As winds lighten, firefighters push to contain Los Angeles wildfires: live updates – CNN

• A window of dangerous fire weather conditions has closed, but forecasters warn another round of Santa Ana Winds are expected early next week. Over 170,000 people are still under evacuation notices.

• The fires have killed at least 27 people, devastating entire neighborhoods that will take months to be cleaned up. Here’s what we know about the victims.

• Los Angeles County residents must wait at least another week before they can return to their houses to survey damage. EPA teams are beginning household hazardous materials removal.

• Fire experts and arson investigators told CNN it could take months or even longer before they know precisely how the fires ignited.

• For ways to help Los Angeles County residents, visit CNN Impact Your World.

Our live coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires has moved here.

The Pacific Coast Highway will be closed for “perhaps weeks,” the mayor of Malibu said as utility work and debris removal continues.

The damage is “extensive,” Mayor Doug Stewart said at a community meeting Thursday, noting he had toured Malibu that afternoon.

“I can tell you the roadway is in place but the amount of work that is taking place on all sides of the roadway (is) going to preclude us from having that open within days,” Stewart said. “It’s going to be perhaps weeks.”

Workers are also preparing for a potential rainstorm, Stewart said, since Malibu’s torched hillsides would be very vulnerable to landslides.

“If we have a rainstorm, this is going to be almost catastrophic if we’re not prepared for it,” he said.

A California state assemblymember warned Pacific Palisades residents of predatory buyers, saying she had heard from residents getting lowball offers on their torched properties.

“Do not sell your properties for pennies on the dollar,” Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin said at a community meeting Thursday.

“There are a lot of resources out there,” she said, adding that “the good insurance companies have offered a very generous additional subsidy if you rebuild.”

“Do not in a weak moment take less than you deserve. We want to make sure that your community character is maintained,” Irwin said.

There have been widespread reports of price gouging and other predatory practices in the wake of the devastating wildfires, which claimed thousands of homes in Los Angeles County.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Thursday extending a ban on price gouging for hotels, motels and rental housing, among other measures to protect wildfire victims.

The firefighters who worked on a New Year’s Eve blaze in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood made sure the fire “was dead out,” Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Joe Everett told community members in a meeting Thursday.

Some have questioned whether the winds could have rekindled smoldering debris left from New Year’s Eve fireworks to trigger the Palisades Fire, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Washington Post.

“If it is determined it was the cause, it would be a phenomenon,” Everett said.

While he wasn’t present for the incident, he said he talked extensively with the incident commander. He added that the firefighters that were on scene were “highly qualified and well-trusted,” and kept a patrol on the incident for 36 hours.

The Palisades Fire is now at 27% containment with no additional growth over the last 72 hours, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a community meeting Thursday.

Firefighters continued using infrared technology to look for hotspots around the perimeter of the fire and are working their way in to make sure all heat sources are extinguished, Cal Fire Operations Chief Christian Litz said.

Over 5,000 firefighters are working on the incident, including firefighters who arrived from Israel Thursday, as well as firefighters from Canada and Mexico, Cal Fire Incident Commander Jim Hudson said.

The final red flag warnings across the Western San Gabriel Mountains, the Santa Susana Mountains and the I-5 Corridor have expired as more favorable weather is in store for the Los Angeles County area through the weekend.

Winds have shifted direction and lightened, allowing for cool, humid air to replace the dry air that had been prevalent over the region. Although there is no rainfall in the forecast this weekend, these beneficial weather conditions are expected to last Friday through Sunday, giving firefighters a chance to increase containment on the wildfires.

But the cooler air means cold overnight lows for residents who may still not have power after the devastation from the wildfires. Parts of Los Angeles could see lows drop to the low 40s, which is over 5 degrees below average. The county had over 20,000 customers without power as of 10 p.m. ET.

Freeze alerts have been issued from midnight to 9 a.m. PT Friday for parts of Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties and part of the San Fernando Valley. Those areas can see low temperatures drop to around freezing Friday morning.

The relief of light winds and cooler air looks to be short-lived as another Santa Ana wind event is possible later Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Jeffrey Takeyama has been identified as a Palisades Fire victim by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME).

DME listed the 69-year-old’s place of death as his residence in Malibu.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office had previously released a photo of Takeyama as a missing person after his family expressed concern for his well-being.

Takeyama is being remembered by his loved ones as a protector.

“Jeff wasn’t just a husband, father, grandfather, and friend—he was the protector of our home and our neighborhood,” his family shared on a verified GoFundMe campaign.

“In every fire before this one, including the 1993 blaze, he worked tirelessly to keep us and our neighbors safe.”

— Takeyama’s family

But Takeyama’s family said this time, the fire was different.

“Our father’s absence leaves a hole in our family that can never be filled,” the family shared.

They’re now working to rebuild the life of Takeyama’s wife, Jane, who lost everything when their family home of 41 years was destroyed in the fire.

“The neighborhood will never be the same, and rebuilding her life feels like an insurmountable challenge,” the family said.

Randall “Randy” Miod called his mother Carol Smith at her house on January 7 to let her know he wasn’t evacuating during the wildfires.

Smith, who was meeting a friend for lunch at the time, missed his call – so Miod left a message on her landline’s answering machine.

Hey mama, it’s me. I just want to ask you to say a prayer for Palisades and Malibu. Big fire out here. It’s not that far from my house so just a little nervous. I’m on high alert … I love you, I’ll talk to you later.

