Closing summary
The clock just marked 7pm in Los Angeles and we are closing our live blog for the evening.
For all our coverage of the California wildfires, please see here.
Here’s where things stand as of Tuesday night:
The death toll has risen to 25, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner. The 25th victim died in the Eaton fire, which has killed 17 people so far.
Nearly 90,000 households were without electricity in southern California. Utilities have shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes in the region.
A windblown dust and ash advisory was issued by the Los Angeles county department of public health due to strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Wednesday at 7pm.
The California governor issued an executive order barring “opportunist speculators” from taking advantage of the victims affected by the Los Angeles-area fires with “unsolicited cash offers to buy their properties”.
Newsom also announced “fast-track” recovery efforts for students and families displaced by LA’s firestorms.”
Fema has received over 40,000 applications for support from those affected by the California fires, Robert Fenton, the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 9 said.
The Eaton fire, the deadliest fire in southern California history, has burned over 14,000 acres and 7,000 structures. As of Tuesday night, the blazes were 35% contained. The Palisades fire, which has killed at least eight people, was 18 percent contained.
The Auto fire, which erupted Monday night, is now 47 percent contained. The Hurst Fire was 97% contained on Tuesday night.
39 arrests were made for burglary, curfew breaches and drone incident. In total, the Los Angeles county sheriff’s department has reported 39 arrests, officials said. 33 of those arrests are in the Eaton fire area, Luna said, and six in the Palisades area.
Updated
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles cautioned residents on Tuesday that the emergency isn’t over yet, but she wants them to start thinking about recovery and rebuilding if possible.
“While we’re going through what I hope is the final hours of this emergency, it’s also time to begin to talk about our recovery,” she said.
The Los Angeles county department of public health has issued a windblown dust and ash advisory due to strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Wednesday at 7pm.
The south coast air quality management district warned that these winds may stir up ash from recent fire burn scars and create dust, potentially affecting air quality across Los Angeles county.
Communities throughout Los Angeles county, especially those located downwind of burn scars, may experience the most significant impacts.
Updated
The California governor, Gavin Newsom, issued an executive order on Tuesday barring “opportunist speculators” from taking advantage of the victims affected by the Los Angeles-area fires with “unsolicited cash offers to buy their properties”.
“The last thing these victims need are greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain with low-ball offers,” Newsom said.
The order makes these types of offers illegal for three months in specific zip codes, which include the Altadena region.
Updated
A new fire was burning in Riverside county, between Indian Hill Road and the Santa Ana River.
The Scout fire has burned two acres, according to the California department of forestry and fire protection.
The flames began around 1.10 pm in the Santa Ana River bottom.
Updated
Death toll rises to 25
At 4pm the Los Angeles county medical examiner’s office confirmed the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the area has risen to 25.
Meanwhile, Brice Bennet, deputy state fire marshal, shared an update via X on Tuesday afternoon saying that the mountains of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties will be under a red flag warning from 10pm Tuesday to 12pm on Wednesday. Bennet said:
The National Weather Service has issued their highest level of warning, called a particularly dangerous situation. Damaging winds with gusts between 55 and 70 miles per hour are expected across the affected areas through Wednesday morning. The winds have already begun to increase in Southern California and are expected to peak early this afternoon. These conditions create a high risk for large, rapidly spreading fires, extreme fire behavior and long range spotting.
Updated
Several Southern California parks have temporarily closed as fires continued to ravage the region on Tuesday.
Pyramid Lake, Los Alamos Campground, and Vista del Lago are temporarily shut until January 19, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Angeles National Forest will be closed from Jan. 14, 2025, at 12 a.m. through Sunday, January 19, 2025, at midnight.
Los Angeles county’s department of public health has announced a “windblown dust and ash advisory” for the region.
The department is recommending that people wear goggles and masks, use air purifiers and stay indoors as the Santa Ana winds increase into the evening.
Updated
As Los Angeles residents await the worst of the winds that have been forecast, the city is warning people against using items like leaf blowers and barbecue grills. In a post on X, Unified LA, the city’s outlet for emergency public information, said:
Strong Santa Ana winds pose a heightened fire risk. Please avoid using leaf blowers, grills, and any equipment that generates sparks during these winds. It only takes a small spark to ignite a major wildfire. Protect our community and stay safe.
