the most destructive fire in Los Angeles area history rages, Mayor Karen Bass faces criticism over the timing of an overseas trip and budget cuts made months ago that affected the city’s fire department.
The Palisades Fire erupted around 10:30 a.m. PT on January 7, while Bass was in Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama as part of a US presidential delegation. The trip, announced by the White House earlier this month, coincided with the fire’s rapid expansion, fueled by intense winds that temporarily prevented aerial firefighting efforts.
On Thursday, Bass emphasized the “unprecedented” nature of the fires and defended her leadership during the crisis. She insisted her “number one focus” is protecting lives and saving homes.
It is unclear when Bass was informed about the fires and decided to return to California. But on her return Wednesday, Bass was confronted at the airport by a Sky News reporter, who asked if she owed Angelenos an apology for her absence during the fires. A stone-faced Bass refused to answer as the reporter followed her down the gangway.
On Wednesday night, Bass told reporters she had been in “constant contact” with local, federal, and county officials marshaling the response to the fires as she made her way back to the United States.
Bass had left Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as mayor pro tempore in her absence. CNN reached out to her office asking if it considered delaying her trip to Ghana due to the weather conditions.
Correction: An earlier version of this post misspelled the first name of the Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
Lack of power caused water shortage in fire hydrants, Biden says
Some Los Angeles County fire hydrants ran dry due to a lack of power, which officials are working to address, President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
Utilities turned off power out of concern that power lines could start a fire, he said.
“When they did that, it cut off the ability to generate pumping the water. That’s what caused the lack of water in these hydrants,” Biden said, adding that fire officials are bringing generators into areas to facilitate water pumping.
Federal government to fully cover cost of wildfire recovery, Biden says
The federal government is increasing its funding to assist with the response to the wildfires in Los Angeles “to 100%,” President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
This money will be used to pay for things like removal of debris, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and “all necessary measures to protect life and property,” Biden said.
“I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires and in their communities that are really been devastated,” Biden said.
The president said the move comes after California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked him to increase the percentage of authorized funding to 90%.
Biden underscored that the federal government is “doing literally everything we can.” The president said he is also discussing what more he and his administration could do with relevant federal agencies and departments.
This post has been updated with additional remarks from Biden.
Watch: Drone video shows destruction of entire neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades
Drone video provided a birds-eye view of some of the destruction in the Pacific Palisades after a wildfire ravaged the area.
The video, shot Thursday by Matthew Heller, shows entire neighborhoods of decimated houses in the El Medio Bluffs area. Heavy excess smoke hovered in the air.
The footage shows empty spaces where houses used to be, next to houses that are still standing.
The Palisades Fire is the largest fire burning in Los Angeles County, destroying more than 17,000 acres so far. It is still 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Watch the video:
Pepperdine, UCLA and Caltech extend campus closures due to wildfires
Three colleges, Pepperdine University, the University of California, Los Angeles and the California Institute of Technology, announced they are extending campus closures due to the ongoing wildfires.
The president of Pepperdine University, located in Malibu, said in a statement undergraduate and the majority of graduate classes will take place online through January 19 and it will “modify campus operations accordingly.”
Officials of UCLA, which is in Westwood, announced Thursday the school will “curtail campus operations, cancel undergraduate classes and move graduate courses to remote instruction” on Thursday and Friday.
In an update shared by Caltech, which is in Pasadena, officials said the university campus will remain closed on Thursday with the intent to resume operations on Friday, pending “continued assessments of the situation.”
Officials to hold news conference on Eaton Fire at 6 p.m. ET
Officials are holding a news conference to give updates on the Eaton Fire at 6 p.m. ET.
Speakers will include Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, among others.
The Eaton Fire has burned at least 10,600 acres in northeast Los Angeles County since Tuesday.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Kitchen among restaurants providing free meals to first responders in L.A.
A number of Los Angeles restaurants are offering free meals for first responders amid numerous devastating fires across the county.
Goop Kitchen, owned by actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, announced on Thursday that they would be delivering meals to first responders on the ground.
“Our hearts are with our Los Angeles community and everyone impacted by the devastating fires. To the first responders showing unimaginable bravery and resilience we’re endlessly grateful,” Goop and Goop Kitchen’s official Instagram account posted, calling for first responders “in need of food” to DM their team for assistance.
The company also provided a list of organizations for those looking to make donations to those impacted by the fires.
Here are others providing free meals to first responders:
- Sweetfin, a Los Angeles-based poke chain with many locations across Los Angeles county, is also providing meals to first responders. “As a restaurant concept born on the Westside of Los Angeles, it’s the least we can do to support the firefighters who walk through our doors every day and support our business,” Sweetfin co-founder Seth Cohen told CNN. “The devastation caused by this fire has been truly heartbreaking, and we want to do our part to help in any way we can. While it may seem like a small gesture, we hope the community knows we are here for them, and we stand together during this difficult time as we look to rebuild. Restaurants in this city already have it difficult, I wish we could do more.”
- The popular Los Angeles bagel food truck, Yeastie Boys, was one of the first companies to announce they’d be feeding front line workers. Yeastie Boys stationed their food truck around L.A. on Wednesday and Thursday, partnering with chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen.
- Other L.A. restaurants providing free meals to first responders and evacuees include Cafe Tropical in Silver Lake, Crustacean in Beverly Hills, Danny Boy’s pizzeria, Joe’s Pizza, Sonoritas Prime Tacos, Dudley Market in Venice and Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica.
- Chef Andrew Gruel of Calico Fish House in Huntington Beach, which is south of the Los Angeles fires, welcomed any evacuees to “stay as long as you need and camp out” in the restaurant’s parking lot. “You are welcome at our restaurant,” Gruel posted on X. We have a large parking lot…we will provide free meals for all of those affected.”
What are water tenders, and why are they so critical to this firefight?
Exhausted firefighters battling the Southern California infernos have relied on crucial pieces of equipment from afar: water tenders.
Tenders are vehicles that can haul thousands of gallons of water. But they’re more commonly used for rural or remote wildfires – not urban wildfires like the ones torching Los Angeles County.
“Their primary function is to transport water to fires in areas without direct access to a water source,” the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association said.
But after some Southern California fire hydrants were tapped dry this week, water tenders have provided a much-needed lifeline.
“Because there are so many engines tapping the grid – multiple grids – we’re basically just taking all the water out of the grid,” Los Angeles Fire Capt. Chris Donelli said late Wednesday.
“We do have water tenders – vehicles that shuttle water to us that carry 2,500 gallons of water – but again, they’re stretched thin as well.”
The state had pre-positioned hundreds of personnel and equipment – including water tenders – but “it wasn’t enough,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. Ferocious winds gusting up to 100 mph hurled burning embers for miles and fueled the wildfires’ explosive growth.
The state deployed another 140 water tenders to help battle the Eaton and Palisades Fires, Newsom announced Wednesday.
While the water supply for fire hydrants started to stabilize Thursday, the delivery of water tenders has been vital, said Jim Hudson of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“With portable water, water tenders, we’re able to deploy those where necessary and meet our fire flow of water that we need,” he said.
Actress and singer Mandy Moore visits Altadena home ravaged by wildfire
Mandy Moore is grieving the loss of her neighborhood and her home, which was ravaged by the still-active Eaton Fire burning in Los Angeles County.
The actress and singer shared an update to her Instagram on Thursday, writing that she was able to visit her home and “bear witness to all this loss,” including in the post three photos of what’s left of her Altadena residence.
“Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. It’s not livable but mostly intact,” Moore wrote. She added that they lost their garage and back house to the fire.
“Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends,” she wrote. “Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support.”
The photos that Moore shared show her husband Taylor Goldsmith, who is a musician in the band Dawes, walking through a field of debris on what appears to be their lawn. Some of the debris piles looked like they were still producing smoke.
Moore has shared further updates on her Instagram page since the Altadena-based fire, which forced her and her family to evacuate earlier this week, broke out.
Here's a look at the population, income and racial demographics of the LA neighborhoods affected by the fires
Los Angeles County is home to about 9.7 million people and the median household income is about $88,000, according to the US Census, and racially, the county is about 70% White alone, 9% Black alone, 16% Asian and 49% Hispanic or Latino.
But the makeup of the neighborhoods vary widely. Here’s a closer look at the population, income and racial demographics of some of the key neighborhoods at risk from the five major wildfires.
Pacific Palisades and Brentwood: These adjoining residential neighborhoods, both ravaged by the Palisades Fire, were analyzed together in a 2022 report from the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, citing the American Community Survey. The areas are home to about 55,000 people and the median household income is $155,000, and the racial demographics are about 81% White, 1% Black, 8% Asian, and 7% Hispanic.
Altadena: This unincorporated area significantly impacted by the Eaton Fire is home to about 43,000 people and the median household income is $129,000, according to the 2020 US Census. The population is about 46% White alone, 18% Black alone, 6% Asian and and 27% Hispanic or Latino.