— Randall Miod in a voicemail obtained by CNN

After Smith didn’t answer, Miod tried her again on her cell phone, which Smith picked up and the two discussed the fires.

“I told him, just like I had done before, grab your cat and run off to a shelter where you’ll be safe,” Smith said.

But Miod told Smith he had a garden hose and wasn’t going to evacuate. He was determined to protect his beloved house and didn’t want to abandon the home when the fires started, Smith said. She believed he didn’t know how big the flames were going to get.

“I came home, and I was so glad that I had that message on my phone because I will keep that forever,” said Smith.

Zenebou Sylla contributed to this report.

The Getty Center, an art museum in the Brentwood neighborhood, is “no longer under threat” from the wildfires and is set to reopen January 28, the center said in a statement Thursday.

The Getty Villa, which is in the burn area of the Palisades Fire but emerged largely unscathed, will remain closed until further notice, the statement said.

Some residents who live in evacuation order zones of the Palisades and Eaton fires are allowed to return to their properties Thursday, law enforcement officials announced in an update.

A majority of the zones allowing residents back in were not directly located within the burn perimeter, evacuation order maps show, but it is not clear which structures were impacted.

Residents who want to enter the areas need to provide proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or a utility bill showing the address, the update said.

For more information on which areas are allowing residents to return, check here for the Palisades Fire and here for the Eaton Fire.

A total of 7,555 structures have been destroyed by the Eaton Fire, including 4,356 single family homes, according to Dan Olson, a Cal Fire unified incident commander.

Damage inspection teams looking at impact from the Eaton Fire have completed 70% of all inspections, Olson said on Thursday.

There have been 27 deaths related to the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office report released Thursday.

Ten of the deaths were related to the Palisades Fire and 17 deaths were related to the Eaton Fire, the report says.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives team investigating the cause of the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires is processing a “tremendous amount of information,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, who warned a conclusion in the probe would not come quickly.

The bureau is gathering forensic evidence from the scene and leads and bringing “a team of people who follow these leads,” Dettelbach told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday.

Referencing the fire’s destruction of structures and acres, Dettelbach said: “The scope of the evidence and the scope of the information is going to be vast. And I warn people, it will take a long time. The most important thing for ATF is to get it right.”

The Urban Search and Rescue team has searched 8,800 homes in the Eaton Fire footprint, Cal Fire Operational Section Chief Jed Gaines said Thursday.

Over 90% of the searches are complete, which “is a huge accomplishment,” he said.

There are still some hot structures in the Altadena area they are working on as well as some ash pits, which are not smoking but are still hot, he said.

Taylor Swift has announced she’s donated to fire relief organizations in California, without disclosing the monetary amount, according to her Instagram.

“The fires in California have devastated so many families and it’s been heartbreaking to see these stories unfold. So much suffering, loss, and destruction. As so many people embark on some of the most challenging times of their lives, there are also many amazing organizations and groups banding together to help these communities rebuild.”

Taylor Swift

In the Instagram Story post, the singer and songwriter also listed the names of organizations she’s donated to, adding: “If you feel compelled or able to donate, please do.”

Those groups include the California Community Foundation Fund, Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, 211 LA and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, among others.

Residents going back to properties that either burned down or were evacuated due to the fires should take necessary precautions before going back, Los Angeles Chief Medical Advisor Nichole Quick told CNN.

Residents should only return when evacuation orders are lifted as different regulatory groups work together to determine if the area is safe to go back to, she said.

When they do go back, Quick says it’s crucial for people to ensure they’re wearing the correct personal protective equipment, such as a well-fitting mask or respirator and safety goggles, and covering up where possible.

“There’s a lot of different potential hazardous substances that they may come in contact with,” Quick said. “This can be ash, it can be heavy metals. There can be carcinogens in there, which are cancer-causing agents. These are things that essentially are left over from all the stuff that is burned.”

While respiratory illness is an immediate concern for those returning home, more long-term effects of carcinogens are also important to consider, Quick said.

She also advised those returning to their properties to protect themselves from ash or smoke in the air as others in their affected neighborhoods clean up.

The lineup for the FireAid benefit concert, set up to aid relief efforts following the deadly Los Angeles wildfires, includes native Angelenos Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gracie Abrams.

Other performers at the January 30 event include Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Tate McRae, Earth, Wind & Fire and Green Day, according to a news release.

The performances will take the stages at two venues – the Kia Forum and the new Intuit Dome – both located in the Los Angeles city of Inglewood.

FireAid will raise money “for rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California,” according to the release.

Additional artists and special guests will be announced in the coming days, the release states.

Read more about the FireAid benefit concert here.

The Pacific Palisades-based Riviera Country Club will not host February’s Genesis Invitational golf tournament after the PGA Tour announced an “alternative location” is being sought due to the wildfires impacting Southern California.

The annual tournament, which was set to start hosting events on February 10 with the competition itself to tee off on February 13, is organized by the Tiger Woods Foundation and classed as one of the PGA Tour’s “Signature Events.”

“The PGA TOUR’s focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles,” the men’s professional tour said in a statement Thursday.

“In collaboration with Genesis, The Riviera Country Club and TGR Live, and out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that the 2025 Genesis Invitational will be played at an alternate location the week of February 10-16,” the statement continued.

A venue update is expected to be provided in the coming days, according to the statement.

The tournament started as the Los Angeles Open in 1926. The event was hosted by multiple courses in the Los Angeles area before securing its longtime home at the Riviera Country Club in 1973.

