Crews race to contain LA wildfires as menacing winds ramp up: Live updates
LOS ANGELES − Fire crews on Sunday were racing to gain the upper hand against infernos that have ignited across the Los Angeles area amid ominous new wind warnings as flames threatened additional Southern California communities.
Aircrafts unloaded water and fire retardant on hills where the Palisades Fire − the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles − ballooned another 1,000 acres to a total of 23,707, destroying more homes. The expansion of the fire, which was 11% contained, to the north and east spurred officials to issue more mandatory evacuations to the west of the 405 freeway as the blaze put parts of Encino and Brentwood in peril.
“Please be assured that we will continue to battle these wildfires from the air and on the ground until they’re fully contained. We stand alongside all of you,” Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone said, addressing county residents during a press briefing Sunday.
Los Angeles officials acknowledged that progress had been made but warned resurging winds could complicate efforts and enhance the risk level. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 14 people have died so far, but he acknowledged that the numbers might be different from those of the coroner. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported 16 deaths as of Saturday night.
Santa Ana winds that have fueled the blazes for the past week were picking up Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, then were expected to weaken in the afternoon before strengthening Sunday night through Wednesday, with the worst of it occurring on Tuesday. Gusts of 30-50 mph were possible, forecasters said.
“We’re united and focused on exactly what we need to do with the next strong winds coming,” Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley said Sunday.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said late Saturday that the Palisades Fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and threatened to jump into the upscale Brentwood community and the populous [San Fernando Valley.
Evacuation zones have moved closer to UCLA, located in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood, and warnings and orders were in place near the campus.
The Palisades Fire is one of six blazes that have erupted since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction. Three of the six fires remained active on Sunday.
The unrelenting toll:From unhoused folks to beachfront Malibu homeowners, wildfires hit all of LA society
Developments:
∎ More than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed from the wildfires, which have consumed about 40,300 acres of total land, according to CalFire.
∎ Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles areanow cover 105,000 residents. Another 87,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, fire officials said.
∎ Here's the containment status of all three active fires: Palisades 11%; Eaton 27%; Hurst 89%. Three other blazes have been contained: The Kenneth, Sunset and Sunswept fires.
∎ Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into water supply issues that may have impeded firefighters' efforts.
16 reported missing; officials expect ‘dozens’ more
At least 16 people are reported missing as Los Angeles fire officials continue their search and rescue operations in areas devastated by the wildfires.
The tally includes 12 people in the Eaton fire and four in the Palisades fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in Sunday’s press briefing. No children have been reported missing, so far.
Luna said the sheriff’s department had received “dozens and dozens” of reports in the morning before the press briefing and will update the numbers accordingly.
He urges those with missing loved ones to contact their local law enforcement agency. People can also fill out an online form set up by the American Red Cross, which asks to provide as much detail as possible.
Death toll climbs to 16 in LA wildfires
At least 16 people have died between the Eaton and Palisades fires, the Los Angeles County medical examiner said Saturday.
The Palisades Fire had at least five deaths, according to medical examiner records, and 11 people have died in the Eaton Fire.
Of the 16 total deaths in both fires, the only victim identified by officials was Victor Shaw, 66, who died Wednesday protecting his home in Altadena. Another victim was a man in his 80s, but authorities did not release his name, pending notification of next of kin.
Newsom told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview that aired Sunday that "there's likely to be a lot more" fatalities in the wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area.
"We always have to be careful on the death toll," he said. "I've got search and rescue teams, we've got cadaver dogs out, and there's likely to be a lot more."
– Marina Pitofsky
Trump invited to survey destruction
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger told reporters Sunday she invited President-elect Donald Trump − who takes office on Jan. 20 − to visit the county to get a first-hand look at the destruction.
"In my years at the county, I've seen time and time again how essential a partner the federal government is when responding to an emergency and helping out communities recover," she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had a phone conversation with his administration to discuss the timing of such a visit.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly attacked Newsomon social media as the wildfires have raged in the southern part of the Golden State, often misspelling the governor's last name as "Newscum."
"The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place... they just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?" he said on his Truth Social media feed.
– Aysha Bagchi and Reuters
Canada to send firefighting help
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office released a statement Friday saying his Cabinet ministers were in touch with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and standing by for any additional requests.
Fire crews, aircraft and equipment from Canada, including from British Columbia and Quebec, were among the first on the scene to help battle the fires, according to the statement.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford also pledged their support. Ford later posted on X that he had directed every available water bomber to fight the fires.
"We’ll provide whatever personnel and equipment is needed and spare no expense to help our closest friends and allies," he said.
In 2023, Canada had an extreme wildfire season, and the U.S. sent more than 2,000 firefighters to help, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
– Miguel Torres
Mexico offers support; California 'deeply grateful'
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said in a news conference Friday that the country's secretary of foreign affairs had spoken with President Joe Biden and Newsom about sending support to Los Angeles.
The support team will include firefighters from Mexico’s National Forestry Commission and the National Secretary of Defense.
“We are going to send support, not just because the people and government of Mexico have always been giving, but also because there are many Mexican people in this zone of the United States,” she said.
She added that her government was coordinating with the U.S. to get the team dispatched.
Newsom issued a statement on X saying California was "deeply grateful" for Sheinbaum's support. Read more here.
– Miguel Torres
Los Angeles fires like 'visiting war zones'
Active duty U.S. 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.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was also on the program Sunday. He said he took a tour of the devastation and was reminded of the remnants left behind in an international conflict area.
"That frankly reminded me of visiting war zones, seeing that kind of devastation, just house after house, block after block," Schiff said.
In the past, he continued, California wildfires have sometimes left sporadic damage, where one house would be lost but others around it were fine. This time, whole neighborhoods are "all gone."
– Aysha Bagchi and Reuters
Progress made in power issues
Progress was reported Saturday in bringing electrical power back to some Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell said there are now about 48,000 customers without power, "down from over half a million just a couple days ago."
Fire officials warned public safety power shutoffs were again likely to prevent new fires.
“They help save lives,” Marrone said. “Yes, they’re a challenge to deal with, but it’s certainly better than having another fire start.”
A '50% chance' their home is gone
Richard and Cathryn Conn evacuated from the Pacific Palisades neighborhood earlier this week, only to find out that much of their neighborhood had been decimated. But they still aren't sure about their four-bedroom house where they'd lived for over a quarter-century.
“You can visualize every room,’’ Richard Conn, 75, said, “and then you know there’s a 50% chance it doesn’t exist anymore."
“If you have ever wondered what it was like living in Dresden after the World War II firebombing, you should come to the Palisades," he said.
They also don't know what will happen next as dangerous weather conditions have made it difficult to contain the fires, and more brush fires seem to keep popping up all over the county.
"I feel like people are panicking,'' said Gary Baseman, 64.
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