Hollywood Hills: This residential area north of Hollywood threatened by the Sunset Fire is home to about 22,000 people, and the median household income is about $97,000, according to the US Census. The population is 73% White alone, 8% Black alone, 6% Asian and 13% Hispanic or Latino.
Multiple helicopters battled Los Angeles wildfire overnight, fire official says
Fire crews flew at least seven helicopters overnight as they battled one of the largest wildfires raging the Los Angeles area, Kenichi Haskett, a section chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department assigned to the Palisades Fire told CNN.
Haskett said the department is flying two types of aircraft on Thursday, trying to contain the fire and taking advantage of a break in high wind gusts.
But with winds forecasted to pick back up Thursday afternoon and into the weekend, Haskett said efforts will be limited again.
The Palisades Fire has burned more than 17,000 acres so far.
Haskett said additional firefighters from other California cities, other states and parts of Canada will soon arrive to help. “So we’re getting there as fast as we can,” he said.
Pacific Palisades resident returns to remains of his "dream house" after it was destroyed in fire
Marco Assante said he would drive through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles since 1987 when he finally found his “dream house.”
Now, his home is gone after being destroyed by a fire that spread quickly through the area in the last few days. As he returned to what remained on Thursday, sitting on a nearby swing overlooking the ocean, he said he’s unsure if he will come back to rebuild. Assante said he lived there for eight years.
“It’s still hard, still hard on my wife, and she’s probably scared,” Assante said in an interview with CNN’s Gustavo Valdes.
The swing, which survived the blaze, is where Assante would come to be happy he said.
“This is where I would come to swing, and it didn’t get touched,” Assante said. “I was feeling down when I saw my house, and then I came on the swing.”
The swing with the word “Palisades” written on it was made by a local resident, Assante said.
“Just for a minute you feel better,” he said.
After seeing the wreckage and reflecting on the memories of his home and neighborhood, Assante said, “It’s just special, it’s just beautiful, and the neighbors were great.”
Many firefighters working overtime, carrying up to 100 pounds of equipment, union says
Many of the firefighters battling wildfires in Los Angeles County have been working non-stop and carrying up to 100 pounds of gear since they responded to the Pacific Palisades Fire on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the California Professional Firefighters union told CNN.
Firefighters are carrying heavy equipment while working long shifts – structural firefighting gear can add up to 100 pounds, while wildland gear can add as much as 80 pounds, the union said.
Many firefighters had been working for 40 to 48 hours before they were sent to the initial fire and could be on duty for 24 to 48 hours until additional crews arrive, the union said. They are facing “extremely toxic smoke from all the chemicals from burning structures and vehicles,” Garcia said.
“While some are battling the blaze in their hometown, many are from other counties and away from home for weeks on end,” the spokesperson said.
Dangerous conditions block investigators from scenes of “multiple deaths” in LA fire areas
There have been “multiple deaths” in the areas of Los Angeles County affected by ongoing wildfires, according to preliminary information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Homicide investigators have not had the chance to process any of the scenes due to dangerous conditions, including spot fires, downed power lines and leaking gas.
“Once Homicide investigators can assess the scenes, more information will be provided,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement Thursday.
Keep in mind: The deadly Los Angeles wildfires are still largely uncontained.
While authorities have reported at least five deaths in the region so far, Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday that “frankly, we don’t know yet” where the true death toll stands.
Need to evacuate? Here's a list of Los Angeles area hotels with rooms available for wildfire victims
Evacuation orders and warnings are impacting nearly 180,000 Los Angeles County residents as deadly wildfires burn in the area. Many of them have nowhere to go.
The Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) has compiled a list of hotels in Southern California that have availability for those displaced by the devastating fires.
A list of hotels with rooms available can be found at here.
Something to consider: The list will be updated and may not accurately reflect current availability, a HALA spokesperson told CNN Thursday.
Some hotels also welcome pets, the statement said, and others on the list are located south of Los Angeles and may be suitable for those negatively impacted by the air quality.
Insurance commissioner: What homeowners should do to help speed along their claims
The wildfires burning in Los Angeles County are putting a spotlight on California’s insurance crisis — but, the state’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, said there are steps residents should take now to help move more quickly through the claims process.
- Get a complete copy of your insurance policy
- Take note of extra costs during the fires — including things like hotels or other living expenses — and get receipts for everything
- Document all conversations you have with your agent or adjusters
- If you didn’t evacuate, Lara recommends you start to take pictures of your home, focusing on things like valuables.
For those who don’t have insurance, Lara told CNN that officials will try to provide assistance through state programs or other federal streams of disaster relief, such as from FEMA.
A dire situation: Insurers in California have been refusing to write new policies in areas they consider to be at high risk for wildfires, which is a large percentage of the state. Between 2020 and 2022, insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state, according to the most recent data from the California Department of Insurance. That includes 531,000 in Los Angeles County, where fires are currently raging.
Lara said the wildfires this week further complicate a “complicated situation” with insurance and extreme weather in California.
As a result of homeowners being dropped or not being able to afford private insurance, some have been forced to use a program set up by the state called the California FAIR plan.
Lara said the state has made reforms with the goal of depopulating the program while keeping insurance companies in existence. A big part of the reforms, he said, is giving private insurance companies access to catastrophe modeling tools with the guarantee that they will provide coverage to communities — even those the companies are deeming high risk.
CNN’s Chris Isidore contributed reporting to this post.
Here's where the Palisades and Eaton Fire began
As the investigation into how the Eaton and Palisades fires begins, satellite imagery and data has identified the areas where they started.
Palisades Fire: Cal Fire said that the Palisades Fire began at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
A European Space Agency satellite image, taken at 10:37 a.m. local time on Tuesday, shows the wildfire that would eventually explode into the Palisades Fire. It shows a significant plume of smoke coming from an area directly east of the Los Angeles neighborhood, The Summit.
Orora Technology, a thermal intelligence company that detects, tracks and forecasts wildfires using satellites, also detected a hotspot in that area at 10:35 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
There are a number of hiking trails, including the Temescal Ridge Trail, in the area the smoke plume is seen and hotspot was detected.
There are no major electric transmission lines in the area where the fire started, according to a CNN analysis of California Energy Commission data. The closest line is almost 3 miles to the east. However, a review of recent imagery taken along the Temescal Ridge Trail does show there is a small power line that is located along the ridge, and near the area where satellite imagery and Orora Technologies data indicates the Palisades Fire began.
CNN has reached out to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power — the utility provider for much of greater Los Angeles – for comment, and whether it controls and operates the small power line.
Arson investigators have been deployed to look at how the Palisades Fire began, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley.
Eaton Fire: Cal Fire said that the Eaton Fire began at 6:18 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The first hotspot detected by Orora Technologies was at 6:35 p.m. local time, around the Eaton Creek area east of Altadena.
In addition to a number of hiking trails, there are two major power transmission lines, owned and operated by Southern California Edison, in the area. One line is 220 kilovolt line, and the other is a 66 kilovolt line.
It’s unclear at this time whether those transmission lines had any role in the start of the Eaton Fire at this time.
Southern California Edison said the two major power lines near the Eaton Fire ignition site were de-enegerized before the fire began.
“SCE’s distribution lines immediately to the west of Eaton Canyon were de-energized well before the reported start time of the fire, as part of SCE’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program,” the utility said in a statement. “SCE is currently conducting a review of the event.”
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters Wednesday that US Forest Service arson investigators were investigating the fires along with the Los Angeles Country Fire Department and the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department.
Correction: An earlier version of this post had the wrong day for when the Eaton Fire started. It was Tuesday.
Eaton Fire reaches top of Mount Wilson, threatening TV transmitters
The Eaton Fire burning in the Altadena area of Los Angeles has reached the top of nearby Mount Wilson, threatening television transmitters on the peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to Carlos Herrera, a public information officer for Los Angeles County.
Helicopters and other aircraft are helping fight the flames in that area, Herrera told CNN in a phone call.
Los Angeles Lakers game against Charlotte Hornets postponed because of wildfires
The NBA has announced that Thursday’s Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Charlotte Hornets has been postponed because of ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
The game had previously been scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. A rescheduled date will be announced at a later time, the NBA said.
The Lakers, in a post on X, said, “We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation. And our gratitude is with the first responders and all of you who come together when we need each other the most.
“Tonight’s game will be rescheduled to focus on what matters most today. We’re with you, LA.”
On Tuesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters his family had been affected, saying: “I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now. It’s where I live, my family and my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know that a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family.”
Also Tuesday, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said his mother had evacuated her Pacific Palisades home, while team video assistant Everett Dayton, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, lost his family home in the fire.
On Wednesday in Denver, where the Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets, head coach Tyronn Lue said forward Kawhi Leonard left the team to go back to Los Angeles to be with his family.