Woods’ foundation reposted the PGA Tour’s statement on X along with an image stating, “SUPPORT LA.”

Homeowners’ insurance costs rose 9% faster than overall inflation in recent years, data released by the Treasury Department Thursday shows, a rise the agency attributed to the increase in extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, as well as the wildfires now devastating Southern California.

The 20% of homes in zip codes judged to be at greatest risk from extreme weather events paid an average of $2,321 a year for homeowners’ insurance, 82% more than what homeowners living in areas with the least risk of extreme weather paid, the report found. Those in the high risk areas are also 80% more likely to have their policies canceled by insurers seeking to limit their own risk and exposure to extreme weather, according to the report.

“Homeowners’ insurance is where many Americans are now feeling the financial effects of climate costs directly,” said Ethan Zindler, the Treasury Department’s climate counselor. “Extreme weather and other climate related events are now happening … more frequently and with greater ferocity. These weather event and other climate related events don’t really care what your political orientation is, or whether you even think climate change is real.”

A Spanish-speaking medical clinic in Altadena that was devastated by the Eaton fire has impacted more than 300 Latino families in the area, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, chief of medical affairs for AltaMed, told CNN.

One of the most important parts of this clinic was that it was serving our Hispanic community. … We lost one of the clinics that spoke Spanish, that was culturally important and concordant for our community, and those services need to be replaced.

— Dr. Ilan Shapiro

The clinic has been doing wellness checks on patients to ensure they have enough medications, especially for high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma, and guide them to other clinics if they need health services, said Shapiro.

Shapiro emphasized the long-term physical and mental health impacts from the wildfires and particles from toxic smoke.

The clinic has also been working with the American Red Cross to bring medical services to residents who were impacted by the fires.

“This has made a huge difference in our community. We speak Spanish, we bring those language and cultural aspects of it, and making sure they feel safe and have their needs met,” Shapiro said.

With thousands of structures burned and more than 100,000 people evacuated due to the wildfires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday addressing immediate housing needs and recovery for wildfire victims.

The order suspends rules that would prevent mobile homes, manufactured homes and RV’s from being used on private property outside of mobile home parks while rebuilding is taking place. It also suspends fees for mobile home parks for the next three years.

Newsom is directing the state’s Office of Emergency Services to identify fairgrounds that can be used to assist those impacted by the fires.

He is directing state departments to support local governments as they develop temporary housing plans for those immediately impacted by the fires.

The governor is also extending exceptions to some environmental protections around rebuilding, and extending a ban on price gouging for hotels, motels and rental housing in Los Angeles through March.

Newsom also announced Thursday that state property tax deadlines for those impacted by the fires are extended until April 10, 2026.

CNN’s Taylor Romine contributed to this report.

While there has been “little to no fire growth” to California’s wildfires in the last 24 hours, forecasters and officials are warning Los Angeles County residents to be prepared as another wind event is expected early next week.

There remains a large amount of unburned, dry fuel with low humidity, fire officials said, and Santa Ana winds are expected to return later Monday and into Tuesday next week.

For many, there is still no certainty about when they can return home. Whole neighborhoods have been incinerated by the fires that have killed at least 25 people.

Here’s the latest on the fires:

Fire containment grows: The Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 14,000 acres and 7,000 structures, is 55% contained, while the Palisades Fire, burning more than 22,713 acres, is 22% contained, fire officials said. The Hurst and Auto fires are both nearly fully contained, according to Cal Fire.

Red Flag warnings mostly expire: Red Flag warnings have expired in the city of Los Angeles, though they remain across the mountainous regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 3 p.m. Thursday, CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said. The humidity in the atmosphere will be helpful in containing the fires, though no significant rain is expected over the next week, he said.

Governor addresses housing needs: California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday addressing immediate housing needs and recovery for wildfire victims. It suspends rules that would prevent mobile homes, manufactured homes and RVs from being used on private property outside of mobile home parks while rebuilding is taking place.

Uncertainty about returning home: Los Angeles County residents forced to evacuate their homes will have to wait at least another week before they can return to their houses to survey damage, retrieve necessities and assess what can be salvaged and saved of their remaining property.

State officials fight price gouging: California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is investigating instances of price gouging among those looking to take advantage of vulnerable disaster victims. A price-gouging task force is at work in Los Angeles County, where officials are warning against predatory practices as wildfire recovery efforts continue, county officials said.

The Hurst Fire in northern Los Angeles County is now 100% contained after it burned nearly 800 acres, the Angeles National Forest said in a post on X.

“Crews are working to complete suppression repair efforts and anticipate that work will be completed on Monday,” the post said.

As people in wildfire-ravaged areas begin the recovery process, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is investigating instances of price gouging among those looking to take advantage of vulnerable disaster victims.

“Folks across the region are being preyed upon by greedy businesses and landlords, scam artists and predatory buyers looking to make a quick buck off their pain,” Bonta said. “They are seeking to revictimize the victims of the fires – to exploit them in their vulnerable state.”

The California Department of Justice has received hundreds of reports of price gouging since California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on January 7, Bonta said. The department is actively investigating and building criminal cases against perpetrators, he added.

Officials have also been working with housing and short-term rental companies, including Airbnb, which is working to block price gouging on its platform, Bonta noted.

Those found guilty of price gouging could face a year in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, he warned.

California law prohibits sellers from raising the price of an item by more than 10% what they were charging before the state of emergency. Those who begin selling an item after the emergency cannot raise the price by more than 50% of the cost of the item. The law applies to food, emergency and medical supplies, building materials, gas, hotel stays, rental housing and more, according to Bonta’s office.