Peak Santa Ana winds are expected between 3am and 3pm on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Updated
The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department announced the repopulation of communities affected by the Eaton fire effective on Tuesday, 14 January, at 3pm.
Evacuation orders have been lifted south of Canyon Crest Road and west of Lincoln Avenue in the Altadena region.
The remaining areas of the community are still closed.
Updated
The National Weather Service said on Tuesday afternoon that “winds are weaker than expected today, but looking for one more enhancement late tonight and Wednesday”.
“Not quite out of the woods yet,” read a post on X.
Forecast models showed that on Wednesday, winds may reach up to 70mph in the mountains and 30-50mph in coastal and valley areas.
Updated
Nearly 90,000 households without electricity in southern California
Utilities have shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes in the region.
On Tuesday afternoon, the areas facing the greatest fire risk were inland areas north of Los Angeles, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley, home to more than 300,000 people, forecasters said.
Updated
A new virtual map by Los Angeles county helps wildfire survivors check the status of their property and see whether their house is still standing.
The map, available on the county’s website, features photos and a color-coded key indicating the level of damage to homes affected by the Eaton fire, according to Kathryn Barger, the county’s board of supervisors chair.
These are the map’s color codes: black for no damage, green for 1–9% affected, yellow for 10–25% affected, orange for 26–50% affected, and red for more than 50% destroyed.
Updated
In Santa Monica, the evacuation warning remains unchanged north of San Vicente Boulevard and winds are expected to continue through Wednesday.
Residents may voluntarily return to this area but remain prepared with gathered essentials and be ready to leave the area if conditions worsen, according to the city’s warning.
Santa Monica restaurants and businesses “are open and here for you”, reads a post on X. “We encourage support to our local businesses if you can.”
Updated
Hollywood’s awards season has all but come to a rare halt as the wildfires continue to disrupt life and work in the Los Angeles area.
The Hollywood guilds and organizations that put on awards shows are releasing frequent updates as the industry navigates the ongoing crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice and some guilds have postponed their announcements without setting new dates.
The only major show to push ahead thus far is the Critics’ Choice awards, which will now be held 26 January.
Updated
Los Angeles and parts of Ventura county to the north are under “extreme fire risk” warnings through Wednesday.
Officials are warning there is a “significant risk of rapid fire spread” due to the Santa Ana winds, which are gusting up to 75mph, combined with low humidity.
The “particularly dangerous weather situation” designation is used very rarely and was designed by meteorologists to signal “the extreme of the extremes”.
Updated
The day so far
About 88,000 people in Los Angeles county were under evacuation orders on Tuesday, with another 84,800 under evacuation warnings due to wildfires.
Here’s where the fires stand:
Palisades fire: More than 23,700 acres burned, 17% contained.
Eaton fire: 14,117 acres burned, 35% contained.
Hurst fire: 799 acres burned, nearly fully contained at 97%.
Auto fire: Fully contained; no evacuation orders remain in effect.
Southern California residents are bracing for new wildfire warnings and power outages as strong, fire-fueling winds sweep through the region. Some areas could see winds approaching hurricane force on Tuesday, peaking in the morning, easing briefly, and strengthening again later in the day.
Fire crews have been reinforced to tackle flare-ups or new fires. A week after the wildfires began, the flames have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
Updated
Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who represents congressional district 37, just east of Lieu’s district, said earlier: “With Angelenos grieving and LA on fire, Speaker Johnson is threatening to condition aid to CA in our time of need.
“Mr. Speaker, the real leaders are in CA addressing this crisis—not making cowardly partisan attacks. Shame on you, Speaker Johnson. We need relief, not politics.”
The devastating wildfires have already become politicized.
Republican Mike Johnson, the newly re-elected speaker of the House, said on Monday “it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duties”, adding that the aid the state receives should be conditional.
His comments were met with fierce backlash, particularly from those within California.
