Collage showing visuals from California, which has been ravaged by wildfires since the turn of the year.
Credit: Reuters Photos
LA burns as fires rage unchecked
The most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles' history have razed neighborhoods, forced desperate evacuations and threatened wealthy, iconic parts of the city -- and they appear far from being contained as firefighters strain against fierce winds and dry conditions.
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Where the major fires are burning in Southern California
To look at a map of the Los Angeles region is to see surprising and enormous stretches of the densely populated area under evacuation orders, from touristy blocks of Hollywood Boulevard to the Santa Monica and Malibu beach towns to suburban neighborhoods in Pasadena and parts of ranch country in the San Fernando Valley.
Here's a breakdown of where exactly the biggest fires are.
LA mayor, California Guv criticized over fires as political clash ensues
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass came under sharp criticism for her response to a series of raging wildfires on Thursday, while President-elect Donald Trump sought to blame California Governor Gavin Newsom for the deadly disaster.
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Visuals from California as firefighters struggle to contain Eaton fire
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Death toll rises to 10 as wildfires continue to rage
A new fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles grew ferociously Thursday evening, spreading to almost 1,000 acres in a matter of a few hours as firefighters fanned out across Southern California to battle fires that have killed at least 10 people, destroyed thousands of structures and put the region in crisis.
The new blaze, the Kenneth fire, broke out in West Hills, north of Calabasas. While battling that blaze, they were still unable to contain the two largest fires that have been burning in the region this week.
(NYT)
'No looting': California National Guard deployed to support local law enforcement
Credit: X/@CAgovernor
The California National Guard was on Friday deployed in the fire-ravaged state to support local law enforcement amid the chaos.
Taking to X, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the Guard's arrival, saying, "Taking advantage of evacuated communities is absolutely sick. Looting will not be tolerated."
Kenneth fire spreads to 1,000 acres; 35% contained
The Kenneth fire has spread to 1,000 acres and is now 35 per cent contained, authorities said on Friday, adding that the forward rate of spread of the blaze has been stopped.
"Grateful for the heroic firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties who are actively engaged on the scene, deploying both ground crews and aerial resources," Governor Gavin Newsom's office said in a statement.
More than 8,000 firefighters, 991 fire engines, 40 choppers deployed so far
Credit: Reuters Photo
At the time of writing this, more than 8,000 firefighting personnel, over 600 members of the California National Guard, 991 fire engines, and 40 helicopters had been deployed in the Golden State in a bid to contain the spreading fires and bring order to chaos, as per the Governor's office.
Lidia fire now 75% contained, say authorities
The Lidia fire, which broke out in the rural, mountainous part of Los Angeles County, about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles is 75 per cent contained now, the Governor's office said on Friday, adding that its spread was about 394 acres.
Latest visuals from California as firefighters attempt to bring fires under control
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Hurst fire spreads to 771 acres; only 37% contained
The Hurst fire in in Sylmar, in the northernmost part of the San Fernando Valley and about 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, has spread to 771 acres, the USDA Forest Service said on Friday, adding that containment was at 37 per cent.
477 firefighters are attempting to contain the blaze.
Firefighting aircraft collides with drone over Palisades fire
A firefighting aircraft flying over the Palisades fire in Los Angeles collided with a drone Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said, warning that flying drones can disrupt firefighting efforts and endanger lives.
The plane landed safely after the incident, said the FAA, which will investigate the episode. The collision damaged a wing and put the plane out of commission, said Chris Thomas, a Cal Fire spokesperson.
The blazes that broke out this week in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas were fueled by fierce winds that initially prevented aircraft from taking off safely. Once conditions improved, dozens of helicopters and planes joined the fight to contain the fires. More were on the way Thursday night, authorities said.
The FAA has imposed temporary flight restrictions in the Los Angeles area while firefighters work to contain the fires. The agency said Thursday that it has not authorized anyone who is not involved in the firefighting operations to fly drones in the restricted zones. Despite the restrictions, many videos of the Southern California fires purported to be from drones, have been posted on social media this week.
(NYT)
Edison denies LA wildfire involvement as insurers ask it to preserve evidence
Southern California Edison said on Thursday it had received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire that is still burning in Los Angeles, but said no fire agencies have pointed the utility's connection to the fire.