The law applies to Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as surrounding Southern California counties where there is an increased consumer demand as a result of the fires, Bonta said.

People impacted by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County should keep an eye out for scammers looking to exploit “mass casualty events and disasters,” the FBI said in a public service announcement on Thursday.

The warning also applies to victims of the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans, according to the FBI.

Fraudsters often ask for fake charitable donations online and in-person, and are known to impersonate celebrities, influencers or government officials on social media, the announcement noted. Artificial intelligence is also sometimes used in the cases, according to the FBI.

“Scammers may pose as disaster relief agencies to collect personal information, conduct charitable fraud schemes, or commit fraud against disaster assistance programs,” the FBI said.

In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 4,500 complaints reporting approximately $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities, crowdfunding accounts and disaster relief campaigns, the agency said.

Employees with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have received threats, including while working in the field, a LADWP spokesperson told CNN.

“We take every threat and incident seriously and report them immediately to law enforcement,” the department said. CNN has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.

“Our employees are working tirelessly around the clock to support the City’s response, and their work is critical to those efforts. They are an essential part of the City family, they are part of this community, and there is no place in society or in our City for any threats to their safety,” the statement from the LADWP spokesperson said.

Robert Rivas, speaker of the California State Assembly, and more than 20 other assembly members held a legislative update on Thursday regarding plans to expedite Southern California’s firestorm recovery, including bills focusing on housing.

Rivas said the state assembly would move quickly to approve “billions of dollars in funding” to kick start toxic debris removal and begin rebuilding and repairing schools.

Other legislation proposed on Thursday includes bills to help protect families from predatory investors and prevent predatory land speculation; a Mortgage Deferment Act; establishing a state-led Disaster Housing Task Force; and allowing displaced families to stay in hotels, motels, and short-term rentals for more than 30 days.

Assembly member Nick Schultz said he would be introducing a bill to implement a six-year moratorium on non-essential residential code changes, as California’s building code is typically updated on a triennial basis.

Legislators also previewed a state-led Individual Assistance Program and a Small Business Recovery Act.

“We absolutely have to reshape our state government, so that we are better able to prevent a disaster like this from happening again. All options must be on the table,” Rivas said. “We will listen to local residents about what they need most. We’re going to act with urgency to ensure that we deliver results.”

As of Thursday, the Eaton Fire is 55% contained and the Palisades Fire is 22% contained, according to Cal Fire.

But what exactly does “containment” mean?

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group offers a short summary of the term.

“Containment: The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread.”

The key phrase there is “control line,” or some kind of barrier around the fire, generally by removing vegetation and fuel. Firefighters construct a control line by digging out trenches or intentionally burning away vegetation, known as a “burn out,” according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

A “firebreak” is a term for a natural or constructed barrier, such as a wide highway or the ocean, that can also function as a control line.

In sum, the goal of containment is not to put out the fire, but to stop it from growing.

Importantly, containment does not mean the fire is extinguished, and even a fire that is 100% contained can continue burning. For example, the Mendocino Complex Fire began July 27, 2018, and was 100% contained on September 18. Yet hot spots within that boundary smoldered for several more months until it was fully extinguished on January 4, 2019.

Botched emergency warnings going to the cell phones of people in Los Angeles County caused confusion early in the wildfire disaster and also exposed weaknesses in the warning system used across the country.

When the Kenneth Fire broke out January 9 in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, all cell phones in Los Angeles County were sent an alert saying, “This is an emergency message from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for your area.”

No location for the evacuation warning was provided.

Twenty-two minutes later, another message was sent saying, “Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING.”

The alert that had only been intended for the small section of the county endangered by the Kenneth Fire had gone out to the entire county. But many residents were woken up the next day by another mistaken evacuation alert. The Kenneth Fire was fully contained on January 12 after burning just over 1,000 acres.

Emergency officials apologized for the erroneous alerts, blaming them on technical errors. But the vulnerabilities to mistakes and confusion are present in emergency alert procedures all over the US.

“This experience, I hope, will provide some lessons for the rest of the country,” said former Los Angeles city controller Ron Galperin, who audited the city’s emergency alert system twice in the past decade.

The system that provides emergency alerts to cell phones – which is managed by FEMA – sends the alerts to individual towers in the affected areas. As a result, you only receive evacuation notices affecting the area where your cell phone currently is, not where you live, unless your community has a more tailored service and you choose to register your address with it.

Read the full story on LA communications breakdowns and the national implications.

The wildfires in LA have left destruction, debris, ash, and more in their wake, so officials have advised residents across LA County to check with their water utility company to confirm that the drinking water in their homes is safe.

“Go to the website or call the number for your local water agency. They will have it posted specifically whether or not your water for your house is clean for drinking, bathing, or any of those things,” LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said Thursday.

Everyone involved in the harrowing effort to contain the major wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area feels the outpouring of “love and support” from communities worldwide, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said during a news conference on Thursday.

“Our first responders, from that very moment when they were called to duty, did their jobs,” Crowley said. “And they have so many feelings, just like the community does.”

Crowley says she has visited local fire stations and command posts and remarked on the “incredible job” firefighters are doing.

Twenty fire engines that are “actively” working on the Palisades incident have been there since the fire started more than a week ago, Crowley noted.

“As their chief, I’m extremely proud of the work that our people did and continue to do, and will continue to do well, well into the future in the many years to come,” Crowley said.