”It is outrageous for Speaker Johnson to try to condition disaster relief for Californians impacted by the fires,” said US congressman Ted Lieu, who represent’s the state’s 36th district, which includes areas just south of the Palisades fire like Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
“We shouldn’t leverage the pain & suffering of Americans to try to force through a partisan policy agenda. Mother Nature doesn’t strike based on a person’s politics.”
California governor announces 'fast-track' recovery efforts for students and families
Newsom just announced he also signed an executive order to “fast-track recovery efforts for students & families displaced by LA’s firestorms.”
”We’re cutting red tape to help damaged and destroyed schools quickly set up temporary facilities, ensuring students can return to classrooms as soon as possible.”
Updated
California governor Gavin Newsom echoed Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass’s calls for expediting the rebuilding of the city.
“California is working together with @MayorofLA and local governments across SoCal to rebuild from the unprecedented wildfires,” Newsom said on X. “Days ago, the state cut red tape and cleared barriers to fast-track recovery — and LA’s efforts comprehensively build on our work to help Californians.”
Like Bass, Newsom signed his own executive order on Sunday. According to the governor’s website, this order will:
Suspend CEQA review and California Coastal Act permitting for reconstruction of properties substantially damaged or destroyed in recent Southern California wildfires.
Direct state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements, including provisions of the Building Code, that can safely be suspended or streamlined to accelerate rebuilding and make it more affordable.
Extend protections against price gouging on building materials, storage services, construction, and other essential goods and services to January 7, 2026, in Los Angeles County.
Commit to working with the Legislature to identify statutory changes that can help expedite rebuilding while enhancing wildfire resilience and safety.
The National Weather Service says for all those under a red flag warning to:
have at least 2 evacuation routes
keep a go-kit handy
follow fire prevention tips and regulations
keep abreast of official updates and evacuation orders
Updated
“Critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions will continue for southern California through Wednesday due to moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds. Red Flag Warnings are in effect,” the National Wether Service said.
What is a red flag warning?
It’s issued during dry, windy conditions – when critical fire weather conditions are happening, or about to happen.
Two disaster recovery centers have opened today in Los Angeles.
One is at UCLA Research Park West and the other is at Pasadena City College – Community Education Center, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) announced.
“As California has experienced an unprecedented hurricane-force firestorm, Cal OES has led the efforts to respond to and recover from wildfire impacts,” Cal OES said. “Involving nearly every part of state government, the work now turns to recovery where Cal OES, state agency staff, federal and local partners work to help fire survivors get back on the road to recovery following the wildfires that began on January 7, 2025.”
As fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, several utilities have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise.
A warmer, drier climate means wildfires are getting worse, and encroaching on cities – with devastating impact. Toxic chemicals from those burns can get into damaged drinking water systems, and even filtering or boiling won’t help, experts say.
Last week, Pasadena Water and Power issued a “do not drink” notice to about a third of its customers for the first time since it began distributing water more than a century ago. With at least one burned pump, several damaged storage tanks, and burned homes, they knew there was a chance toxic chemicals had entered their pipes.
Updated
Santa Monica police department officers stopped hundreds of people in the city’s evacuation zones from 7 January to 13 January, the department said, leading to more than 40 arrests.
From 7 January to 13 January, Santa Monica Police Department officers arrested more than 40 people who were in the zones in violation to the legal emergency orders, the department said in a release, adding that most were also violating the city and county curfew orders.
10 were arrested for burglary, officials said, 6 were in “possession of burglary tools” and the rest were arrested for other violations, including curfew, drug possession, driving violations, outstanding warrants, parole and probation violations, etc.
“Two of the individuals were in possession of concealed handguns” the release states, adding “None of the arrestees are from Santa Monica.”
Over 66,000 without power in southern California
Around 20,000 customers in Ventura County are without power this morning, according to PowerOutage.us
In Los Angeles County, 46,012 customers are experiencing power outages as of 11:30am ET.
Updated
All Malibu schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will remain closed today, officials said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath added that all Santa Monica campuses will be open today.
Horvath said that she has been in touch with the Santa Monica Mayor who is closely monitoring the situation.
Over 40,000 applications received by FEMA for California fire aid
FEMA has received over 40,000 applications from those affected by the California fires, Robert Fenton, the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 9 said.