The group, a unit of US utility Edison International , said its filing to regulators was triggered by online publications that "seemingly suggest" the group's equipment may have been associated with the fire's ignition.
"To date, no fire agency has suggested that SCE's electric facilities were involved in the ignition or requested the removal and retention of any SCE equipment," it said.
The utility added that it did not find any interruptions or anomalies in its transmission lines until more than an hour after the reported start time of the fire, citing preliminary analysis done by the group.
(Reuters)
Visuals from California as wildfires continue to rage
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis pledges $1 million for relief work
With wildfires raging in LA, Hollywood actor Jamie Lee Curtis on Friday pledged $1 million for relief work.
In a post on Instagram, the actor wrote, "As the fire still rages on and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all the available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fire and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other, 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. (sic)"
"I'm in communication with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass and Senator Schiff as to where those funds need to be directed for the most impact," Curtis added.
Drone footage shared on social media shows devastation in the Pacific Palisades in LA
The Palisades fire, the largest at nearly 20,000 acres, has destroyed more than 5,000 structures, including in Pacific Palisades on the west side of Los Angeles.
'Results speak for themselves': Musk hints sacking of white, male firefighters affected response
Mercurial billionaire Elon Musk on Friday seemed to suggest that the firing of white, male firefighters in the name of inclusivity affected the response to the wildfires in California.
"They do," Musk wrote in response to a tweet which read, "Donald Trump Jr. slammed LA Fire Dept, saying DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) should be called DIE after a weak wildfire response. The department had fired several white, male firefighters to 'boost inclusivity.' Trump Jr. says the results speak for themselves."
More visuals from California as efforts to douse flames continue
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
US property and casualty insurers slide as Los Angeles wildfire losses mount
US property and casualty insurance stocks fell in premarket trading on Friday after wildfires menacing Los Angeles killed at least 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires burning into a third night.
The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
Insurers are expected to face catastrophe-related claims worth billions of dollars from the disaster, which analysts estimate will be the costliest ever in California.
(Reuters)
LA wildfires rage for third night
Firefighters reported some progress fighting the wildfires that have charred hillsides, homes and streets in Los Angeles County, but the strong winds that fanned the flames were expected to pick up again on Friday, worsening conditions.
The fires, engulfing iconic Los Angeles neighbourhoods and tearing through the Hollywood Hills, have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said late on Thursday he expected the death toll to grow.
(Reuters)
Image captured from space shows Palisades fire devastation
A picture captured from the International Space Station, shows the Palisades Fire in the Los Angeles area, California, January 9, 2025.
Credit: Reuters Photo via Roscosmos/Alexander Gorbunov
Eaton Fire contained at 3%; spread at 13,690 acres
Governor Newsom posted on his social media that the Eaton Fire is now contained at 3 per cent within 13,690 acres.
However he still urged residents to maintain caution
"The #EatonFire is now at 3% containment within 13,690 acres. Residents are urged to remain alert and follow instructions from local authorities as firefighters work aggressively to slow the spread.," he wrote.
The Eaton fire is raging on the opposite end of the Los Angeles basin, by the northeast corner in Pasadena.
Who are the victims of the Los Angeles fires?
Victor Shaw’s tiled-roof house sat on Monterosa Drive, a cul-de-sac near the edge of the forest.
When Shaw’s parents died, they left the home in a trust to him and his sister, Shari.
Shari Shaw evacuated and her brother stayed, saying he was determined to protect the house, according to news reports. She could not be reached Thursday.
After the fire passed, a neighbour's son, came to help his father survey the damage, and found a relative of Shaw’s walking up to the house to look for him.
They started to call his name, “thinking maybe he’s injured, knocked unconscious from some debris, or something,” the younger Jackson said. They found him lying in his front yard clutching a garden hose, with a gutter pipe laid over his left arm. “He was out here trying to fight the fire by himself,” the younger Jackson said.
Rodney Nickerson, 82, also died, according to his family. He lived on a street that was just a short walk from Jackson’s home, although it is unclear if they knew each other.
His body was later found near the lot he had lovingly maintained. He had been stubbornly trying to fend off the encroaching fire with a water hose, according to his family.