“You definitely have to take care of home. … Totally had my support 100%,” Lue said to reporters before Wednesday’s game. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
Fire-fueling drought worsens in Los Angeles County, at highest designation in nearly two years
Drought is worsening in Southern California as the lack of rain during what would normally be the wet season continues to take its toll, according to new data from the US Drought Monitor released on Thursday.
Statewide, California has seen coverage of severe drought (Level 2 of 4) double, to 10% of the state, mostly in the south and southeast.
In Los Angeles County, where multiple explosive fires are actively burning and charring thousands of acres and structures, severe drought has popped up for the first time in nearly two years, now covering more than half of the county including all of the major fire areas.
“The Santa Ana winds during early January are likely to exacerbate the worsening drought conditions,” the Drought Monitor noted, meaning that the same strong winds fanning the flames this week are also further drying out the vegetation and soil.
January is typically the second-wettest month of the year behind February, with an average of 3.29 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles. This year the rain has yet to really begin and there has not been no meaningful rainfall since last spring. In fact, it has been the driest start to Los Angeles’ water year, which begins October 1st, in more than 80 years of weather records.
Since late summer, Southern California has experienced increasing dryness as fall and winter storms focused on the Pacific Northwest. Last winter brought abundant rain and snow to the Southwest, but this winter has taken a starkly different turn. This shift in weather patterns, swinging between extremes, is becoming more common with the warming climate and contributing to the increasing severity of climate disasters.
The latest on the Los Angeles wildfires as officials battle the blazes and conduct recovery efforts
Los Angeles County and city officials provided new details on the multiple fires burning through the area on Thursday.
At least five people have been reported dead so far, but officials said the number could rise. Tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation orders.
Here are the key things we learned:
- Palisades Fire: Arson investigators are out actively looking into the start of the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said. A total of 21 officials — including 16 arson investigators — plus one dog that is trained to sniff out fire accelerant, are on the case, LAFD told CNN.
- The Eaton Fire: Firefighters have been able to stop significant growth of the fire, but it has already burned about 10,600 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 structures. The Eaton Fire has also been blamed for five deaths and is still at 0% containment, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
- Death toll: The exact number of people killed by the wildfires burning in Los Angeles is not known at this time, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. He said his office is working to “figure out those numbers,” but believes the death toll will rise. Luna said some impacted areas look like “a bomb was dropped in them.”
- Gas shut-offs and power outages: More than 15,000 people in Malibu face gas shut-offs, county Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said, and the Sunset Mesa community is under a boil water advisory. The Palisades also has a boil water notice in effect. About 95,000 customers remain without power, according to utility officials. Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said sewers, power and transportation systems have been “significantly damaged.”
- Evacuations: Nearly 180,000 people in Los Angeles County are still under evacuation orders, Luna said. Another about 200,000 residents are under evacuation warnings, he added, which means they should get ready to leave their homes if ordered.
- The Woodley Fire: The fire that started Wednesday morning in the Sepulveda Basin west of Los Angeles’ Van Nuys neighborhood, is fully contained at 30 acres, according to Crowley.
- The forecast: Southern California’s most violent winds have eased slightly early Thursday, but are expected to pick back up throughout the day and remain gusty into at least Friday afternoon in the fire zone. Another round of Santa Ana winds is likely Saturday evening into Sunday, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said.
Strong winds are expected back in LA County soon, meteorologist warns
The strong gusts of wind will soon begin again in parts of Los Angeles County, said Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office.
“We are far from out of the woods,” Cohen said. “That window of time when the winds have decreased in many areas is quickly coming to a close.”
While the winds are not expected to be as “destructive” as they were Wednesday, they could still be strong enough to allow for fire growth, Cohen said.
“We are not expecting the winds to be as powerful, as destructive in terms of structural damage as we experienced yesterday, and over the last 24 to 36 hours. Nevertheless, they will be strong enough for significant fire growth, extreme and explosive fire behavior, and a significant threat to life and property,” he explained.
Cal Fire clarifies what it means when it says thousands of "structures" have been destroyed
Initial estimates on the number of structures destroyed by wildfires are based on heat signatures picked up by aircraft, and can include buildings and other objects beyond homes and businesses, according to Cal Fire.
Hopkins said damage inspection teams were already on the ground to make more detailed assessments.
While the term could include “a motorhome… a car…a shed,” Hopkins noted officials are certain that many homes and business have been destroyed.
Losses from the historic wildfires surge to $50 billion and continue to rise, according to JPMorgan
Economic losses from the wildfires in Los Angeles County have likely more than doubled in just the last 24 hours and now stand at close to $50 billion, according to an estimate from JPMorgan Chase.
The insured losses could exceed $20 billion, according to the estimate, and that figure could climb depending on when the fires are finally contained, according to the report that estimates the impact on the insurance industry. That would make it twice as big a hit to the insurance industry as what had previously been the most expensive fire, the 2018 Butte County Camp fire, which cost the industry $10 billion, said the report.
The report puts the number of homes and buildings at risk at close to 15,000 thus far, up from 13,000 as of Wednesday. Estimates from the Associated Press put the number of buildings already destroyed at about 2,000. At least five people are confirmed to have been killed, but Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters Thursday “we don’t know what to expect” in terms of a final death toll.
US swimmer Gary Hall Jr. says he lost 10 Olympic medals in Palisades Fire
Former US Olympian Gary Hall Jr. won 10 Olympic medals and six world championship medals in his swimming career. He believes he’s lost them all in the Palisades Fire, he said to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“It was worse than any apocalypse movie you’ve ever seen and 1,000 times worse,” he said to the Australian news outlet.
Hall, 50, told the Sydney Morning Herald he thought about the medals, but he did not have time to get them.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Hall, which says, “Gary Jr. lost his home and his livelihood in the devastating Palisades Fire on January 7.
“Gary saw flames out his window while he was at home before collecting his dog, Puddles, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious wooden piece his daughter Gigi gave him and drove towards the ocean as quickly as possible.
“He was forced to leave behind everything else he owned, such as irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and more. He has also most likely lost his ten Olympic medals, but nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, who lives in Pacific Palisades, donates $1 million to fire relief efforts
Academy-Award winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who has lived in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles for decades, announced she and her family are donating $1 million toward relief efforts in Los Angeles County.
“My husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there,” Curtis wrote in an Instagram post, noting “neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other.”
Curtis said she is in communication with state and local leadership to determine where her donation needs to be directed “for the most impact.”
Arson investigators are actively looking into Palisades Fire, LAFD chief says
Arson investigators are out actively looking into the start of the Palisades Fire that devastated the Los Angeles area, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference Thursday.
A total of 21 officials — including 16 arson investigators — plus one dog that is trained to sniff out fire accelerant, are on the case, LAFD told CNN.
The Palisades Fire started around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and has grown to about 17,234 acres, Crowley said. Preliminary reports estimate that the fire has damaged or destroyed thousands of structures, she added.
LA mayor says budget cuts didn’t contribute to the magnitude of fire disasters
After public criticism over budget cuts months ago affecting Los Angeles’ fire department, Mayor Karen Bass disputed the notion that the cuts contributed to the out-of-control flames now raging in the area.
“There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with over the last couple of days,” Bass said Thursday.
“There was a little bit of confusion because money was allocated to be distributed later on, which was actually going to support salaries and other parts of the fire department,” she said. But “the impact of our budget really did not impact what we’ve been going through over the last few days.”
When a reporter asked Bass about the budget and reserve funds, the mayor said she’s “not here to talk about the status of our budget.”
“Our No. 1 priority right now is to save lives, to protect lives, to save homes,” Bass said. “After our first priority, then we will look back at everything that was done to do an evaluation to see what worked and what didn’t work.”
In June, Bass approved a budget of almost $13 billion dollars that, among other things, reflected a $17,471,845 cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget. LAFD’s total budget is about $819 million.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley voiced her concerns in a December 4 report to the city’s fire board that was also sent to the City Council and the mayor.
“These budgetary reductions have adversely affected the Department’s ability to maintain core operations, such as technology and communication infrastructure, payroll processing, training, fire prevention, and community education,” Crowley wrote.
Mobile app for tracking wildfires hits No. 1 in App store
As wildfires rage across the Los Angeles area, a free mobile app and web browser is providing real-time monitoring of the scene to help people make evacuation decisions.
Watch Duty, a non-profit company, operates an app and web browser that tracks the spread of wildfires across the US and provides live updates about local fire damage, evacuations and emergency warnings and firefighting efforts.
The app, which is available for iOS and Android, has soared to the top of the charts on the App store this week. The app hit No. 1 among free apps in the Apple store and was No. 22 in the Google Play store, as of Thursday morning.
The app and web browser feature a digital map displaying how wildfires are developing, with location-specific updates.
Watch Duty, which was launched in 2021, is supported by over 150 volunteers who are “either active or retired first responders, dispatchers, paramedics and reporters,” according to its site.