FEMA has already provided over $8 million in serious needs assistance, Fenton said.
“I encourage every head of household to apply to FEMA assistance,” he said, adding that not every member of the family has to apply, just the head of the household.
For renters, where there are multiple renters for a property, you can each apply individually, he said.
Updated
Officials urge people to be prepared to evacuate if needed.
“We are giving this fire everything we’ve got” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said. “This is a particularly dangerous situation, from now through tomorrow, the strongest winds will be this evening, and we ask everyone to get prepared now to evacuate.”
The libraries in Los Angeles County have FEMA staff available to provide assistance, Horvath added.
“Yesterday, I signed an executive directive to begin to lay the foundation policy wise for the rebuilding effort” Bass said.
“We’re going to make it through these next few days, but we want to begin to think about how we rebuild the massive destruction that I saw from the air” the Mayor added. “We don’t want people burdened by red tape and bureaucracy.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said that she did an aerial tour of the impacted areas yesterday.
“The massive, massive destruction is unimaginable until you actually see it” Bass said.
After the aerial tour, Bass said that she spoke with firefighters who have been on the job for 25, 30 years, who told her that they had “never seen destruction like this.”
“They have never seen wind so fierce in Los Angeles and California” Bass added.
Official urges mask use as high winds expected to blow ash from Palisades fire
Anish Mahajan, the chief deputy director of the Los Angeles County health department, said that a wind blown dust advisory has been issued due to the strong winds expected on Tuesday.
“High winds may disperse the ashes from the Palisades eaten and other fire burn scars” Mahajan said. “Wind blown ash from burn structures may contain higher air toxic levels if you see the ash, take precautions to reduce your exposure.”
Mahajan urged people to wear N95 or P100 masks if they are in an area affected by ash.
Updated
Over the last two days, the police have arrested three people for setting fires, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said.
Those fires were put out and the suspects were booked and taken into custody.
The Los Angeles Police Department has made 14 arrests, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said.
The arrests include failure to obey curfew, impersonating an officer, impersonating a firefighter, unauthorized entry, vandalism, possession of ammunition, and burglary.
Updated
Los Angeles Police Department Chief says as of this morning, 34 people were reported missing and the LAPD reports that 21 of them have been found safe.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said that of the 13 remaining, 2 “most likely have been found deceased but have yet to be positively identified”. 11 remain unaccounted for, he said.
McDonnell said that there were three fatalities that “are fire related” and one person who died at a hospital but was not reported missing.
Updated
Winds still pose 'tremendous threat', LA officials say
While peak winds today are not expected to be as strong as last week’s wind event, they still pose a “tremendous threat”, Los Angeles officials said.
“As we enter into another period of dangerously high winds, we remain deployed and ready to assist with any additional evacuations should that need arise” said Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.
He added, “And if you’re asked to evacuate, please listen to all evacuation orders as they are meant as a life saving measure.”
Updated
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says that they have searched approximately 3,654 properties in the Altadena area and 1,800 properties in Eaton.
“This operation continues” Luna said. “It’s active, not easy work, and the good news was that no other remains were found yesterday.”
The death toll stands at 21 for the department’s area, not including LAPD or Pasadena numbers, Luna said.
“We are actively working 24 missing person cases, 18 in the Eaton area, six in the Malibu area, all adults” Luna added.
39 arrests made for burglary, curfew breaches and drone incidents
In total, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have reported 39 arrests, officials said.
33 of those arrests are in the Eaton Fire area, Luna said, and 6 in the Palisades area.
The arrests include for burglary, curfew arrests, and drone incidences.
Updated
About 88,000 residents are under evaucation orders, and 84,800 residents are under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County officials said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that though there is a decrease in the number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings, “it is still very dangerous for the next 24 hours, so we’re keeping a very close eye.”
“That’s why we have not downgraded the number of personnel” Luna said.
Curfew is still in effect, Luna said, from 6pm to 6am, for the impacted evacuation orderareas.
The Palisades fire is at 23,713 acres and 17% containment, fire officials said.
Kristin Crowley, the Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, added that 5200 personnel are assigned to the fire.