Erliene Kelley, who lived a few blocks away from Shaw and Nickerson, died in her home, according to her family.
She was a retired pharmacy technician at Rite Aid and longtime resident of the neighborhood, according to Rita and Terry Pyburn, a couple who lived on her block.
(New York Times)
We have got California's back: Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau took to X (formerly Twitter) and announced that California always had Canada's back during their wildfires and now Canada has theirs
"I spoke with Gavin Newsom last night. We both know that Canada and the United States are more than just neighbours. We’re friends — especially when times get tough.
"California’s always had our back when we battle wildfires up north. Now, Canada’s got yours," Trudeau wrote.
Los Angeles continues to work around the clock to combat LA Fires and protect lives: Mayor Bass
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said "Los Angeles continues to work around the clock to combat LA Fires and protect lives. When we are on the frontlines, we carry with us our friends and neighbors.
"To all Angelenos: your city is fighting hard for you."
Yesterday, fire at Eaton canyon made a push toward the historic Mount Wilson: Fire Chief
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone in a press conference on Friday said the Eaton fire is at 3 per cent containment.
"Around 4,000 and 5,000 structures are estimated to have been damaged due to the fire. More than 1,500 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Eaton fire.
"Yesterday afternoon the fire at the Eaton canyon made a push toward the historic Mount Wilson.
"The cause of the Eaton fire remains unknown," Marrone said.
Latest update on LA fires
Governor Newsom announced the latest updates regarding the LA fires on social media
The Sunset Fire has been 100 per cent contained
The Lidia Fire is at 75 per cent containment
The Hurst Fire is at 37 per cent containment
The Kenneth Fire is at 35 per cent containment
The Palisades Fire is at 8 per cent containment, (up from 0 per cent yesterday) -
The Eaton Fire is at 3 per cent containment (up from 0 per cent yesterday)
Biden climate adviser says California wildfires show 'you have to take science seriously'
“I think that, hopefully, the second Trump administration will indeed take this more seriously'' than in Trump's first term, John Podesta, Biden's senior adviser for international climate policy, said.
- AFP
Biden likens LA fires visual to war scenes
US President Joe Biden on Friday likened Los Angeles to a "war scene" as multiple major wildfires continued to devour neighborhoods around the city.
"It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded," Biden said as he received a briefing on the fires in the Oval Office of the White House.
"It's almost like a battle scene."
"There's clear evidence that there's looting. There's clear evidence that people are going into these survivors' communities... and looting," Biden said.
"You're going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it," Biden said of the fires.
-AFP
Los Angeles apologises over fire evacuation false alarms
Kevin McGowan, the director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, said the automated errors had caused "frustration, anger (and) fear."
"I can't express enough how sorry I am," he told reporters.
McGowan said he was working with specialists to find out what had gone wrong and why so many people were sent messages that did not apply to them.
"I implore everyone to not disable the messages on your phone," he said.
"This is extremely frustrating, painful and scary, but these alert tools have saved lives during these emergencies."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said the error was "unacceptable."
"I want to express my deep frustration with the alert system that is causing confusion and additional panic for our communities at this time of extreme crisis," she said.
"Whatever the cause, it is unacceptable."
-AFP
US agency declares California wildfires as public health emergency
-Reuters
Firefighters from Mexico are en route to the Eaton Fire — joining more than 10,000 personnel already on the ground.
-CA Governor
California governor calls for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
California Governor invites Donald Trump to come to fire-ravaged state
NFL teams to donate $5 million to LA victims
NFL teams and the league's charitable arm are donating a combined $5 million to support those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the NFL said on Friday, as the region reels from the devastating infernos.
Los Angeles wildfires trigger air quality warnings and health concerns
This week, as the wildfires raged and smoke billowed across Los Angeles, officials issued air quality alerts, schools canceled classes and scientists warned about the dangerous - even fatal - consequences of wildfire smoke.
-Reuters
California preventing insurance companies from cancelling home coverage for LA wildfire victims: Governor
Lidia fire now at 98% containment: California Governor
Far from Hollywood's wealth, Los Angeles fire survivors feel forgotten
Altadena, California: In the close-knit Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, where rows of neat bungalows once nestled in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, smoldering ruins and the skeletal frames of burnt-out cars now lie.