“Our staff are aided by software and bots that scan the internet 24 hours a day and alert us to new fire starts from all publicly available data sources,” according to its site.
Angeles National Forest closed “until further notice”
In an effort to reduce calls for service and the potential risk for wildfire, the US Forest Service has made the decision to close the Angeles National Forest “until further notice,” US Forest Service Fire Chief Robert Garcia said Thursday morning.
“Angeles National Forest will be closed until further notice, likely until we get through this current fire weather,” Garcia said.
Going into the Angeles National Forest or being on any National Forest System trail or road within the Angeles National Forest is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual, according to the US National Forest Service.
About 95,000 customers remain without power, city utility official says
About 95,000 customers remain without power Thursday in Los Angeles, a city power official said Thursday.
Crews have restored power to about 200,000 customers in the city since the windstorm started, said Janisse Quiñones, CEO and chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
More than 210,000 customers remain without power across all of Los Angeles County, according to poweroutage.us.
The department has 118 crews working around the clock to restore power, with restoration times ranging from 24 to 48 hours, Quiñones said. Mutual aid crews from Pacific Gas & Electric are expected to arrive Thursday to provide support, she added.
Those who live in or near areas impacted by the fires may experience longer outages, due to compromised equipment, access issues or proactive safety shut-offs, Quiñones said.
The department has opened its water reservoirs to assist with water supply issues, she noted.
“Hollywood reservoir was a critical asset when we were fighting the Sunset Fire,” she said.
A boil water notice for the Palisades remains in effect and will continue for at least 48 hours, Quiñones said.
This post has been updated with additional information about the power outages in Los Angeles County.
Facing criticism, LA mayor vows full evaluation of city’s response after wildfires are contained
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has pledged an evaluation of the city’s response to the fires still raging through the area after the disaster is over and “when we are safe.”
“Rest assured that when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, what didn’t work and to correct or to hold accountable anybody – department, individual, et cetera,” she said Thursday after a reporter during a news conference with a bevy of local officials asked about a perceived lack of preparedness.
“But my focus right now is on the lives and on the homes,” Bass added.
Bass, who was out of the country on official public business when the fires started, has faced criticism over hydrants running out of water and a previous budget cut that included the city Fire Department.
Hydrants "not constructed to deal with" this level of devastation, mayor says
Brushing off criticism that fire hydrants on some streets, gutted by the Palisades Fire, ran out of water Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the level of devastation was not due to the water supply alone.
Bass said the situation was made more difficult by high winds, which simultaneously whipped up flames and embers and grounded support aircraft.
“That was the reason that the devastation was so bad – the unprecedented wind,” said Bass.
READ MORE: Water supply for fire hydrants “starting to stabilize,” incident commander says
Sewers, power and transportation "significantly damaged," Public Works director says
The Los Angeles County sewer, power and transportation systems “have all been significantly damaged,” Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said.
“The heat of this system, the wind that blew also knocked down thousands of trees in the roadways, so what we have is a tremendous amount of debris throughout the communities that have experiences with this fire,” he said.
Officials are working on a process with the city of Los Angeles to safely remove that debris from people’s properties, which is considered “hazardous and maybe toxic,” he added.
“It is not safe to touch the debris, it is not safe to remove the debris yourselves,” Pestrella said.
Some areas “look like a bomb was dropped in them,” sheriff says
It’s not clear how many people have been killed in the Los Angeles County wildfires, but officials say the devastation is tremendous.
“At one point, we’ll be able to do a more thorough search of these impacted areas,” Sheriff Robert Luna said. “Some of them look like a bomb was dropped in them, where we will be able to bring in canines and other things to help us hopefully not discover too many fatalities. That’s our prayer.”
But the sheriff acknowledged “we don’t know what to expect” in terms of a final death toll.
“We’re working with our coroner’s office, we’ll figure out those numbers,” he said “Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet. We eventually will.”
Nearly 180,000 residents in Los Angeles County under evacuation orders
There are 179,783 residents in Los Angeles County still under evacuation orders, Sheriff Robert G. Luna said Thursday.
Evacuation warnings are advisories for residents to “get ready” to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
The sheriff said the refusal of some people to heed evacuation orders is putting law enforcement officers’ lives in danger.
It is unclear exactly how many people have died in wildfires, LA County sheriff says
The exact number of people killed by the wildfires burning in Los Angeles is not known at this time, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday morning.
At least five people have died in the fires, officials have said. However, the county Sheriff’s Department is working with the county medical examiner’s office to “figure out those numbers,” Luna said during a news conference.
Asked if the current death toll is accurate, Luna said: “I want to be more confident in the specific information that I’m getting. So, what we’re doing now is going back through everything.”
Luna believes the current death toll will rise, he added. “I hope I’m wrong, but I think it’s going to rise.”
Woodley Fire knocked down at 30 acres
The Woodley Fire, which started Wednesday morning in the Sepulveda Basin west of Los Angeles’ Van Nuys neighborhood, is fully contained at 30 acres.
“We are using fire patrols to monitor the area for any flare ups,” city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday at a news conference. “The fire has been declared as a knockdown, and there are no current threats.”
More than 15,000 people impacted by gas shut-offs in Malibu, LA County supervisor says
Gas shut-offs and boil water advisories are in place for some Los Angeles County residents as the wildfires rage on.
More than 15,000 people in Malibu, from Brentwood Country Club to Pepperdine, face gas shut-offs, county Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a news conference Thursday morning.
The Sunset Mesa community is under a boil water advisory, she added.
Metro public transit fares remain suspended in the county, though residents are urged to avoid nonessential travel, Horvath noted.
Palisades Fire “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles” fire chief says
The Palisades Fire, which started January 7, has grown to 17,234 acres with zero percent containment as of Thursday morning, according to Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.
Extreme fire behavior continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisades area, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour expected throughout the day, Crowley said.
While fire damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades Fire, preliminary reports estimate the damaged or destroyed structures to be “in the thousands,” according to Crowley.
"We are still under a red flag warning," fire chief warns
Los Angeles County remains under a Red Flag Warning on Thursday despite calmer winds in the area, according to Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.
“We continue to battle multiple major brush fires in the city of Los Angeles and across the Los Angeles region,” Crowley said Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service predicts the warning will remain in effect for Los Angeles County and the majority of Ventura County through Friday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone added.
Growth of Eaton Fire stopped, but more than 1,000 structures damaged or destroyed
A drop in wind strength is helping firefighters prevent the spread of the Eaton Fire near Pasadena.
The Eaton Fire has been blamed for five deaths and, despite the lack of growth, has 0% containment.
“We have several reported injuries and over 1,000 structures damaged and destroyed,” said Marrone.
2 new rounds of dangerous winds will challenge firefighting efforts into next week
Southern California’s most violent winds have eased slightly early Thursday, but any break for fire crews will be short-lived. Winds will pick back up throughout the day and remain gusty into at least Friday afternoon in the fire zone, and there could be two additional dangerous wind events in the days to come.
Winds will ease briefly in the vicinity of the fires Friday evening into Saturday after surging to 30 to 50 mph with isolated higher gusts Thursday afternoon. But another round of Santa Ana winds is likely Saturday evening into Sunday that could once again reinvigorate critical fire weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
Winds from this event won’t be as strong as what occurred this week and will mainly be confined to higher elevations and foothills of the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles basin, rather than valley locations. But any winds could fan the flames of blazes burning in and around these mountain areas.
These winds look to ease once again later Sunday, but the threat still won’t be over. Another “potentially strong and damaging Santa Ana wind event” could develop between Tuesday and Wednesday night, according to the weather service.
“There is great concern that fire weather conditions could become exacerbated” by next week, the office said. “Residents are urged to stay tuned to latest information and remain vigilant in steps to protect your life and property.”
READ MORE: What are the Santa Ana winds?
Hollywood evacuation order has been lifted, Los Angeles mayor says
The evacuation order covering Hollywood, which had been threatened by the Sunset Fire, was lifted on Thursday morning, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.
“As of yesterday, winds have allowed for air operations, and that has enabled significant progress in Hollywood and Studio City last night,” Bass said. “As of 7:30 this morning, evacuation orders in Hollywood have been lifted.
20 people arrested for looting or similar acts in Los Angeles County, official says
At least 20 people have been arrested for looting or similar crimes as wildfires torch Los Angeles County, said Kathryn Barger, chair of the county’s Board of Supervisors.
She condemned those who tried to burglarize or loot homes.
“Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis,” Barger said.
NOW: City and county officials are holding a news conference in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County and city officials are holding a news conference to give the latest updates on the wildfires raging in the area and the ongoing recovery efforts.
Expected speakers include:
- LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger
- LA City Mayor Karen Bass
- LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone
- LA City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley
- LA County Sheriff Robert G. Luna
- LA City Police Chief Jim McDonnell
- LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman
- LA County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan
- LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella
- LA Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones
19 school districts closed in Los Angeles County as residents contend with unsafe conditions
As of Thursday morning, 19 school districts in Los Angeles County are closed as five destructive wildfires burn across the county, according to the Office of Education.
