Four major wildfires are raging across Los Angeles County. At least 10 people have died, with officials warning the true toll won’t be clear until it’s safe for investigators to go into neighborhoods.
Tens of thousands have been urged to flee since the blazes began this week, while a countywide evacuation warning accidentally sent to millions of residents has compounded already sky-high stress.
Whole neighborhoods have been devastated, with as many as 10,000 structures destroyed by the coastal Palisades Fire, expected to be the costliest in US history, and the Eaton Fire. Curfews are in place as police patrol for and arrest looters.
Update: 12:04 EST 10-01-25
Just In: At least 10,000 properties have been damaged by the fires – and hundreds more will likely be identified in the coming days, according to Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang.
Just In: California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has used his moratorium power to stop non-renewals and cancelations of fire insurance for one year.
“Now is the time for you to focus on your family and in your health. The last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance,” Luna said.
Just In: About 153,000 people are under evacuation orders, Los Angeles County sheriff says.
Just In: The Hurst fire reach has spread to 771 acres “due to more accurate mapping” and the blaze is 37% contained, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Friday morning.
Just In: The newest blaze to break out in the wider Los Angeles area, the Kenneth Fire, is now burning across 960 acres northeast of the city of Calabasas. None of the fire is contained, and its perimeters are threatening residential communities on the outskirts of Calabasas, a city about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Just In: Mel Gibson’s $14.5m Malibu mansion burned down while he was filming Joe Rogan’s podcast. Among those whose houses were burned to the ground was Britney’s friend Paris Hilton, who revealed she saw her Malibu home destroyed in live TV news footage.
Just In: Firefighters hope calmer winds Friday will help them gain the upper hand in battling the Palisades Fire, which has torched about 20,000 acres in Southern California.
FOX 11 Los Angeles caught up with a woman rescuing her horses near the Eaton fire.
Heartbreaking scenes from the wildfires in Pasadena, CA #WildfireDevastation #PasadenaEmergency #PrayForCalifornia
— 24/7WeatherPhenomenaObserver (@24weather24) January 9, 2025
الحرائق الغابية المدمرة في باسادينا كاليفورنيا تترك صوراً مؤلمة pic.twitter.com/1eaSM5QTEy