The Los Angeles wildfires have not only scorched the earth, destroyed property and left behind hazardous debris, but have also destabilized the land along many slopes in Pacific Palisades.

“You’ll see this raveling of the slopes in what looks like a landslide – and it is a landslide – debris into the streets and into properties,” said Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.

He advised residents who lived on sloped properties to watch closely for instability when they return.

“If you have slopes behind your homes or if you’re located on top of a slope, these slopes have become fragile,” said Pestrella. “The soil that is supporting your home has become fragile and damaged, if you will, due to the events that we’ve had, wind included.”

Pestrella said some water supply lines damaged beyond immediate repair by the fires have been shut off to prevent more property damage.

“We wanted to maintain a water pressure in the system and not lose it to properties, but also in anticipation that it could grease the wheel of landslides,” he said.

As Los Angeles begins to consider how to rebuild in the wake of devastating wildfires, people from across the globe are showing their support.

“People are stepping up around the world to support Angelinos,” LA Mayor Karen Bass said Thursday. “LA sister city, Busan, in South Korea, pledged to donate more than $100,000 to support our recovery efforts. Japan also contributed to the Red Cross.”

YouTube and Google are contributing $50 million to organizations providing immediate relief in LA and the California Community Foundation’s Wildlife Recovery Fund has received more than $24 million, according to the mayor.

Over 23,000 people have donated to Calfund.org, Bass said.

“The kindness, generosity and the spirit of the community that I have seen from so many Angelinos over the last few days really does confirm that we are going to rebuild, and we will rebuild and restore and build even better our city of Los Angeles,” she said.

Seven Los Angeles Unified School District schools remain inside evacuation zones as of Thursday morning, according to LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

Horvath provided a list of schools for students to attend in the meantime:

A price-gouging task force is at work in Los Angeles County, where officials are warning against predatory practices as wildfire recovery efforts continue, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.

“Price gouging continues to be an issue that is top of mind and a painful experience for those who are seeking to recover in this difficult time,” Horvath said during a news conference Thursday.

The county’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs runs the task force, which includes the LA district attorney and other city attorneys, she noted.

Horvath said she has spoken to California’s attorney general, who is “pursuing vigorous investigations” into price gouging.

Individuals impacted by the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County have until March 10 to apply for individual assistance from FEMA, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

“You have until March 10 to apply for individual FEMA assistance and 18 months to complete the paperwork,” Horvath said during a news conference on Thursday.

Those impacted are asked to apply as soon as possible, Horvath noted, “so you are in their system and you have that 18-month window to work with them to receive all of the benefits that you not only need in this time, but you deserve.”

More than 300 families visited a Los Angeles disaster recovery center on its opening day Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a news conference Thursday.

Bass said she personally visited the center on Wednesday.

“While you’re in the recovery center, you can see the emotional toll that this disaster has taken on people,” she said.

A variety of services are available for wildfire victims at the center, including short-term financial and housing relief, Bass noted.

“I hope that people will continue to encourage and spread the word about the disaster recovery centers,” she said.

State Farm Insurance is promising to offer policy renewals to homeowners affected by the Los Angeles-area wildfires, Mayor Karen Bass said.

“We know in some of the affected areas, insurance companies were already pulling out, and the fact that State Farm is not going to do that I think is very encouraging,” said Bass.

State insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara previously announced a one-year moratorium on policy cancelations and non-renewals for people in areas defined by the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency.

“State Farm is honoring the Commissioner’s call to action,” the state Department of Insurance said on Instagram.

Local government officials are making plans to get Los Angeles residents back to their homes and properties but face multiple challenges in ensuring the areas are safe and habitable after the fires destroyed infrastructure and caused major damage to buildings.

“The properties have been damaged beyond belief. They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials.”

LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella

Pestrella said the Environmental Protection Agency is working with LA city and county governments to help remove toxic debris from the area. Local agencies are working to remove the debris and working with utility companies to restore power, water, and sewer services to impacted neighborhoods.

Los Angeles County will be providing residents with the “tools” they need to safely return to what’s left of their homes and “sift through their debris and look for valuables,” LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced Thursday

These tools will include gloves, eye goggles, and debris cleaning kits “to make sure that when they are on-site, they are protected,” Barger said.

Barger added that she has asked the city’s Department of Mental Health to be on the ground with community members to assist with “the emotional load” of reentering where their homes once stood.

There are 31 active missing person reports related to the wildfires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference Thursday.

Forty-three missing person reports were filed after the fires, and 12 of those people were found to be safe, Luna said.

Of the 31 who remain missing, 24 people have been reported missing in the Eaton Fire area and 7 people have been reported missing in the Palisades Fire area, Luna said.

Over 170,000 people remained under an evacuation order or warning in LA County Thursday, as the effort continues to contain the deadly wildfires that have caused so much destruction in the area.

The exact number of people impacted fluctuates, LA County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said, but approximately 82,400 people remain under evacuation orders and another 90,400 are under evacuation warnings.

“Please keep up with the information we’re putting out, because that could change, hopefully for the better, but we’ll see what happens,” Luna said.

A curfew is still in effect in certain areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Debris that has accumulated in the area of the Palisades and Eaton Fires could have an impact on flood control systems should the region experience significant rainfall, Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said during a news conference on Thursday.

Countless properties have been damaged “beyond belief,” Pestrella said. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt, and hazardous materials.”

“We are also assessing the impact to the flood control system that serves the entire region, including both these burn areas,” he said. “We expect massive debris laden flows when it rains.”