The closures include the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second-largest school district and the largest school district in California.
“The confluence of factors — wind, fire, and smoke — have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities,” LAUSD said in a statement Thursday morning.
The district is assessing whether classes will be remote on Friday, January 10, the statement said. A decision will be announced by 4 p.m. local time today, according to the school district.
Of the 19 school districts closed Thursday, four have already announced they will be closed on Friday, as well: Burbank Unified School District, Glendale Unified School District, La Canada Unified School District and Pasadena Unified School District.
Los Angeles County is home to 80 public school districts that serve 1.3 million elementary through high school students.
These companies are offering free and discounted services to wildfire victims
From unlimited cell phone data to rideshare vouchers, several companies are offering free and discounted services to residents and first responders impacted by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
About 130,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings due to five major wildfires.
Here is a list of some companies offering resources:
- Uber: Evacuees in Los Angeles County can use the code WILDFIRE25 through January 15 to get a discounted ride to an evacuation shelter. The offer is valid for two trips per rider and covers $40 per ride. The credit can only be used when traveling to the following designated evacuation shelters. Instructions on how to apply the promo code are here.
- Lyft: The rideshare service is offering $25 vouchers which are valid for two rides up to $25 each ($50 total) using the code CAFIRERELIEF25. However, the offer is only being offered to 500 customers from now until midnight on January 15.
- Airbnb: 211 LA is partnering with Airbnb to offer free temporary housing for people displaced from their homes due to wildfires. More info can be found here.
- YMCA: The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is offering free day passes at all locations not impacted by the fires. Free child care is also available at several locations for children of essential workers and displaced families. Those locations are: North Valley, Ketchum-Downtown, Culver-Palms, East Valley, Westchester, Mid Valley, West Valley, and Burbank. Space is limited.
- Planet Fitness: The fitness chain is offering evacuees and first responders free access to their facilities, including showers, locker rooms, and WiFi. The offer is valid until January 15
- Visit Anaheim: People affected by the wildfires can visit Visit Anaheim’s official website and find special discounts on hotels.
- AT&T: The cellphone carrier is offering unlimited talk, text and data to some wireless customers in Southern California through February 6. The offer applies to AT&T Postpaid & Prepaid customers with billing addresses in certain zip codes. A list can be found here.
- Verizon: Customers in hard-hit areas are being offered unlimited call, text, and data. “More details about this relief will be available in the coming days,” Verizon said in a news release. Also, free Verizon Wi-Fi and charging stations are available for public use at several locations noted in the press release.
California's insurance is in turmoil. The solution could cost homeowners
Lynne Levin-Guzman stood in the front yard of her 90-year-old parents’ home in Los Angeles County, California, trying to protect it with a garden hose — because their insurance company no longer would.
“And they wonder why people leave California,” she added.
Levin-Guzman and her parents’ experience is increasingly common. Between 2020 and 2022, insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state, according to the most recent data from the California Department of Insurance. That includes 531,000 in Los Angeles County, where fires are currently raging.
Some of those policies were not renewed by homeowners, according to an insurance industry trade group. But most of those policies were canceled by the insurers.
The issue has continued to build over the past several years, State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and consumer groups say. Insurers in California have been refusing to write new policies in areas they consider to be at high risk for wildfires, which is a large percentage of the state.
The rising threat of wildfires, and insurance companies pulling back on offering coverage in the large swaths of California at risk for these devastating disasters, has become a crisis for homeowners throughout the state. And while the state has recently taken steps to address the issue, those new rules are sparking their own criticism because of the increased costs to homeowners that could accompany them.
The problem of canceled policies has forced some homeowners to go without fire insurance or to use a program set up by the state — but without taxpayer support — called the California FAIR plan. Those policies have higher premiums than traditional private insurance and less coverage, often requiring homeowners to buy additional “wrap around” coverage at an even higher cost.
Read more about the home insurance crisis in California here.
"The battle of a lifetime": 2 friends describe what it was like to flee from a burning home
Storm chaser Tanner Charles and his friend Orly Israel, whose house was engulfed in flames during the Los Angeles wildfires, described how they made their escape from the Israel’s blazing home.
Charles shared a now-viral video on X where you can see the pair trying to leave the home as the fire rages on in the backyard and in the streets.
Israel said that there was little time to pack anything: “We’re just trying to get out of there as fast as we can by then because it — that junk is bunk, dude,” he told CNN.
The two friends said they were at the home trying to fight off the fires when they finally decided they needed to flee.
”We gave it our all, and also we stayed there way longer than anyone should have and still lost,” Israel said. “I feel like we fought a losing battle, but we fought it, and I’m glad we made it out alive.”
Charles told CNN that although it was a scary moment, he’s glad to be there at the right place and right time to help a friend in need during a natural disaster.
Los Angeles is waking up to apocalyptic scenes. Here's the state of play with the five major wildfires
The sun is about to rise in Los Angeles, shedding light on a devastating night of wildfires that have torn through multiple neighborhoods, sending huge plumes of smoke across the city and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.
It’s the most destructive fire in LA’s history, with five major blazes in different parts of the metropolis.
At least five people have died, and about 130,000 people are under evacuation warnings or orders.
Thursday morning brought some good news: winds died down, allowing fire crews to dump water from the air and raising hopes that the spread of the fire might slow. But gusts could pick up later, and the dramatic scale of the fires has made containment difficult.
Here’s what you need to know.
The five fires: The largest blaze is the Palisades Fire, burning across the seafront Pacific Palisades region between Malibu and Santa Monica. The blaze is spread across 17,200 acres, none of which has been contained, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire is burning 10,600 acres, scorching the Altadena neighborhood. Across the San Fernando Valley, the Hurst Fire and the Lidia Fire are still raging across 855 and 348 acres respectively. The newest blaze is the Sunset Fire, which has torn through the affluent Hollywood Hills neighborhood. It currently stretches across 43 acres.
Thousands race to safety: Evacuation orders and warnings were in place around the epicenter of each fire, affecting more than 100,000 people. Santa Monica issued an emergency order late Wednesday that included a curfew from sunset to sunrise in areas where evacuation orders are in effect. But fire activity in Hollywood did significantly decrease late on Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said, and most of the Sunset Fire’s evacuation zone was lifted.
Homes and businesses burn down: Almost 2,000 structures have been destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton Fires, and that number is expected to increase, according to AP. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies taken at 10:45 a.m. PT on Wednesday showed the Eaton Fire had set nearly every building in western Altadena on fire.
Relief from the winds: Firefighters tackling the Palisades blaze finally got a break on Thursday morning from the extraordinarily high winds that had fanned flames and tossed embers for miles. “What a welcome sight,” Brent Pascua, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection battalion chief, told CNN. “What this fire so desperately needed was a break in these winds so that we can actually get some containment now on this fire.”
Schools shut down: Sixteen school districts in Los Angeles County are closed Thursday as five destructive wildfires burn across the county, according to the Office of Education. The closures include the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second-largest school district and the largest school district in California.
16 school districts closed in Los Angeles County as wildfires rage
Sixteen school districts in Los Angeles County are closed Thursday as five destructive wildfires burn across the county, according to the Office of Education.
The closures include the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second-largest school district and the largest school district in California.
“The confluence of factors — wind, fire, and smoke — have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities,” LAUSD said in a statement Thursday morning.
The district is assessing whether classes will be remote on Friday, Jan. 10, the statement said. A decision will be announced by 4 p.m. local time today, according to the school district.
Of the 16 school districts closed Thursday, four have already announced they will be closed on Friday, as well: Burbank Unified School District, Glendale Unified School District, La Canada Unified School District and Pasadena Unified School District.
Los Angeles County is home to 80 public school districts that serve 1.3 million elementary through high school students.
LAFD response to wildfires hindered by city budget cuts, fire chief said weeks before recent blazes
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was confident that budget cuts she previously approved did not have an impact on the Los Angeles Fire Department’s response to the raging wildfires burning around the city and surrounding county, despite a report sent only weeks before from the city’s fire chief that the funding deficit has hurt the department’s “ability to maintain core operations,” including training and response to large-scale emergencies.
In June, Bass approved a budget of almost $13 billion dollars that, among other things, meant a $17,471,845 cut to the LAFD budget.
“These budgetary reductions have adversely affected the Department’s ability to maintain core operations, such as technology and communication infrastructure, payroll processing, training, fire prevention, and community education,” LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley wrote in a December 4 report to the city’s fire board and sent to the city council and the mayor.
The chief said particularly the $7 million reduction in Overtime Variable Staffing Hours (V-Hours) has “further exacerbated operational challenges.”
The department faced an inability to perform required brush clearance inspections to mitigate fire risks, and residential inspections for fire safety compliance were reduced, the chief said.