“Firefighters will continue to work tirelessly throughout the day to increase containment lines prevent further spread and address any flare ups” Crowley said.
The Hurst fire is at 799 acres, Crowley added and is 97% contained.
The Los Angeles County Super Scooper that was damaged by a drone last week will be available for response starting at 11am today, officials say.
Severe fire weather conditions will continue through tomorrow, fire officials say
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at the news conference that the worst winds “are predicted today for the late afternoon and into Wednesday.”
“Please be assured that the Los Angeles County region is prepared the anticipated winds combined with low humidity and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in the LA region critical” he added.
Updated
A third of damage inspections for the Eaton Fire have been completed, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Eaton fire remains at 14,000 acres without increase in last two days
No increase in acreage in the Eaton Fire in the last two days, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says.
The Eaton fire remains at 14,117 acres, Marrone said in the news conference with 35% containment.
Over 7,000 structures are damaged or destroyed, he said.
Updated
Los Angeles County officials are about to provide an update on the County’s response to the Palisades and Eaton Fires.
Angeles National Forest is temporarily closed from Tuesday through Sunday for public safety and the protection of natural resources, as the fire danger in the forest remains “critical.”
According to a press release, the entire Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountain National Monument are temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources from 14 January at 12 am through Sunday, 19 January, at midnight.
“This closure is tied to critical fire danger” the release states.
More than 1,850 National Guard members involved in firefighting in California
Hundreds of National Guard members are now involved in multiple air and ground firefighting efforts as wildfires rage across the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California.
More than 1,850 Guard members from California, Nevada and Wyoming are activated, according to officials.
The California Guard has also activated two ground firefighting teams and four military police companies to assist local law enforcement and emergency response and additional Cal Guard military hand crews have joined the firefighting efforts in Southern California.
“Our hearts go out to the people of California impacted by these devastating wildfires,” said Gen Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “Helping communities in need is a core National Guard mission, and we are incredibly proud of the men and women who, as they always have, answered the call to duty to work alongside first responders and emergency managers and all of our partners at the local, state and national levels.”
Updated
Palisades Charter High School in seeking a temporary campus after parts of the school was destroyed in the Palisades fire.
In a statement, the school said that the “fires have taken a heavy toll on our school community, displacing many of our families and students who have lost their homes and their belongings.”
“Our primary goal is to keep our community united during this challenging time, enabling students to continue their education alongside their friends, teachers and peers” the statement reads. “We urgently seek assistance from the Los Angeles community to help secure a temporary campus or shared space.”
The school is looking for temporary classroom spaces or campuses available for lease or donation, large indoor and outdoor spaces for hosting students and teachers, volunteers, and more.
The Eaton Fire is 35% contained, as of 7am local time on Tuesday.
California Fire officials said on Tuesday that the Eaton Fire, which began on 7 January, has burned 14,117 acres and is 35% contained.
As firefighters continue to battle the blaze, almost 40,000 structures are threatened, officials said, and 2,722 structures have been destroyed along with 329 that have been damaged. The Eaton fire has caused the death of 15 people, officials said, and 5 firefighters have been injured.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
The fire area will remain under a Red Flag warning until early Wednesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order on Monday night aimed at expediting the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities.
“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” Mayor Bass said. “This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion. We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home.”
The order will create task forces for debris removal and storm risk mitigation, expedite building permit reviews and inspections, allow “like for like” rebuilding, waive discretionary review processes, and speed up temporary occupancy approvals for 1,400 housing units in the City and more.
Pamo fire's forward progress stopped in San Diego county, says officials
Forward progress of the Pamo fire in San Diego County, which ignited early Tuesday morning, has been stopped, California fire officials said.
The Pamo fire ignited early on Tuesday morning in the community of Ramona in San Diego County, officials said.
Just before 10am ET, the fire was at 10 acres and was threatening one structure, the officials said.
At 10:16 am ET, officials said that forward progress of the fire had been stopped and firefighters were making good progress.
Updated
Forward progress on the Auto fire, which broke out late on Monday in Ventura County and has burned 55.7 acres, has been stopped, fire officials said.
Though the forward progress been stopped, it is currently 0% contained.