While the fires that have devastated celebrity neighborhoods near Malibu have caught the world's attention, a similar-sized blaze in Eaton Canyon, north of Los Angeles, has ravaged Altadena, a racially and economically diverse community.
Black and Latino families have lived in Altadena for generations and the suburb is also popular with younger artists and engineers working at the nearby NASA rocket lab who were attracted by the small-town vibe and access to nature.
Many residents told Reuters they were concerned that government resources would be channeled towards high-profile areas popular with A-Listers, while insurance companies might shortchange less affluent households that do not have the financial means to contest fire claims.
"They're not going to give you the value of your house ... if they do, you really have to fight for it," said Kay Young, 63, her eyes welling up with tears as she stared at a sprawl of smoking rubble, the remnants of a home that has been in her family for generations.
Inez Moore, 40, whose family home in Altadena was destroyed by the fire, said communities like theirs would likely suffer financially more than wealthier suburbs because many residents do not have the resources or experience to navigate complex bureaucratic systems.
"You're going to have some folks who are not going to get as much as they deserve, and some folks who may get more than actually they need," said Moore, a lecturer at California State University.
Reuters contacted major home insurance companies in California for comment.
State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, Mercury, Liberty Mutual and Farmers responded with statements saying they were working with policyholders to help them make claims, without addressing specific concerns raised by Altadena residents.
-Reuters
Local health emergency has been declared in LA County
'Looting will not be tolerated,' says California Guv as wildfires rage on
'Ridiculous lie': California Governor on reports of fire budget cut in state
Fire agencies to investigate potential Edison link to LA Hurst fire
Fire agencies are investigating whether Southern California Edison's utility infrastructure sparked a brush fire that is still burning in a Los Angeles suburb, SCE said Friday, adding no determination has been made.
SCE, a unit of US utility Edison International, said in a filing to its regulators that a downed conductor was discovered at a tower associated with its Eagle Rock - Sylmar 220 kV circuit.
"SCE does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire," the utility said.
SCE said preliminary information shows the circuit experienced a relay at 10:11 pm (0611 GMT) where the Hurst fire was reported around 10:10 pm on January 7.
The Hurst fire, in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, has exceeded 770 acres and is now 77 per cent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Edison International did not immediately respond to a request for comment made via the company website.
SCE on Thursday said it had received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire that is still burning in Los Angeles, but said no fire agencies have linked the utility's connection to the fire.
More than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by five fires raging in the area and nearly 30,000 acres have been burned.
Private forecaster AccuWeather has estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs.
-Reuters
Families in shock begin to visit their charred homes in LA area
Los Angeles: Many watched their homes burn on television in a state of shock.
Since the flames erupted in and around Los Angeles, scores of residents have returned to their still smoldering neighbourhoods even as the threat of new fires persisted and the nation's second-largest city remained unsettled.
For some, it was a first look at the staggering reality of what was lost as the region of 13 million people grapples with the gargantuan challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding.
Calmer winds enabled firefighters to start gaining some control of the biggest blazes in metropolitan LA on Friday before gusty weather returns over the weekend to an area that hasn't seen rain in more than eight months. But by Friday evening, new evacuations were ordered as the eastern side of the Palisades Fire spread, nearing Interstate 405 and The Getty museum.
Bridget Berg, who was at work when she saw on TV her house in Altadena erupt in flames, came back for the first time with her family two days later “just to make it real.”
Their feet crunched across the broken bits of what had been their home for 16 years.
-AP
Hollywood celebrities clear their closets for fire aid
Los Angeles: When wildfires destroyed parts of Los Angeles this week, real estate agent Jenna Cooper started asking friends for clothing and other items to help people in need.
Her request spread quickly through a network of powerful women. Actors including Sharon Stone and Halle Berry responded, providing sweaters, shoes, clothing, handbags, belts, pajamas and more pulled from their own collections.
"I'm packing up my entire closet," Berry wrote on Instagram. "If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do right now."
Cooper, who also runs a home goods store called +COOP, cleared half the space to create a pop-up shopping experience for displaced people to take what they need. Many Angelenos lost entire homes in the fires, which were still burning on Friday.