These systems are designed to handle debris, but in the event of major rain, Pestrella said these “communities will be impacted by debris flows that could be hazardous to human health.”

“In order to address this, we are developing plans for both areas to capture and hold this debris back as much as we can during a rain event,” Pestrella said.

Rain is expected later this month, he added. “We are already pre-deploying labor forces into the area to make sure that the flood control system is ready,” Pestrella said.

Assessments of how much hazardous waste left behind by the wildfires needs to be removed are now underway by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We are beginning this work today,” said EPA incident commander Tara Fitzgerald. “We have personnel on the ground in both the Eaton and Palisades footprints conducting assessments.”

Workers wearing head-to-toe protective gear must clear out all visible hazardous waste from residential properties before the next step of cleanup can begin.

“The initial phase of household hazardous materials includes removal of the most immediate risk to public health and workers returning to work within the burn footprint,” said Fitzgerald.

“That includes things like pesticides, batteries, the risk of damaged lithium-ion batteries, fuel and other things that would normally go to the household hazardous waste management landfill.”

Residents in the Los Angeles County area need to prepare for the potential return of strong winds and the fire risk they bring, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday during a news conference.

Crowley warned that there remains a large amount of unburned, dry fuel with low humidity, and Santa Ana winds are expected to return next week. She urged the community to prepare.

“Flying embers from a wildfire can destroy homes over a mile away. Taking the necessary measures to prepare your home can help increase its chance of survival when wildland fires strike,” Crowley said.

She advised residents to clear all brush within 200 feet of their homes.

“Allow the LAFD and other first responders that fighting chance to respond quickly if a wildland fire reaches your community,” she said.

As rescue operations continue in the areas of the Eaton and Palisades fires, some areas being searched are currently on hold where teams believe there may be deceased victims, according to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna.

“We still have a variety of work and structures to go through, but even as we’re going through some of these grids, there are areas that we are holding, because we believe there may be deceased victims there,” Luna explained.

“We have to hold for the right time, and the right resources, to process the scene correctly, and that’s going to take a little while. Please be patient with us,” the sheriff urged. “We know people want to get back into their neighborhoods, but we’re talking about people who have passed.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has made 47 arrests so far in the area of the Palisades and Eaton Fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday during a news conference.

“Regarding arrests for the LA County Sheriff’s area, our total is at 47,” Luna said. “We have 36 at the Eaton incident and 11 at the Palisades incident.”

A curfew is still in effect for these area from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Luna added. “So again, you don’t belong there. Please do not go there.”

There has been “little to no fire growth” to California’s wildfires in the last 24 hours, with the exception of the Palisades Fire, where several interior pockets continue to burn.

“Threats still exist with structures and critical infrastructure and crews continue to strengthen fire perimeter and coordinate infrastructure repairs,” Cal Fire Incident Commander Gerry Magaña said Thursday.

Cal Fire continues to pre-position resources, with a mobilization center in Riverside County available for any potential new starts, Magaña said.

Residents of Los Angeles County forced to evacuate their homes amid the wildfires raging across the area, will have to wait at least another week before they can return to their houses to survey damage, retrieve necessities and assess what can be salvaged and saved of their remaining property.

“We continue to plan for the repopulation of evacuated areas when safe, the repopulation of residents in the evacuation order areas will not occur for at least one more week for the areas that are deemed safe,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Thursday.

We’re doing our best as we know that this is a challenge for our residents.

LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone

The Eaton and Palisades fires are the first and second-most destructive in Southern California history, and securing the evacuation zones goes beyond making sures the fires are out.

Toxic ash, hazardous waste and charred debris left in the wake of the infernos must be cleaned up as well, plus repairs to infrastructure such as water and electricity, officials said.

Wind gusts over Pacific Palisades Wednesday did not result in the Los Angeles area’s largest wildfire getting any larger, the city’s fire chief said.

We are very fortunate that this last wind event did not cause any expansion of the Palisades Fire.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley

The Palisades Fire has burned 22,713 acres and is 22% contained, Crowley said. There are 5,032 firefighting personnel assigned to that fire alone.

The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres and 7,000 structures, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a news conference Thursday.

The fire is at about 55% containment, Marrone said.

More than 3,000 fire personnel are responding to the incident and 60% of damage inspections for the fire are complete, he added.

The wind gust threat that has complicated the work of firefighters this week appears to be on the way out, the Los Angeles County fire chief said.

“We look forward to the weather conditions returning to normal this evening. However, a moderate red flag warning is predicted this coming Monday and Tuesday.”

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone

A preliminary forecast for Monday and Tuesday calls for possible gusts of 30-50 mph.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has “made good progress towards partnering with a reputable” nonprofit to accept donations, county fire chief Anthony Marrone said during a news conference on Thursday.

“I ask interested donors to be patient as we finalize our donation process, and I thank you for wanting to support our brave Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters,” Marrone added.

Los Angeles city and county officials provide an update on their response to the wildfires and high winds expected in the Los Angeles area early next week.

The expected speakers for Thursday’s briefing include the following:

Drought significantly worsened in Southern California in the past week after no new rain fell and fierce Santa Ana winds further dried out the landscape, new data from the US Drought Monitor shows.

Nearly all of Southern California is experiencing level 2 of 4 “severe” drought conditions, according to the data.

Ninety-percent of Los Angeles County is now in severe drought which is its worst drought since November of 2022. Just two weeks ago there wasn’t any severe drought to be found in the county.