“Firefighters from Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura City Fire, Oxnard Fire and Federal Fire Ventura County remain on scene mopping up hotspots and working to increase containment” fire officials said. “The fire was confined to the river bottom and no structures were threatened.”
“The cause of the fire Is under investigation” officials added.
Updated
Scenes from the Los Angeles fires are often of scorched earth and massive flames, but also noticeable is a peculiar pink haze which covers houses, cars, and trees.
What is it? It’s a product called Phos-Chek, a fire retardant used by firefighters made of water, ammonium phosphate and iron oxide.
It slows the rate of wildfire spread by “cooling and coating fuels, depleting the fire of oxygen, and slowing the rate of fuel combustion as the retardant’s inorganic salts change how fuels burn,” according to the US Forest Service.
Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of the pink stuff all over the LA area.
As flames roared into communities on all sides of Los Angeles last week, and tens of thousands of residents rushed to evacuate, trailers across southern California were being hitched and trucks fueled. A network of volunteers was preparing to descend on the fire zones, ready to risk it all to save pets and livestock in need.
In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling winds, ashen air and the very strangers desperately trying to get them to safety.
These strangers had quickly stepped up to answer calls for help. Mobilizing through social media pages or elaborate phone trees, they worked through the nights, driving into burning hillsides and through scorched wreckage. For some, it’s not the first time they’ve gone willingly into the fray.
Musician Madlib is reported to have lost his extensive record collection as well as much of his equipment and his home in the California wildfires, in what is being described as an immense loss for music.
The celebrated hip hop producer, who has worked with some of the most prominent names in rap such as Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg in his decades long career, is among the tens of thousands affected by the fires, which have swept across the US state and killed at least 24 people.
Madlib is perhaps best known as a frequent collaborator of the late MF DOOM, with whom is produced the critically acclaimed Madvillain, as well as regularly working with other prominent artists such as Freddie Gibbs, J Dilla and Erykah Badu.
His record collection, which he is understood to have amassed over the past 30 years and included music from all around the world, acted as the backbone of much of his work through sampling.
An online fundraiser, shared by fellow producers such as Flying Lotus, has been set up for Madlib and his family.
The National Weather Service warns that, although peak winds today and tomorrow will be weaker than those experienced last week, the combination of offshore winds ranging from 20 to 40 mph with higher gusts and low relative humidity, could lead to rapid fire growth and a potential for extreme fire behavior.
Extreme conditions may develop later this morning, the service said, as winds strengthen. Critical conditions will likely continue into Wednesday, before winds generally weaken by Wednesday evening.
Just before 8 am ET, the National Weather Service recorded wind gusts measuring between 60 and 70 mph in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Specifically, gusts of 72 mph were reported at Magic Mountain Truck Trail, 60 mph at Sandstone Peak, 58 mph along the N3 Highway, and 56 mph at Julians Ridge.
High wind warnings are in effect until Noon local time on Wednesday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The National Weather Service also said that extremely critical fire weather conditions will persist across coastal Southern California through at least Tuesday, with localized wind gusts reaching nearly 70 mph primarily affecting Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Southern California braced for 'extremely difficult fire conditions' as life threatening winds pick up pace
The time is 5am in Los Angeles, 8am in New York and 1pm in London. Here is the latest situation
Southern California is braced for “extremely critical fire conditions” as strong Santa Ana winds are forecast and are expected to cause new wildfires and set back recent progress to tackle the blazes.
Firefighters in Los Angeles expect a difficult and treacherous day amid dangerous winds and the threat of fire spread.
A Red Flag weather warning is in place with winds of up to 70mph forecast.
The Eaton Fire is at 14,117 acres and 33% contained. The Pacific Palisades Fire is at 23,713 acres and 14% contained The Hurst Fire is at 799 acres and 97% contained, according to latest updates from Cal Fire.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed and at least 24 people have been killed. The death toll is expected to rise.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials are confident they are ready to face the new threat of fires sparked into life by stronger winds. “We’re absolutely better prepared,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Just under 100,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.
AccuWeather has estimated the fires could be the costliest ever seen in the US. It has made an early estimation that the total costs could top $250bn (€243bn, £205bn)
Dozens of water trucks were in place to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week.