Stone circulated information about the donations on social media, which helped attract publicity. She and her sister, Kelly Stone, contributed clothing, bedding and more, and Kelly volunteered to assist shoppers.
"The first thing they need when they come in the store is a hug," Kelly Stone said. She then said to shoppers, "Show me pictures of yourself, how do you dress?" so she could direct them to sweaters or trench coats that reflected their style.
At the store on Friday, a therapy dog named Jackie Robinson greeted people at the door. Inside, they looked through racks of dresses and coats, stacks of denim, shelves of shoes and baskets of handbags.
Offerings ranged from packages of fresh underwear from Target to new or lightly used Zara dresses and some Gucci and Ferragamo shoes in the mix.
-Reuters
Los Angeles investigates fire blame as curfew enforced
Los Angeles: Californians on Friday demanded to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness.
At least 11 people died as flames ripped through neighborhoods and razed thousands of homes in a disaster that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene."
While Angelenos grapple with the heart-rending ruin, anger has risen over officials' preparedness and response, particularly for a series of false evacuation alarms and after hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled the initial blazes.
Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered a "full independent review" of the city's utilities, describing the lack of water supplies during the initial fires as "deeply troubling."
"We need answers to how that happened," he wrote in an open letter.
-AFP
Evacuation order issued in various places in LA in view of Palisades fire
New evacuations ordered as Los Angeles’ largest wildfire expands
A part of the wealthy Brentwood area of Los Angeles came under mandatory evacuation orders Friday evening as the Palisades fire quickly expanded.
The area threatened by the expansion of the wildfire, the largest in the Los Angeles area, included the Getty Center as well as parts of the Brentwood and Encino neighborhoods.
Wildfires have ripped across more than 35,000 acres of the Los Angeles area this week, killed at least 11 people and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee from their homes.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was ordering an independent review to determine why firefighters ran out of water early on, calling the situation “deeply troubling.” President Joe Biden noted that the death toll might rise and that there were a lot of people who are unaccounted for.
The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu, was 8 per cent contained Friday. To the east, firefighters had contained 3 per cent of the Eaton fire, near Altadena and Pasadena. Both fires now rank in the top 5 most destructive fires in California’s history.
-NYT
Californians scramble to evacuate dogs, cats, horses, even pigs as LA flames close in
Los Angeles: Arianna Buturovic kept a wary eye on distant smoke from the rescue shelter she runs outside Los Angeles for dogs at risk of being euthanised. Within hours, nearby mountains were ablaze and fire began encircling her.
“I stuffed 15 dogs in a black Prius and two cats,” Buturovic said.
But she still had nine more dogs and a pig to evacuate, so flagged down some 18-year-olds with a truck who agreed to take them to a shelter. She couldn't bring two ponies with her, but she left the corral open so they could escape if needed.
“That's how we evacuated almost 30 animals,” she said. “It was crazy.”
Buturovic is one of many animal owners in Los Angeles who scrambled to get themselves and their beloved companions out of the way of fast-moving wildfires that killed 11 people and burned more than 12,000 homes and other structures this week. It has overwhelmed shelters, whose leaders have implored people, if they're able, to find friends or family to foster their pets.
Wendy Winter and her husband decided Tuesday evening that they should buy some cat carriers so they could evacuate their Altadena home with their felines Purry Mason and Jerry. Less than two hours later, it was clear they needed to leave. The next morning, they learned the house they lived in for more than seven years was gone along with the rest of their street.
-AP
'Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction,' says Pope Francis
Pope Francis on Saturday expressed his sadness over the havoc caused by the giant California wildfires and expressed his spiritual closeness with the victims in a telegram to the archbishop of Los Angeles.
"Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction," the pontiff expressed his "spiritual closeness" with the victims, Vatican number two Pietro Parolin wrote in the telegram.
- AFP
Los Angeles wildfires spark insurance anxiety among victims
As Los Angeles construction worker Ivan De La Torre surveyed a landscape of smoking wreckage in fire-ravaged Altadena, a question nagged at him: how would insurance companies cover the cost of rebuilding an entire neighborhood?
As hundreds of Los Angeles residents return to find homes reduced to ashes due to a devastating wave of wildfires, many are fearful that their insurance policies may not cover the rebuild cost and that future premiums will be astronomical.
