California wildfires live updates: Crews race to contain Palisades and Eaton blazes as officials expect death toll to rise
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At least 10 people have been killed by the fast-moving wildfires tearing across the Los Angeles area this week.
While firefighters made some progress on containing the blazes, forecasters warned that the danger was not over, with strong wind gusts near 60mph continuing into Friday evening.
The death toll is expected to climb, but includes 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who had been killed while trying to defend his home.
Firefighters and other residents have been injured in the life-threatening outbreak, which continued to force evacuation orders for around 153,000 residents.
There are currently five active wildfires throughout Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton Fires are now some of the state’s most destructive in history.
A man who had been accused by residents of attempting to start a fire was arrested near the 1,000-acre Kenneth Fire on Thursday. But, police confirmed on Friday that there was not enough evidence to charge him with arson.
Officials also made apologies for emergency alert messages that had gone out in the county.
“I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this experience,” Kevin McGowan, the Los Angeles County director of the Office of Emergency Management, told reporters, explaining that the emergency alerts weren’t “human-driven.”
Debunked: Did sending aid to Ukraine leave LA Fire Department unprepared?
Cali wildfires: Did sending aid to Ukraine leave LA Fire Department unprepared?
As the worst wildfires in LA’s history continue to ravage the city, Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk suggested that the fires have been worsened by the LA Fire Department’s aid to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, depleting local resources. This theory, gaining millions of views, claims surplus equipment sent to Ukraine left LA unprepared. Ivan O’Neill, co-founder of Wuuii and wildfire mitigation specialist, told The Independent that ‘this equipment had nothing to do with the outcome in Los Angeles.’ He added, ‘as soon as you have more than 10 houses burning on a block, your fire hydrants are going to run dry, no matter how much water you have.’
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:45
California bars insurers from dropping fire victims until 2026. What to know
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:33
Low relative humidities and gusty winds will continue to bring dangerous conditions into the evening
Critical fire weather conditions will continue over coastal locations of Southern California through the remainder of the morning, with localized gusts to near 60mph, forecasters warned.
“While wind gusts are likely to weaken into this afternoon and evening, remnant gusty winds and low relative humidities will continue dangerous conditions into the afternoon and evening,” the National Weather Service said.
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:20
2024 was the hottest year in NASA’s record. Record temperatures and wildfires are linked to climate change
“Once again, the temperature record has been shattered — 2024 was the hottest year since record-keeping began in 1880,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “Between record-breaking temperatures and wildfires currently threatening our centers and workforce in California, it has never been more important to understand our changing planet.”
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:17
Biden on wildfire response: ‘This is not going to be over even when the fires are out’
In a meeting with California officials, President Biden said Friday that the administration would “be around” for communities affected by the state’s series of devastating wildfires.
“This is not going to be over even when the fires are out,” he said.
When asked if he was coordinating with the incoming administration, Biden said that they know “everything.”
He also discussed the role of climate change.
“Climate change has been real. It’s been real for the last four years of our administration. We’ve seen devastating impacts,” the president said.
With reporting from Andrew Feinberg
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:05
Cars are melted in the wake of the Eaton Fire
Julia Musto10 January 2025 18:01