One unit particularly impacted by the budget shortfall was the Disaster Response Section, which oversees the department’s heavy equipment used during disasters.
“Heavy Equipment Operators who make fire control lines around wildland fires, manage firefighting robotics, wildland fire road maintenance, post-fire demolition services, and other all hazard emergency services. Ultimately, loss of funding impairs the Department’s ability to mitigate wildland fires and other hazards effectively,” the report said.
At Wednesday’s news conference, held soon after the mayor returned to the city from being out of the country, Bass said LAFD was able to recoup the funds.
“Within this fiscal year, LAFD actually would go above what was allocated,” she said.
A fire department spokesperson said the department will always request additional resources.
“This is not something that any fire department can be prepared for. And we always want to have more resources, and we’re always going to ask the mayor for more resources,” said LAFD Public Information Officer Captain Jacob Raabe.
CNN has reached out to the mayor’s office and the fire chief for comment and more information.
FEMA teams will provide assistance to wildfire victims, agency chief says
Federal Emergency Management Agency teams are working to help families who lost everything to the deadly Los Angeles County fires, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Thursday.
FEMA has not assessed damage, but there could be at least several hundred homes destroyed or with significant smoke damage, Criswell told CNN. Nearly 2,000 structures have been destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires, the Associate Press reported.
“So, we know that there’s going to be lots of families that are going to be in great need,” she said.
Having dealt with disasters of all kinds over her career, Criswell said what affects her the most about responding to wildfire victims is “the fact that they’ve lost everything.”
“They’ve lost all of their memories, all of their belongings, nothing for them to really even sift through,” she said. “This makes the recovery process – both from a physical standpoint of having to rebuild but also the emotional standpoint – so difficult for so many people.”
FEMA officials are staged up north in Sacramento, working side by side with state emergency operations teams, Criswell said. FEMA teams will soon start moving into shelters so they can help wildfire survivors register for federal assistance.
Why urban wildfire smoke can be especially dangerous to your health
We know wildfire smoke can create cancer-causing airborne particles and possibly an increased risk of dementia. But urban wildfires, like the ones ripping through Los Angeles County, might be even more hazardous.
“Just about anything you might imagine is going to be inside that smoke,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.
With an urban wildfire, “you’re burning everything – plastics and metals. You’re unearthing certain metals that are even in the soil. Cars and electronics and carpets and drapes – all of that gets into the atmosphere,” he said.
“These volatile organic compounds – benzene and formaldehyde and toluene – all these types of things are in the air, and people are breathing them in.”
Symptoms of illness from an urban wildfire might start with burning eyes and a scratchy throat. “But eventually, people may develop breathing difficulties and even chest pain,” Gupta said.
“That’s because of the toxicity of the smoke. But it’s also really small particle sizes as well, something known as ‘particulate matter 2.5,’” he said. “What that means is basically particles as small as 1/20th the width of a human hair.
“You breathe that in, that goes into your bronchioles, it goes into your lungs, it gets into your bloodstream and can eventually affect just about every organ in the body. So that’s why there’s so much concern there that can cause this systemic inflammation.”
It’s not just residents in the immediate area of the wildfires who need to take precautions.
“These toxins in the smoke can travel. They can get miles into the air, and they can travel miles with all the wind,” Gupta said. “So even if you’re not directly in the path of the smoke or the fires, you need to be careful here.”
For anyone at risk of urban wildfire smoke, Gupta suggests:
– Staying inside as much as possible
– If you must go outside, wearing an N95 mask
– Checking the filters on your HVAC system and using indoor air cleaners
– When driving, turning on the recirculation button on your car to avoid bringing outside air in.
“It’s a dangerous situation,” Gupta said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of toxins in the air. But there are also ways to try and protect yourself.”
Water supply for fire hydrants "starting to stabilize," incident commander says
Hours after officials acknowledged some Los Angeles County fire hydrants had run dry during the battle against devastating wildfires, the water supply has improved, the incident commander for the Palisades Fire said.
Three million-gallon storage tanks in the Palisades area that service the fire hydrants had been proactively filled before the fires broke out, but it wasn’t enough to cover the “extreme demand,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said Wednesday.
“However, water availability was impacted at higher elevations, which affected some fire hydrants due to limited replenishment of water tanks in those areas. The extreme demand caused a slower refill rate for these tanks which created a challenge for our firefighting effort,” he wrote on X.
About 20% of hydrants used to fight the Palisades Fire went dry Wednesday, city Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones acknowledged during a news conference.
Mobile water tankers are now supplementing the supply, Hudson said.
Why Palisades firefighters struggled to get water from hydrants: Strictly speaking, the problem was not a lack of water. None of the state’s reservoirs are running dry, the California Department of Water Resources says. But Pacific Palisades faces unique challenges when it comes to handling a sudden demand for water.
The neighborhood, with its southern edge bounded by the Pacific Ocean, is at the end of the water supply line that serves it. Pipes delivering water must get smaller the farther they get from their main supply line in order to maintain pressure.
Pacific Palisades was the only area in Los Angeles County with a water supply issue, said Michelle Figueroa, a spokesperson for the Department of Water and Power.
The combination of the extraordinary water demand to deal with the Palisades Fire – the largest of the Los Angeles County wildfires – along with the technical realities of delivering that water to a neighborhood far from the main supply created an unprecedented complication in getting the fire under control.
READ MORE: Water shortage in Palisades Fire was about delivery, not availability
Pacific Palisades evacuee reflects on her home, filled with family heirlooms: “It’s gone”
With no time to pack, Janet Davis drove away from her house in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning with just the clothes she was wearing and her purse.
She went to an appointment in Santa Monica. But then traffic was too thick to go back to her house when it was time to evacuate, Davis recalled.
“I just thought, ‘Well, I Iive on a street with sidewalks. There’s a fire hydrant two houses down, so what’s the problem?’” she told CNN’s Sara Sidner. “You live in the city and have all this normal city stuff.”
Still, Davis continued, “it didn’t make any difference.”
Now, “it’s gone,” she said of her home, citing video she’s seen of the destruction.
“We built our house pretty much from the ground up and filled it with family furniture and mementos, so it’s hard to realize that whole house full of family antiques and things are gone,” she said. “But they are.”
It’s “disheartening” and “unnerving” to hear firefighters went dry trying to battle the flames, Davis said.
Now, the first step will likely be to clear the lot where her home once stood “and then just keep moving,” she said.
“All I can do is just treat this as an adventure and see what I can do with it.”
Firefighters getting relief from high winds after hurricane-like conditions, says California fire chief
Firefighters battling the Palisades fire — which has burned more than 17,000 acres — are getting a break from yesterday’s extraordinarily high winds that fanned flames and tossed embers for miles.
“It was just trying to fight this fire like in a hurricane with fire all around you,” Brent Pascua, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection battalion chief, said.
Wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour were reported Wednesday, but Pascua told CNN’s Kate Bolduan that palm trees in the area are barely swaying this morning.
Winds have died down but intense gusts could come later today, CNN meteorologist warns
The day began with some relief, as a relaxation in the Santa Ana winds allowed fire crews to dump water from the air. However, intense winds are expected throughout Thursday in Los Angeles, threatening efforts to contain the raging blazes in several regions, according to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam.
“Helicopters and the aircraft helping fight the fire from the air were able to actually fly; that’s the main difference this morning, compared to yesterday at this time, when they were not able to fly because the winds were too erratic and too strong,” Van Dam said.
The seasonal Santa Ana winds, which are fueling the spread of the fires, see “strong, hot, dust-bearing winds descend to the Pacific Coast around Los Angeles from inland desert regions,” according to the the National Weather Service.
Gusts on Thursday could push the Pacific Palisades blaze toward more residential communities near the city. “The wind direction is so critical here; still coming out of the northeast, it picks up through the afternoon,” said Van Dam.
“Ridgetop winds down to the valley floors could reach 60 miles per hour — that’s tropical storm-force conditions,” he warned.
NFL would move Monday's playoff game if necessary, it says
Professional sports leagues and university athletic programs continue to monitor developments in the Los Angeles area, with some events postponed and others still on as scheduled.
NFL: The league is still preparing SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, in southwestern Los Angeles County, for Monday’s wild-card round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings, it said in a statement Wednesday evening. If a location change is needed, the game would move Monday night to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, it said.
NHL: The Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames was postponed Wednesday night, the league said, adding a makeup date will be announced as soon as it’s confirmed.
NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena – the same venue the Kings use – tonight at 10:30 ET. Any decision on whether that game is postponed would come from the league.
Pepperdine University: The women’s basketball game scheduled for today against Portland was postponed because of the Palisades Fire and restricted access to campus, the school’s athletics department announced Wednesday. The schools are coordinating with the West Coast Conference to reschedule the game.