"My concern is that the insurance companies won't be able to handle all the claims and file for bankruptcy and that's that. It's scary," said De La Torre, 32, whose uncle and sister both lost their houses in a fire that consumed half of Altadena, a suburb north of Los Angeles of some 40,000 people.
Leo Frank III, a 66-year-old actor who lost his family home in Altadena, said he fears insurers could drag their feet on paying claims and fail to cover the full cost of reconstruction.
"We will rebuild. No one is taking our house," said Frank, as he hunted for a shower seat for his 96-year-old mother in a parking lot full of donated supplies in Pasadena.
"But it will be a mess."
Frank said he knows some neighbors who lost their homeowners coverage prior to the fires as insurers retreated from parched regions in California increasingly prone to wildfires.
"We were lucky we still had a policy," he said.
The wildfires, among the worst natural disasters ever to hit California, have killed at least 11 people and destroyed or badly damaged more than 10,000 structures.
Reuters contacted nine of the top home insurance companies in California for comment.
Los Angeles investigates fire blame as curfew enforced
Californians on Friday demanded to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness.
At least 11 people died as flames ripped through neighborhoods and razed thousands of homes in a disaster that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene."
While Angelenos grapple with the heart-rending ruin, anger has risen over officials' preparedness and response, particularly for a series of false evacuation alarms and after hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled the initial blazes.
Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered a "full independent review" of the city's utilities, describing the lack of water supplies during the initial fires as "deeply troubling."
"We need answers to how that happened," he wrote in an open letter.
Residents like Nicole Perri, whose home in the upscale Pacific Palisades burnt down, told AFP that officials "completely let us down."
-AFP
Biggest Los Angeles fire spreads despite calmer winds
The mammoth Palisades fire was roaring closer to residential areas of Los Angeles early Saturday, forcing a new round of evacuation orders and dimming hopes that a brief drop in wind speeds would help firefighters tame Southern California’s devastating blazes.
The desert winds that have stoked the fires were expected to pick up again Saturday afternoon. But even without high winds, the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles’ history expanded overnight across the region’s bone-dry terrain.
The Palisades fire, the largest of them, tore east, chewing up parched vegetation as it raced up the ridges of Mandeville Canyon. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for an area including parts of the Brentwood and Encino neighborhoods, as well as the Getty Center, one of Southern California’s cultural jewels.
The blaze, which has burned through 21,600 acres and razed stretches between Santa Monica and Malibu since it broke out Tuesday, was only 8% contained, according to Cal Fire. To the east, firefighters had contained 3% of the 14,000-acre Eaton fire, near Altadena and Pasadena. The blazes, which have killed at least 11 people and destroyed thousands of structures, now rank among the five most damaging in California’s history.
With many people still unaccounted for, officials have said the death toll could rise.
Los Angeles announced a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for areas under mandatory evacuation orders. National Guard units have been deployed to secure evacuation zones.
-NYT
'A miracle': Actor James Woods says his house survived Los Angeles wildfires
How a week of weather extremes upended lives of millions of Americans
It began with millions of people across the US shivering amid blizzard conditions and frigid air that lasted for days, thanks to a jet stream that slips out of its usual path more often these days.
Then, catastrophe in California, with wind-whipped flames taking off in a landscape parched by months of drought to become Los Angeles' worst-ever wildfires.
To cap it off, major weather monitoring agencies confirmed 2024 as the hottest year in global history. Even more dire, four of the six agencies said it was the first full year Earth went beyond a warming threshold seen as critical to limiting the worst effects of climate change.
Welcome to one wild week of the climate crisis, scientists say. There will be more.
“For the average person, this means the changes you're experiencing — more extreme weather, rising costs due to climate impacts, threats to food and water security — aren't anomalies,” said Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University. “They're the new normal unless we take action.”
“The last week of weird weather has been alarming,” said Natalie Mahowald, chair of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University. “I hope it's not a sign of things to come, because we've barely seen any climate change compared to what we are going to get unless we radically cut CO2 emissions.”
Here's how the week unfolded.
Monday
The cold came first.
The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world, which means the difference between temperatures up north and down south are shrinking — along with sea ice that releases more heat into atmosphere. That means more energy bouncing off and warping or moving the polar vortex, scientists say. And climate change is also messing with the jet stream, the air currents that circle the globe.