LA County’s fire chief says crews are better prepared but warns that everyone in the potential fire zones should be ready to evacuate.
I’m handing over to my colleague Anna Betts in New York. Thanks for reading.
While authorities don’t know what sparked the deadly fires in the Los Angeles area, they do know that embers have helped spread the flames. Experts say most homes destroyed by wildfires aren’t overcome by a racing wall of flames, but burn after being ignited by airborne embers, also called firebrands. The Associated Press has looked into the phenomenon and how it has affected the fires in Los Angeles.
An ember is a piece of burning debris. Once it becomes airborne, the more technical term is firebrand, said James Urban, an assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. They can range in size from tiny specks to larger chunks.
While many people might have seen stray embers rise from a campfire and even had one land on them, the embers involved in wildfires are drastically different, said Anne Cope, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
“Those embers can travel for miles, and it’s often the neighborhoods that are closer to the wildlands that get inundated with just loads and loads — just showered with embers,” she said.Wind allows embers to burn harder and release more energy, becoming a more potent ignition source, Urban said. The firebrands then accumulate and sort of work together, gathering between the slats of wood fences or in shrubbery and igniting new fires.
A single ember that lands on the ground might burn out within minutes but can also smolder, Urban said. “And then a sudden change of conditions like wind gusts ignite flames and cause a lot of destruction,” he said.
Updated
The US National Weather Service has put in place a Red Flag weather warning across south-west California.
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
There are Particularly Dangerous Situation warnings colored with a purple outline (see map below). These are rare warnings aimed at seizing attention.
The PDS warning is in place from 4am Pacific Time until noon on Wednesday due to damaging north-east to east winds and low humidities in certain areas.
Red Flag warnings will be in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday.
Updated
California homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.
With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.
Those who have lost their homes or businesses may face the question of whether they want to or can stay in LA due to financial consequences of the disaster: price gouging for rental properties in the city, outstanding mortgages for homes that have been lost, destroyed communities or unaffordable insurance premiums – we’d like to hear how people have been or may be financially affected by the fires.
Gabrielle Canon is climate reporter and extreme weather correspondent for Guardian US. She has been reporting on the network of volunteers rescuing animals and pets from the fires:
In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling winds, ashen air and the very strangers desperately trying to get them to safety. A network of volunteers was preparing to descend on the fire zones, ready to risk it all to save pets and livestock in need.
These strangers had quickly stepped up to answer calls for help. Mobilizing through social media pages or elaborate phone trees, they worked through the nights, driving into burning hillsides and through scorched wreckage. For some, it’s not the first time they’ve gone willingly into the fray.
Reporters from the Associated Press have been speaking to residents in Los Angeles who have are under threat of being forced to evacuate from the fires.
Tabitha Trosen and her boyfriend feel like they are “teetering” on the edge with the constant fear that their neighborhood could be the next under threat.
“Our cats are ready to go, we have their carriers by the door prepped with their little stuffed animals and things like that,” Trosen said, adding that she’s packed things as she thinks about what she could lose. “It’s like, how do I take care of myself, and what are the things that will ground me as a human and remind me of my background and my life and my family.”
Another, Tim Kang of La Crescenta, evacuated last week after feeling sick from the smoky air and being fearful of nearby fires spreading. “Everything just felt like, ‘Oh man, the world’s ending,’” said Kang.
Jim Orlandini, who lost his hardware store in Altadena, a hard-hit neighborhood next to Pasadena, said his home of 40 years survived.
“The whole time I was thinking, I don’t know what I’m going to find when I get back here and after 40 years, you know, you got a lot of stuff you forget about that would disappear if the house burned down. So we’re thankful that it didn’t.”
Photographers have been capturing images of devastation across the Los Angeles area as fires have ravaged through the region. Here is a selection.
AccuWeather, a US commercial weather forecasting service, has estimated the fires could be the costliest ever seen in the US. It has made an early estimation that the total costs could top $250bn (€243bn, £205bn).
The reconstruction cost for commercial and residential properties inside areas with active fires could be $14.8bn (€14.42bn, £12.14bn), according to real estate data tracker CoreLogic.