January is typically Southern California’s second-wettest month but Los Angeles hasn’t recorded any rain since the year began. The lack of rain and increasing drought extended the region’s wildfire season well past its typical end and allowed Santa Ana wind-driven fires to burn intensely as they tore through abundant, tinder-dry fuels.

Red flag warnings have expired in the city of Los Angeles, though they remain across the mountainous regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 3 p.m. Thursday, CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said Thursday.

The humidity in the atmosphere will be helpful in containing the fires, though no significant rain is expected over the next week, he said.

“Even though no rain is in the forecast, the winds are expected to switch to a more onshore flow late Thursday and into Friday, bringing higher relative humidities and less chaotic wind flow, thus helping to mitigate the wildfire threat compared to recent days,” the National Weather Service said Thursday.

Crews are working to contain the fires under the more favorable conditions while they last. Van Dam noted that next week will be very dry in the Los Angele County region, and there may be another Santa Ana wind event Monday or Tuesday.

Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is donating $15 million to more than a dozen charities supporting wildfire recovery, Ballmer’s philanthropic group announced Wednesday.

“In coordination with our local partners, Ballmer Group will contribute to addressing immediate food and shelter needs in the community and supporting our first responders,” Steve and Connie Ballmer said in a statement.

The Ballmers said the Clippers’ home venue, the Intuit Dome, will host FireAid, a benefit concert for wildfire relief scheduled for January 30.

Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, is listed by Forbes as the ninth-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $125 billion.

Also on Wednesday, Google and its online video website YouTube announced that they would donate $15 million to LA relief services.

“When it’s safe to reopen our offices in LA, we plan to offer YouTube production facilities to impacted creators and artists as they begin to recover and rebuild their businesses,” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said on the company’s blog.

LeBron James, in his first media availability since the Los Angeles area wildfires broke out, said he and his family evacuated last week.

After the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 117-108 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, James talked to reporters about his emotions and the impact the fires have had on him.

“I have a couple of dear friends that have lost their homes in the Palisades,” James said. “Obviously, my heart goes out to all of the families, all across not only the Palisades, but all across LA County and all the surrounding areas because of the fire.

“It’s been a lot of emotions. Kind of been off. Personally, I’ve been off. Personally, my family, we’ve been evacuated since Thursday night, so I’ve been in a hotel since pretty much we got back from Dallas. … I’ve just been completely off for obvious reasons, but hopefully things are contained or continue to be contained.

“And hopefully, at some point, we can start to push forward and move forward and put it behind us where we can rebuild our city, rebuild this beautiful city.”

It’s the question Los Angeles officials say they’re hearing more than any other from wildfire evacuees: When can I return home? It is one of many questions raised by the disaster that doesn’t have a simple answer.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the first serious discussions about dialing down evacuations and repopulating communities would take place Thursday, after the worst of the predicted winds passed.

This is a priority for the unified incident command.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone

But even for those whose homes were not destroyed, getting back to their neighborhoods may be delayed by the critical work of removing hazardous debris. That cleanup process could take three to six months, an EPA official told CNN.

The state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery says even after workers in head-to-toe protective gear remove the visible hazardous debris, many properties will still need to have contaminated topsoil removed along with concrete, which is porous and can absorb toxic water.

Facing raised eyebrows about stories of private fire brigades saving the homes and businesses of the wealthy in some areas, local leaders assured people that there is no secret to expediting the process of reentry into evacuation zones, even for those who have already hired private contractors for cleanup.

“We … need to address and dispel a rumor circulating in the community: there is no permit for expedited re-entry into evacuation zones,” Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said Tuesday. “Any claims or offers to provide such a permit are false.”

Officials say, even once people are allowed to return, they need to be prepared for a lot of stops and starts in the process of recovering their lives.

“Individuals who have lost their homes in conditions like this are going to have good days and bad days,” former state Office of Emergency Services director Mark Ghilarducci told CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS. “There are going to be frustrations.”

CNN’s Maureen Chowdhury, Ella Nilsen, Taylor Romine and Jessie Yeung contributed to this report.

The last time Shaw Zhao spoke to his 84-year-old father, Zhi Feng Zhao, was around noon on January 7, he told CNN.

Shaw primarily lives in Portland, Oregon, but his father lived alone in their shared home in Altadena, California – an area ravaged by the Eaton Fire.

Shaw, 54, was planning on flying to Altadena the next day for reasons unrelated to the fire, and his father called him on January 7 to confirm his flight time and ask what he wanted to eat the next day.

Around 8:30 p.m., a long-time Altadena neighbor informed Shaw about the fire. Shaw said he tried to get in touch with his father all night and the following morning but couldn’t.

He took his scheduled flight and landed at the Burbank airport at around 7 a.m.

When his Lyft driver Gilian “Ian” Villatoro picked him up, Shaw explained the situation.

“I could only imagine what it would feel like to have my father unaccounted for in the middle of all of that,” Ian told CNN. “I felt like he needed help and I just needed to help him. There was no way that I could just meet somebody in that situation and not offer help.”

Ian tried to drive Shaw to his Altadena home, but it was still blocked off because of the fire, Ian said. Though Ian tried many backroads for a few hours, they couldn’t get in. They ultimately gave up and Ian dropped him off at the Pasadena Convention Center, where evacuees were staying.

“I walked through thousands of beds twice. I couldn’t find him,” Shaw said. “My heart sank. I know something terrible could’ve happened.”

They kept in touch that night, as the situation hit close to home for Ian who unexpectedly lost his mother in October to a heart attack.