The result? More frequent blasts of intense cold in winter even as global temperatures heat up overall.
The blizzard dumped more snow in some parts of Kansas than they usually get in a year, one Kansas State University meteorologist said. Ice-coated trees downed power lines in eastern Kentucky, and a US Olympian skied on the National Mall in Washington.
Farmers rushed to move cows to keep them from freezing to death and to feed and water them as rural roads became impassable. Travel stalled as multiple states warned motorists not to chance the treacherous snow and ice.
About 200 people, many homeless, sheltered at a roller rink in Cincinnati. The alternative was frostbite or worse in exposure to temperatures that were expected to slip from freezing to sub-freezing overnight.
Tuesday
Out West, wildfire took hold.
The Palisades Fire erupted in the Santa Monica mountains and moved quickly on Santa Ana winds gusting to 100 mph — much faster than normal. The winds were so strong they grounded airplanes normally used to drop water on the flames.
The blaze reached near the Getty Museum and by the end of the day, several celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Jhene Aiko, had lost homes. Less than 72 hours before, many stars had convened to walk the Golden Globes' red carpet.
The Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, killing two people and closing about 10 school districts.
Climate change laid the groundwork for California's megafires. Atmospheric rivers dumped huge amounts of water on the region that caused plenty of plant growth. Then, a fast onset of drought dried them out, providing plenty of fodder for the flames.
Wednesday
The water system used to fight the Palisades fire in Los Angeles buckled in the morning, as some hydrants ran dry as they were overstressed without assistance from firefighting aircraft.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was pumping from aqueducts and groundwater into the system, but demand was so high that it wasn't enough to refill three 1-million gallon tanks in hilly Pacific Palisades. At least 1,000 buildings were engulfed in flames.
The Sunset Fire started, too, threatening the Hollywood Hills and forcing mandatory evacuations in Hollywood.
President-elect Donald Trump criticised state and local officials' water management policies. But experts said critics were connecting unrelated issues and spreading false information during a crisis.
Thursday
By the afternoon, calmer winds aided firefighters in making some headway, though by that point at least five fires were still active and some burned out of control in the LA area.
Scenes of the destruction started to emerge. Recovery crews pulled a body from the rubble of a beachfront residence in Malibu.
AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, estimated the overall wildfire damage could reach USD 57 billion, though much of the destruction remains to be surveyed.
At the same time, another winter storm bore down on the South, with warnings and advisories for at least 20 states. Many had gone through the same thing just days earlier.
Friday
Major weather monitoring agencies said 2024 was the hottest since record-keeping began, easily passing 2023.
Even more significant: 2024 was the first year with a global average that broke the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s that was set as a goal by the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Extreme weather like this week's is “affecting so many more people all at one time,” said Barbara Hofer, a professor emerita of psychology at Middlebury College. “Increasingly, the scale is changing. The loss is mounting."
Hofer said the growing impact may make some people deny climate change, ignore it or become numb to it as “a way to avoid what's psychologically uncomfortable."
Such a week can also energise positive change, she said. But Hofer said she thinks that will be harder, at least in the US, as Trump takes office. He's promised to halt federal climate action and repeal existing legislation aimed at the problem.
“I worry about the denial, the misinformation, and the forces that are feeding that denial," she said. “That's what we have to address.”
-AP
Death toll rises to 11 in Los Angeles wildfires, 13 people missing, says County Sheriff
Mexico sends firefighters to California to help with raging blazes
Mexico sent a team of firefighters to California on Saturday to help teams battling the raging wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles.
"The humanitarian aid group is leaving for Los Angeles, California," Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X on Saturday morning, posting photos of firefighters holding the flags of Mexico and California and standing on the runway in front of two planes. (Reuters)
Horse racing-Santa Anita postpones weekend racing as LA fire spreads
Santa Anita Park has postponed weekend racing given overnight developments with the wildfires on the west side of Los Angeles, and the property is being used to support several relief efforts, the track said on Saturday.