Updated
Just under 100,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders, half the number from last week. However, LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has urged people to stay away from burned neighborhoods filled with broken gas lines and unstable buildings.
Fire officials have also advised residents in high-risk areas to just leave home – and not wait for formal evacuation orders – if they sense danger.
Dozens of people have been arrested for looting. Officials are also beginning to see price gouging and scams, including with hotels and short-term rentals and medical supplies, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Updated
The death toll from the fires stands at 24 however that figure is expected to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen people remain missing, he said.
In a report from the Associated Press, Luna said he understands that people are eager to return to their homes and neighborhoods to survey the damage, but he asked for their patience. “We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors,” he said.
At a Monday evening community meeting about the Palisades Fire, a Los Angeles Police Department official said many people reported as missing had been found. It wasn’t clear if there was overlap in the numbers shared by the sheriff.
Red Flag weather warning issued with significant risk of rapid fire spread and life-threatening winds
The US National Weather Service has warned the weather will be “particularly dangerous” on Tuesday, when wind gusts could reach 65 mph (105 kph). A large part of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley.
The winds are predicted to pick up starting early Tuesday and continue through midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. They are not expected to reach hurricane-force like last week, but they could ground firefighting aircraft, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said, warning if winds reach 70 mph (112 kph), “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.”
Updated
Firefighters 'better prepared' to face threat of fierce new winds, officials say
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials — who have faced criticism over their initial response to fires that began last week — are confident that the region is ready to face the new threat of fires sparked into life by stronger winds with additional firefighters brought in from around the US, as well as Canada and Mexico.
“We’re absolutely better prepared,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said when asked what will be different from a week ago, when hurricane-force winds propelled multiple fires across the parched, brush-filled region that hasn’t seen rain in more than eight months.
Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters have arrived at the Los Angeles area ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
Opening summary
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires. Multiple fires continue to rage in southern California nearly a week after the deadly and destructive blazes began.
Southern California is braced for “extremely critical fire conditions” as strong Santa Ana winds are forecast and are expected to cause new wildfires and set back recent progress to tackle the blazes.
The area faces a critical fire warning through Wednesday with warning from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection saying there is “significant risk of rapid fire spread due to life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity”.
A growing force of firefighters and equipment has been positioned in Los Angeles ready to tackle any flare ups, with water trucks in place to replenish supplies.
President Joe Biden has called on Congress to ‘step up’ funding for those affected. Holding a briefing with federal officials at the White House on Monday, Biden said the federal government is covering most costs associated with the fires for the next 180 days, but that Congress will need to cover additional costs to rebuild Los Angeles.
Here is the latest on the evolving situation.
-
Three wildfires are currently burning in Los Angeles county. They are:
The Palisades fire, at 23,713 acres and 14% containment.
The Eaton fire, at 14,117 acres and 33% containment.
The Hurst fire, at 799 acres and 97% containment.
At least 24 people have died, and relatives have begun identifying their loved ones as they return to their homes or are notified by local officials. The fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and may be the costliest disaster in US history, according to initial estimates of damage and economic losses exceeding $250bn from AccuWeather.
With fire weather expected to continue in the Los Angeles area through Wednesday, state and city officials have pre-deployed firefighters across LA and surrounding counties.
House speaker Mike Johnson said he believes there should be conditions on disaster aid to California, citing “state and local leaders [who] were derelict in their duties”.
Donald Trump is in talks to visit Los Angeles to survey the damage wrought by wildfires over the past week, CNN reported. The visit could occur as early as next week, but no details have been finalized.
Altadena residents have filed three lawsuits against Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility is responsible for the Eaton fire. The lawsuits cite evidence that the fire began under a transmission tower and reference the utility’s role in other wildfires. However, no official cause for the fire has yet been determined.
California governor Gavin Newsom has called on the state’s legislature to approve $2.5bn in additional funding to aid “response and initial recovery efforts for Los Angeles”. To do so, the governor expanded the special legislative session he’d called for the state in November, designed to prepare for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The firefighting plane that was grounded after sustaining damage from a drone has been repaired and will return to firefighting duty Tuesday, pending FAA approval, said LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone.
Updated