Hollywood’s narrow and winding terrain is complicating efforts to escape the blaze
Fire crews and evacuees dealing with the raging Sunset Fire have had to navigating a major complication: the steep, narrow and winding terrain of the Hollywood Hills.
The neighborhood’s residents have been racing toward safety while fire trucks move up the hillside to tackle the blaze, leading to logjams on roads Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
“Traffic is jammed to fire trucks and police vehicles, as well as people trying to leave,” Scott Dill told CNN late Wednesday. Rows of vehicles left the area as first responders rushed to the scene, videos Dill took on Sunset Boulevard show.
The roads that snake through the Hollywood Hills are notoriously difficult to navigate, even on a normal day. Many residential streets have frequent bends, no sidewalks and little space for two-way traffic.
“Up here on the hill, the roads are just so small. There is barely any room for fire trucks,” Studio City resident Brandon Jones told CNN affiliate KABC.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deployed police officers to the area Wednesday night to help alleviate the evacuation traffic, she said on social media.
Previous record precipitation in Los Angeles gave way to more brush and wildfires, meteorologist says
A big factor contributing to the current wildfires is the onset of prolonged dry conditions, which came after Los Angeles recorded the highest rainfall in a two-year time span in 2024.
Speaking to CNN, Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, said, “brush grew from all that precipitation.”
He explained that once the rain stopped and dry conditions emerged, there was more vegetation for fires to sear through, therefore making the region more susceptible to widespread fires.
Studio City couple describes harrowing escape as fire engulfs their home
A couple in Studio City heard loud bangs late Wednesday, then noticed a house burning beside theirs on Sunswept Drive, they told CNN affiliate KABC.
“Well, we were sitting in our house watching television,” a man recalled. “And heard what seemed like gunshots,” a woman continued. “We … looked outside, saw our next-door neighbors’, fire coming out of their home. Took a second and went back out again.”
The man “went to grab some things, and I said, ‘Our house is on fire,’” she said. “We just grabbed our phones, the computer, our dogs and ran out.”
The blaze had ignited around 8:52 p.m. and quickly spread to adjacent brush, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
Over 50 firefighters responded.
Brandon Jones got a text message from his friends down the affected street about their house burning, he said.
“By the time they saw the fire, they couldn’t get out,” he said. “The fire line had already been established. And up here on the hill, the roads are just so small. There is barely any room for fire trucks. So, by the time the fire trucks had positioned themselves, they began to put the fire out. There was just no way they could get down.”
“By the time I got here, firefighters had already had everything set up, and the fires were being put out,” Jones said, adding his friends were fine and their home undamaged.
By 10 p.m., firefighters had knocked down the blaze, which created small spot fires and damaged neighboring buildings, the fire department said. No injuries were reported.
In pictures: Firefighters battle the blazes that are razing neighborhoods
Firefighters have spent days doing whatever possible to fight fires across Los Angeles County as strong winds and low humidity made for difficult conditions. Despite their efforts, the fires have ravaged whole neighborhoods, with no end in sight for the largest blazes.
Actor weeps in shock after seeing his home in ashes after fire
Actor Cameron Mathison spoke to CNN’s Laura Coates after documenting his return to his home of 13 years that he lost to the California wildfires.
The everyday heroes emerging as wildfires tear across the Los Angeles area
As the Los Angeles County wildfires rage, stories of heroism are beginning to emerge.
Thousands of local firefighters and first responders are trying to contain the flames and evacuate residents, with some pulling 48-hour shifts – even as their own homes ignite.
Strangers also are jumping in to help those in need.
Acrid smoke shrouded the sky as Gail, an Altadena resident, watched flames from the raging Eaton Fire swallow her next-door neighbor’s house. Each ember carried by powerful gusts could have been the spark that ignited the home where she has lived for the past decade.
All she could do was watch.
Although she made several calls to 911, “obviously they’re very busy,” Gail told CNN.
As flames spread to Gail’s property, burning down her garage, her community came to help.
“I don’t know who all these guys are who are helping to save my house right now, but I’m very grateful,” she said.
Volunteers grabbed water hoses and tried desperately to keep the flames at bay by dousing Gail’s roof and yard. But as the wind shifted, a sobering reality set in.
For more tales of heroism: READ THE FULL STORY
Santa Monica issues "sunset to sunrise" curfew in evacuation areas
Santa Monica issued an emergency order late Wednesday that includes a curfew from sunset to sunrise in areas where evacuation orders are in effect.
“The Palisades Fire is currently impacting neighborhoods in the northern part of Santa Monica with approximately 2,472 households under a mandatory evacuation order within the city of Santa Monica and 8,338 under a voluntary evacuation warning,” Mayor Lana Negrete said in a release posted on the city’s website.
“This emergency order further assists our first responders and further protects residents as we weather this regional crisis and, ultimately, begin and support recovery efforts.”
Residents save home from blaze as nearby Sunset Fire rages
Good Samaritans intervened to save a home near Runyon Canyon after a palm tree ignited just north of Franklin Avenue, sending ashes onto homes and alarming residents as the Sunset Fire continues to burn nearby, CNN affiliate KABC reported.
In a display of community spirit, local residents responded swiftly, using a ladder to access the roof of the house and spraying water onto the flames while communicating via a Ring camera with the homeowners, who had already evacuated, according to KABC. As debris fell into driveways, concerns grew that if one home caught fire, the entire block could be at risk.
Onlookers watched on as they tossed a water hose onto the roof, then worked for nearly 40 minutes to extinguish the flames, KABC reported.
Among the Good Samaritans was Tony, who recounted the scene to the news outlet. Along with his friends, he retrieved a ladder to get closer to the flames and climbed onto the roof for a better vantage point of the fire they were battling.
Satellite image shows the scale of the Eaton fire's destruction
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies taken at 10:45 a.m. PT on Wednesday showed the Eaton wildfire had set nearly every building in western Altadena on fire. From the Altadena trailhead to the Mountain View Cemetery, nearly every block was on fire. Those fires continued nearly all the way to Altadena’s east.
A veterinarian is sheltering dozens of pets during the raging Palisades fire
Dr. Annie Harvilicz, who runs two veterinary hospitals in Los Angeles – one in Marina Del Rey and another in Harbor City, miles away from the ongoing blazes – told CNN she has opened three locations for displaced dogs, cats and other pets.
What first began as caring for her brother’s two pets as he and his family fled the raging Palisades Fire, a Los Angeles-based veterinarian is now sheltering dozens of animals as their owners race to safety.
Harvilicz first received a desperate call from her older brother, David, who asked if she could take in his daughter’s bunny, Oreo, and his cat, Winston, as he was fleeing his home in Pacific Palisades with his family.
Harvilicz then put out a call on Facebook Tuesday morning, saying people can bring their animals into her empty veterinary hospital in Marina Del Rey. She used a new spot to shelter the animals, explaining how she moved her Marina Del Rey hospital to a new, larger building across the street a few weeks ago, and she still had the lease to the old building.
In addition to the two buildings, she said she made her hospital in Harbor City – about 20 miles south of Marina Del Rey – available for owners to bring their pets.
Since then, Harvilicz said she has been receiving hundreds of messages and calls from the Los Angeles community – the majority of whom, to her surprise, were volunteers offering to help her staff in any way possible.
Her staff are looking after the pets by feeding them, providing space for them to roam around, and offering medical care to the injured animals, some of whom suffered burns and lacerations, she said.
A larger batch of animals, including 5 goats, 2 sheep, 12 ducks, 24 chickens, 4 guinea pigs, 12 rabbits, 2 turkeys and a cockatiel, is heading to the Harbor City hospital after a petting zoo burned down, she said.
She added that volunteers and pet owners – some of whom had multiple pets and could not take them to the hotels they are staying – also helped the staff.
Harvilicz said she only got an hour’s sleep Tuesday night as she has been working around the clock, but said the animals has been keeping her motivated to help as many as owners as she can.
Winds are weaker now, but large fire developments persist, meteorologist says
Though winds are now gusting at a lower rate of 30-50 mph throughout Los Angeles, red flag warnings across neighborhoods remain in place, indicating the potential for “large fire development” across the region, Ariel Cohen, the Meteorologist in Charge of the National Weather Service Los Angeles, told CNN.
“Just because we’re not seeing the same strength of winds as we saw last night, I urge everyone to remain at a high state of vigilance, as we still have these fires growing and we still have the winds to create the rapid spread,” he said, adding that it will take a few days, likely through the end of the week, for winds to subside.
Cohen urged those affected to have multiple ways of getting emergency information.
Winds will increase Thursday night into Friday morning, with gusts of 40-55 mph and isolated gusts up to 70 mph across higher elevations. While these winds are not expected to be nearly as intense as what occurred earlier in the week, ongoing dry air and persistent drought conditions could cause any new spotting fires to quickly spread out of control.
Winds will subside through the day Friday, dropping to 15-25 mph with higher gusts. Red flag warnings are expected to expire by 6 pm Friday.