Air quality standards at the Arcadia racetrack remain within the limits established by the California Horse Racing Board and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority but the impact of the fires is growing, track officials said in a news release. (Reuters)
California National Guard deployment to be doubled to fight LA fires
Animal rescuers care for LA fire evacuees - dogs, donkeys, horses
Animal facilities, veterinarians and rescue organizations have taken in and assisted dogs, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep and other creatures that were displaced by the ongoing fires along with their human owners.
The Humane Society began accepting animals as a temporary shelter as families evacuated their homes. But circumstances evolved, along with the widening disaster, which has left 13 people dead, burned 39,000 acres and forced at least 153,000 people to leave their homes. (Reuters)
Winds intensify in LA as wildfire death toll rises to 16
Los Angeles firefighters were scrambling to contain several blazes as winds picked up Saturday afternoon, threatening to further spread fires, as the death toll rose to 16 people.
The county’s medical examiner said late Saturday that 11 people have been killed in the Eaton fire, near Pasadena, and five died in the Palisades fire, on the west side of Los Angeles. (NYT)
Aerial assault aims to stem LA Palisades fire eastward spread
Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stem the eastward spread of the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles on Saturday as on-the-ground firefighting intensified amid warnings of wind gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) that could make matters worse.
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), consuming more homes, officials reported. (Reuters)
Visuals from California as efforts to douse flames continue
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
'Days ahead challenging, but we will get through this crisis,' says LA Mayor as fires continue to rage
"I’ve seen the devastation firsthand. These fires across our region have changed lives forever. The days ahead will be challenging but we WILL get through this crisis, together," said LA Mayor Karen Bass on Sunday.
"Thank you to all the first responders who are working day and night doing everything possible to protect Los Angeles," she added.
Current state of wildfires raging across California
As per the LA County Fire Department, the state of wildfires across California as of 11 pm local time on Saturday are as follows:
Eaton fire: 14,117 acres, 15 per cent contained
Palisades fire: 23,654 acres, 11 per cent contained
Hurst fire: 799 acres, 76 per cent contained
Kenneth fire: 1,052 acres, 90 per cent contained
Lidia fire: 395 acres, 100 per cent contained
Governor Newsom pays tribute to first responders
In a post on X, Newsom wrote, "To our heroic first responders who have been fighting these fires in Los Angeles since Day One: Thank you."
"Thank you for putting your lives on the line to protect communities across Southern California and embodying the spirit of this state. Thank you for keeping us strong," he added.
Families left devastated by wildfires struggle to cope with loss
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Indian actor Preity Zinta 'heartbroken' by devastation of LA fires
Actor Preity Zinta, who is based out of Los Angeles, says she is safe but heartbroken by the devastation caused by the raging wildfires in the US city.
According to American media, the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office confirmed the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the area has risen to 16.
Since the fires first began on Tuesday just north of downtown Los Angeles, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.
Zinta, who shares twins Jai and Gia with husband-financial analyst Gene Goodenough, in a note on X said she never thought she would live to see a day where fires would ravage neighbourhoods in Los Angeles.
Search and rescue ops continue in fire-ravaged California
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Vekic misses coach Shriver, sends her love to wildfire-hit LA
Donna Vekic drew a heart and wrote "LA" on a courtside camera lens following her Australian Open victory on Sunday before turning her thoughts to her coach Pam Shriver, who is back home in California helping her family amid devastating wildfires.
Six simultaneous fires that have ripped across Los Angeles County since Tuesday have killed at least 16 people as of late Saturday, several media reports said citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office. (Reuters)
People hold signs asking for donations in wildfire-hit California
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
Credit: Reuters Photo
LA's Brentwood receives evacuation warnings
Around 35,000 remain without power in LA
Almost 35,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles are currently without power, reports Sky News.
US military stands ready to respond to Los Angeles fires
Active duty US military personnel stand ready to deploy to contain wildfires that have ripped through Los Angeles, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell said on Sunday in an interview on ABC's "This Week" program.
Criswell also said FEMA has the funding needed to support its response effort to the wildfires.
Trump is threatening firefighters, claims California governor Gavin Newsom
California governor Gavin Newsom claimed that Donald Trump is threatening first responders by not supporting California, report Sky News.
Newsom supposedly quoted Trump, ""He said 'I'm not going to support the firefighting efforts. I'm not going to support the state of California as it relates to its emergency management - he made this pretty clear during the election - unless they do my bidding'."