California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 24

Thousands of firefighters are battling the sprawling wildfires across LA.

ByJon Haworth, Emily Shapiro, Nadine El-Bawab, Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, David Brennan, and Bill Hutchinson
Last Updated: January 12, 2025, 8:26 PM EST

At least 24 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple fires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue to rage across Southern California, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Thousands of firefighters are battling several sprawling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched nearly 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 11% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 14,100 acres and is 27% contained. The Hurst Fire near Sylmar has burned 799 acres and is 89% contained.

About 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 24, 2025, 2:20 pm

Tracking ongoing California wildfires

The Palisades Fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures. It's covered more than 23,000 acres and is at 87% containment.

The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and is at 95% containment.

Jan 11, 2025, 11:32 AM EST

27 arrests in Palisades, Eaton Fires

Twenty-seven people were arrested amid the Palisades and Eaton Fire areas, most of them people who were not where they were supposed to be, county and city officials said.

"They had no business being there," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters on Saturday about the people arrested.

Twenty-two people were arrested by LA County while five others were arrested by the city.

Those arrested include two people who were arrested and booked for curfew violations. Most of the arrests were for burglary, looting and possession of narcotics.

Jan 11, 2025, 10:10 AM EST

Palisades Fire reaches 11% containment, currently covering nearly 22,000 acres

The Palisades Fire has reached 21,596 acres with 11% containment, currently the biggest fire in California. Winds are expected to gradually increase going into the evening on Saturday.

The Eaton Fire has also reached 14,117 acres and is currently at 15% containment.

The Kenneth Fire currently stands at 1,052 acres with 80% containment.

Jan 10, 2025, 11:22 PM EST

New evacuation order issued for Palisades Fire

A new evacuation order has been issued for the Palisades Fire.

The new order extends from the Encino Reservoir in the north to Sunset Boulevard in the south and from the Mandeville Canyon in the west to the busy 405 freeway to the east.

Firefighters are seen by massive flames from the Palisades Fire in California, Jan. 10, 2025.
KABC

Previously, those areas were under an evacuation warning, which means residents are urged to be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

Jan 10, 2025, 11:07 PM EST

LA Clippers game postponed due to wildfires

The LA Clippers game Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets at Intuit Dome has been postponed due to the wildfires in Los Angeles.

Next week's Clippers' games at Intuit Dome against the Miami Heat on Jan. 13 and against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 15 will continue as scheduled, the venue said.

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