The next morning, Ian offered to drive Shaw in his SUV back up to Altadena to see if they could find a way to look at his home. The neighborhood was still blocked off when they arrived, but Shaw, Ian and Ian’s wife all decided to make the 3-mile trek through the rubble to try to find the house using Google Maps.

When they finally found Shaw’s home of 20 years, it was destroyed. They saw a coyote in the yard – what Ian described as a bad omen.

Ian later discovered Shaw’s father’s remains, sparing Shaw from having to see them up close.

“I cried very dry and my friends (Gilian and his wife) tried to hold me,” cried Shaw. “I feel so grateful for Gilian and his wife, they spent a day and a half helping me … you can see the generosity of people.”

Shaw described his father, who was born in China, as a smart and talented person. Throughout Shaw’s entire education and career, he felt like he followed life lessons that his father taught him.

Entire neighborhoods burned to the ground. Dozens of casualties after people either couldn’t leave or chose not to flee their homes. The Los Angeles wildfires have left incredible devastation in their wake.

Here’s an analysis of the building damage with what we know now:

The Eaton Fire, while smaller in perimeter than the Palisades Fire, has likely claimed more buildings, estimates suggest. Here’s an analysis of what we know about the damage to the hard-hit Altadena neighborhood:

Hotels in metro Los Angeles are continuing to mobilize by providing housing for thousands displaced by wildfires, with many offering complimentary or reduced-rate accommodations for those affected and emergency personnel.

Hilton and American Express announced Wednesday that they are offering 20,000 hotel room nights at no charge, joining a growing list of organizations providing shelter. Along with these two companies, Airbnb is partnering with 211 LA, a community hub for Los Angeles County, to coordinate the distribution of emergency housing for individuals displaced by the wildfires.

The Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism have compiled lists of available hotels in Southern California to assist nearly 180,000 residents included in evacuation orders.

“We are devastated by the destruction of the fires raging across the Los Angeles region. Hotels are currently taking in thousands of Angelenos who have been displaced by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires,” HALA said in a statement.

The list will be updated yet may not accurately reflect current availability, a HALA spokesperson told CNN – residents are encouraged to contact hotels to find out about available discounts.

For context: Southern California’s already challenging housing market is poised for further strain as thousands of families affected by the wildfires seek shelter, potentially for years to come. Real estate experts told CNN that the influx of demand from fire victims, combined with a dwindling supply of available homes, is likely to drive up both rental and purchase prices significantly.

California law prohibits significant price increases on critical items, including rental housing, home repairs, emergency supplies like water and batteries, and medical necessities. Building materials such as lumber and tools, as well as gasoline and transportation tickets, are also protected under this legislation.

Businesses may raise prices by no more than 10% during emergencies unless they can provide valid justification for higher costs, according to Los Angeles County Consumer and Business Affairs.

Read more about the region’s affordable housing crisis here.

As the winds die down and firefighters seize control of the deadly infernos that have scorched more than 60 square miles, Los Angeles faces an unimaginable task before anyone can rebuild: Cleaning up the toxic, smoldering remains.

More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed, many of them homes and businesses that are reduced to ashy foundation footprints. Cars are charred to the frame, their tires melted into black puddles of rubber. Batteries powering EVs — popular choices in LA — threaten to reignite like unexploded munitions.

The remaining fires are drawing out an agonizing return for residents, and it will be a months-long process to clean up the toxic ash, hazardous waste and charred debris, state and federal officials told CNN. Only then can home and business owners rebuild.

The work to identify and clean up hazardous waste could start as soon next week, an Environmental Protection Agency official told CNN. The EPA will be joined by California state agency CalRecycle in overseeing much of the clean-up work, officials said.

Charred hazardous waste and large debris must be cleared by professional crews, and the underlying soil needs to be treated to remove toxic chemicals that burned into it.

“It’s not the same as ‘I’m going to go in with a shovel and clear out the mud from the flood,’” said Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of nonprofit Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

The Eaton and Palisades fires are the first and second-most destructive in Southern California history. “The Palisades fire alone is the size of Manhattan; just imagine the debris,” McIlreavy said.

“It’s going to be an enormous undertaking.”

Read the full story.

As weather conditions improve and firefighters make progress in containing the Los Angeles blazes, they’re contending with dangerous conditions.

Firefighters returning to base camps after battling the wildfires “have emerged bruised, battered, beaten,” LAFD Assistant Chief Joe Everett said.

Most red flag fire warnings have expired, but forecasters warn that another round of Santa Ana Winds is expected to begin early next week. “We are not out of the woods yet,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said as Cal Fire warned of “the potential for fire growth.”

For many, there is still no certainty about when they’ll be able to return home. Whole neighborhoods have been incinerated by the fires that have killed at least 25 people. Here’s what we know about the victims.

Where the fires stand:

The latest developments:

With conditions improving across Southern California Thursday through the weekend, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles is looking ahead to the potential of another Santa Ana Wind Event that may begin early next week.

The weather service warns that another round of Santa Ana Winds are set to begin later Monday and into Tuesday.

The current preliminary forecast calls for a 60% chance of a red flag warning being issued Monday and a 70% chance of a warning issued on Tuesday. They warn that should this event pan out, wind gusts are most likely to be between 30-50 mph with isolated chances exceeding 50 mph.

Along with these winds will come dry air all week with the lowest relative humidities potentially reaching single digits on Monday and Tuesday.
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Source: https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/fires-los-angeles-california-01-16-25/index.html