California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 24
Thousands of firefighters are battling the sprawling wildfires across LA.
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.
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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.
Curfew in place for all evacuated areas, violators will be arrested
A 12-hour curfew is in effect for all evacuated areas to protect the structures and prevent looting, Los Angeles officials said at a press conference Friday. Any violators of the curfew will be arrested.
"People may talk about no bail, but I assure you, if someone is caught you will not be cited and released -- you will be booked and go to jail," Los Angeles County Sherrif Robert Luna said at a press conference Friday.
Law enforcement will be strictly enforcing the curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with exceptions allowed for disaster workers and credentialed media.
If you fly a drone, you’ll be prosecuted: DA
A super scooper plane fighting the Palisades Fire struck a drone on Thursday, leaving it out of commission until at least Monday as it gets repaired, officials said.
This was one of only two super scoopers available, officials said.
LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned that anyone flying a drone will be prosecuted.
"If you're thinking that it's fine to send a drone up in the area for your own amusement, or you want to get information that nobody else can get, and you do it in one of these areas that for which drones are not permitted … you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law," he said.
Eaton Fire now at nearly 14,000 acres, with thousands of structures damaged, destroyed
The Eaton Fire is now at 13,956 acres with 3% containment. The fire is believed to have damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
There are currently 5,527 firefighters responding to the fire.
The fire did make a push toward Mount Wilson Observatory on Thursday, but the building did not suffer any damage. One firefighter was injured due to a fall while responding to the fire, but the firefighter is currently recovering.
The region is in a "much better posture" than it was earlier this week, Marrone said at a press conference Friday.
The red flag warning will continue until Friday at 6 p.m. PST, but firefighters will be preparing for the next red flag event expected to begin on Monday, Marrone said.
Palisades Fire scorches over 20,000 acres, 8% contained
The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades has now scorched over 20,000 acres -- larger than all of Manhattan, which is 14,600 acres.
Thanks to favorable wind conditions overnight, the Palisades Fire is 8% contained, LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference early Friday.
Wind gusts are expected to increase Friday morning; firefighters are prepared, Crowley said.
The Palisades and Eaton fires have become the No. 1 and No. 2 most destructive fires in Southern California history in terms of structures burned.