Evacuation orders lifted for most areas affected by Sunset Fire
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced late Wednesday that most of the evacuation zone for areas impacted by the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills has been lifted.
Officials have maintained restrictions on a small section of the community, specifically the region north of Franklin Avenue, stretching from Camino Palmero Street to N. Sierra Bonita Avenue, the fire department said in a statement. Initially, the zone encompassed several of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks, including the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Fire activity in Hollywood has significantly decreased, with the blaze now contained to 60 to 100 acres within a secured perimeter set by the LAFD, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A small half-acre fire in Nichols Canyon has also been extinguished.
This area will remain closed until Thursday morning while firefighters work to prevent any flare-ups. Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution upon returning to their homes.
Fine particulate matter from fires can travel long distances, penetrate lungs and bloodstream, expert says
The potential health hazards that come from the ongoing wildfires in Southern California are dire –– even for those who are far from the blaze, UCLA epidemiology professor Anne Rimoin told CNN.
“This fine particulate matter can go long distances,” she said, and “penetrate deep into the lungs and become a real problem,” Rimoin said. “It can even enter the bloodstream.”
Rimoin says such poor air quality will most acutely affect those with chronic conditions, those who are pregnant and young people. She urged people to stay inside, keep windows and doors closed and to run air conditioners, along with air filters if possible.
Those who must be outside should wear N95 masks, she said.
Air quality across Southern California is reaching a “hazardous” level 6 of 6, according to the latest from IQair.
But even with doors closed and HEPA filters running, one family who fled their homes in Pasadena said the smoke was just too thick.
“We had all the filters going in the house, the HEPA filters and nothing seemed to work,” told CNN affiliate KSNV.
Espinoza fled with 13 other family members and will stay with relatives in Las Vegas until the fires ease.
According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, the searing heat from wildfires can transform metals found naturally in the soil into cancer-causing airborne particles.
“In the complex mixture of gasses and particles that wildfires spew out as smoke and leave behind as dust, heavy metals such as chromium have largely been overlooked,” Scott Fendorf, co-author of the study and professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, said in a December press release.
How the fires are hitting Hollywood
As deadly fires rage across Los Angeles, numerous members of the Hollywood community have been impacted and forced production shutdowns across the county.
Actor and comedian Billy Crystal, singer Mandy Moore, actor Anna Faris and TV host Ricki Lake are among those who have been affected or lost homes in the devastating blazes.
Paris Hilton said she learned that her Malibu home was lost while watching it burn on live TV, writing on her Instagram page the image is something “no one should ever have to experience.”
Celebrity chef Sandra Lee also said she lost her house due to the disaster.
Actors James Woods and Steve Guttenberg each spoke to CNN Wednesday morning about their emotional experiences navigating the fires in their neighborhoods.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has pushed back its Oscars nominations announcement and extended the Oscars voting window to give Academy members – many of whom live in Los Angeles and have been impacted or displaced during the wildfires – more time to cast their ballots.
Many Hollywood productions have been forced to stop filming as well, amid the high winds, smoke and dangerous fires, according to The Hollywood Reporter, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Hacks,” “Suits L.A.,” “NCIS” and “The Price Is Right.”
Read more here.
At least 5 dead as fires cause apocalyptic scenes across the LA area. Here’s where things stand
Some Los Angeles County residents will wake up to hazardous conditions today, as polluted air and unsafe water pose a threat in several areas.
At least five people have been killed and officials expect the death toll to rise as fast-moving fires continue to blaze across Los Angeles County, mostly uncontained.
The fires are the most destructive in LA history, with more than 1,000 structures burnt and over 130,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings as of Wednesday. More than 200,000 homes and buildings are without power.
Here’s where things stand:
The major fires: The Palisades Fire that is scorching the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica has exploded to more than 17,200 acres with zero containment. The other massive blaze, the fast-moving Eaton Fire, is overtaking homes across Altadena is at 10,600 acres and 0% contained. The Hurst Fire is at least 855 acres and 10% contained, while the Lidia Fire is 348 acres and 40% contained. The newest to break out is the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, where evacuation orders have been issued, and is burning through 60 acres with zero containment. The Woodley Fire has now been contained 100% having burnt 30 acres.
Why the fires spread so quickly: Extreme fire weather ignited fires throughout Southern California, as strong winds and low humidity exacerbate conditions. The wind and fast-moving embers were the biggest factors that caused the fire to spread so quickly, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin. Although winds decreased in intensity Wednesday, they were still making it difficult for firefighters. The cause of the Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation,” LA Country Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. Wildfires are fueled by a knot of factors, but scientists say that global warming is loading the dice in favor of more intense and severe blazes.
Fire forecast: Critical fire weather is forecast to last across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Friday. While much of Southern California should see a brief lull in wind gusts this morning, the National Weather Service warned that winds are expected to begin to increase through the day. Red flag warnings remain for over 10 million people.
Costliest wildfire in history: The Palisades wildfire alone is expected to be the costliest in history, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. It’s also the most destructive fire in state history to occur in the month of January.
Dedicated response: Firefighters are risking their lives battling the fast-moving wildfires, with some personnel working 36-hour and 48-hour shifts. More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency workers have been mobilized. Nevada is also sending resources from multiple fire agencies to Southern California to help in the firefight, and the California National Guard has deployed troops.
Water concerns: The City of Pasadena issued an urgent alert concerning unsafe drinking water in areas impacted by recent evacuations due to the Eaton Fire. The Pasadena Water and Power system may be compromised by “debris and elevated turbidity,” according to the city. Residents are advised to rely solely on bottled water for all consumption, including drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and pet care.
Air quality: The excessive smoke and ash has caused air quality to plummet to ‘hazardous’ levels across parts of the region and air quality alerts are in place in many areas, including Downtown Los Angeles. Altadena has a current air quality index of 426, which exceeds the worst air quality seen in New Delhi, a city notorious for air pollution, over the last two days.
Learning disrupted: All schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed today. The district will announce a decision by 4:00 p.m. PT on whether schools will be open Friday, while all schools in Pasadena will be closed for the rest of the week. In the Palisades, two schools have been burnt to the ground.
Air quality across Southern California reaching "hazardous" levels, level 6 of 6
As wildfires rage across Southern California, the excessive smoke and ash has caused air quality to plummet across parts of the region. Altadena, California, has a current air quality index of 426, according to the latest from IQair.
This index is well into “hazardous” levels, or a level 6 of 6 on the air quality index scale. This exceeds the worst air quality seen in New Delhi, a city notorious for air pollution, over the last two days, according to Worldwide Air Quality.
With the excessive smoke and airborne particles present across Southern California, air quality alerts are in place across much of the region, including Downtown Los Angeles. These alerts are currently issued through late Thursday but will likely be extended as firefighters battle for containment.
Critical fire weather to last across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Friday
As the “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warnings have expired due to the winds improving across Southern California Wednesday, regular red flag warnings remain for more than 10 million people across Southern California through Friday as ongoing dry and persistent drought remain.
While much of Southern California should see a brief lull in wind gusts through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service warns that winds are expected to begin to increase through the day Thursday.
The NWS currently calls for gusts of 30 mph to 50 mph through the day, including for the Eaton, Lidia and Hurst Fires. Fortunately, the Palisades and Sunset Fires are expected to have weaker winds, with their Thursday forecasts calling for winds of 20 mph and 10 mph respectively.
“For Thursday night and Friday, winds will be slightly stronger, with gusts of 40 mph to 55 mph, and isolated gusts up to 70 mph possible in favored foothills and peaks,” warns the weather service. While these winds are not expected to be nearly as intense as what occurred earlier in the week, ongoing dry air and persistent drought conditions could cause any new spotting fires to quickly spread out of control.
The weather service will likely release updated specific forecasts for each of the notable fires in the coming hours, giving more specific forecasts for what the winds could gust to for each fire Thursday night through Friday.
How the devastating LA County fires are disrupting learning for thousands of students
The wildfires that continue to race through LA County have destroyed and damaged multiple schools and disrupted the education of thousands of students.
All schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school district with about 1,000 schools, will be closed Thursday, according to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
In the Palisades: Three schools have sustained “significant damage,” two of which have “burned completely to the ground,” Carvalho said.
Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Charter Elementary School are no longer standing, Carvalho told CNN. He said more than 700 students attended those schools.
Palisades Charter High School, which provided services to more than 2,000 students, “sustained serious damage,” he said.
Combined, at least a third of all students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are being impacted in some way, Carvalho said. The biggest concern right now, he said, is air quality.
LAUSD said it will have mental health resources available for students and their families.
In Pasadena: All schools in the district will remain closed for the rest of the week, according to the superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District.
At least five schools in the district have been “substantially damaged” by the fires, including Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, Franklin Elementary and “three campuses that house other schools,” Blanco said.
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