Wind speeds in southern California are declining, the National Weather Service said Wednesday, though sudden gusts and dry conditions could still help spark new fires.
While speeds will go down throughout Thursday, the winds will “be slow to weaken,” the NWS said. As conditions change, the “potential for rapid fire growth and localized downed trees and power outages will still remain,” the agency said.
Wednesday was expected to be “the last really windy day” of the Santa Ana winds event, but more winds could reach the area by next week, officials said.
Meanwhile, officials urged more than 90,000 residents to be alert and heed any evacuation warnings and orders.
“I urge everyone to stay alert. The combination of low humidity and strong winds has further dried out the brush, increasing the risk of fire,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Wednesday press briefing.
The area’s largest blazes, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, are now among the most destructive in Southern California’s history. Significant progress has been made on the fires in the last couple of days, despite tricky weather conditions.
The Palisades Fire has torn across nearly 24,000 acres and is 19 percent contained. The Eaton Fire is 45 percent contained after burning more than 14,000 acres.
Key Points
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LA fires death toll: At least 25 people killed in Palisades and Eaton blazes
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California wind speeds expected to decline on Thursday
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Federal and local law enforcement authorities form task force to combat crimes related to Los Angeles wildfires
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‘Fabulous’ 95-year-old grandmother with ties to old Hollywood is among California fire victims, family says
Cal Transit maintenance station is ‘severely damaged’ in Palisades Fire
05:31 , Julia Musto
Rides remain free to take residents to recovery centers
05:00 , Julia Musto
Brentwood neighborhood is not under the current Do Not Drink notice
04:31 , Julia Musto
California has taken these executive measures to respond to the Los Angeles wildfires
04:00 , Julia Musto
A home is seen destroyed by the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Malibu, California. The city has seen natural gas restored (AP)
SoCal Gas restores natural gas service to hundreds of Malibu customers
03:31 , Julia Musto
Cal Fire has received support from 12 states, Canada, and Mexico
03:02 , Julia Musto
More than 200 JPL, Caltech employees are left without homes
02:30 , Julia Musto
More than 200 employees at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and Caltech have reportedly been left homeless due to the Los Angeles Fires, according to FOX Weather.
“It was like driving through a video game,” Marcy Harbut, a senior technical writer for the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltech, told the network. “Turn down the street. Got to turn around. And then all these people in that house, watch out for those flames. And these people are packing up their van. Be careful. Don’t run over people. It was just chaos.”
California wind speeds expected to decline on Thursday
02:29 , Katie Hawkinson
Wind speeds in southern California are set to decline Thursday, the National Weather Service said Wednesday afternoon.
While speeds will go down throughout Thursday, winds will still “be slow to weaken,” the NWS said. As conditions change, the “potential for rapid fire growth and localized downed trees and power outages will still remain.”
More than 111,000 people are without power in California as of Wednesday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
The two largest blazes, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, are among the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
The Palisades Fire has torn across nearly 24,000 acres and is 19 percent contained as of Wednesday night. The Eaton Fire is also 45 percent contained after burning more than 14,000 acres.
Parents should clean any toys with ash on them before giving them to their kids, health officials warn
02:00 , Julia Musto
Cal Fire rescues dehydrated black-and-white cat now named ‘Domino’
01:31 , Julia Musto
In-kind donations are at capacity, Los Angeles Fire Department says. Here’s where to donate
01:00 , Julia Musto
Volunteers stack donated water for people impacted by the Altadena Fire at a donation center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Wednesday. The county said in-kind donations are at capacity (AP)
SEC warns investors to be cautious regarding wildfire-related investment fraud
00:45 , Julia Musto
Part of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire still stands on Tuesday in Altadena, California. Residents have returned to rubble (AP)
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it’s closely monitoring the impact of the California wildfires on investors and markets and warned people to “be vigilant for California wildfire-related investment frauds.”
The SEC’s divisions “will evaluate the possibility of granting relief from filing deadlines and other regulatory requirements for those affected by the wildfires. Entities and investment professionals affected by the California wildfires are encouraged to contact SEC staff with questions and concerns,” the agency said in a statement.
Anyone who has lost their pets due to the wildfires should call this phone number
00:30 , Julia Musto
Emergency telephone town hall on Palisade Fire scheduled for 7 p.m. PST
Wednesday 15 January 2025 23:31 , Julia Musto
LA County weather forecast is cooler, less windy
Wednesday 15 January 2025 23:21 , Julia Musto
Cal Fire makes history with first-ever 24-hour helibase
Wednesday 15 January 2025 23:00 , Julia Musto
Little Mountain Fire crops up in San Bernardino
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:43 , Julia Musto
Nearly 17,000 personnel are working on California wildfires
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:31 , Julia Musto
Dozens of Los Angeles residents — some armed — are defying evacuation orders to protect their homes in ‘Wild West’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:21 , Julia Musto
Dozens of Los Angeles residents — some armed — are defying wildfire evacuation orders
Damage from LA County wildfires is surveyed as search and rescue operations continue
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:20 , Julia Musto
Firefighters from Idaho spray down the rubble of homes demolished by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Multiple western states sent assistance to fight the fires (AFP via Getty Images)
Search and rescue operations are underway amid the rubble of fire-ravaged homes demolished by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Teams were nearly done there (AFP via Getty Images)
Firefighters spray the rubble of fire-ravaged homes in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Teams from the EPA will come to clear hazardous debris when it is safe to do so (AFP via Getty Images)
A car burned from the Palisades Fire is seen at Will Rogers State Park, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday. The historic home of the famous actor and cowboy burned in the blaze (Getty Images)
A vintage vehicle unscathed by the Eaton Fire is seen on Wednesday in Altadena, California. Many other vehicles burned and melted (Getty Images)
The remains of a home demolished by the Eaton Fire on the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountain are seen in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Winds in the region picked up slightly on Wednesday (AFP via Getty Images)
Long lines reported at post office after homes burned in Eaton Fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:02 , Julia Musto
The burnt remains of a hardware store are seen in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Altadena’s post office also burned down (AFP via Getty Images)
Altadena residents who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire are reporteldy facing long lines at the post office while trying to get their mail.
While the city’s post office burned down, the mail has been rerouted to Pasadena, according to ABC 7.
Altadena Resident Beverly Stewart called it a “major inconvenience.”
Malibu schools to remain closed through next week
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:55 , Julia Musto
LA tourist attractions are reopening in a rare glimpse of normality after wildfire devastation
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:48 , Julia Musto
LA tourist attractions reopen in rare glimpse of normality following wildfires
Search and rescue crews inspect the area of the Palisades Fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:46 , Julia Musto
A search and rescue crew inspects a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. The majority of the Eaton Fire area and Altadena had been searched by Wednesday (AP)
Two members of a search and rescue crew inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. The Palisades Fire is still burning across the region (AP)
In this aerial shot, search and rescue crews inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. The deadly blaze leveled much of the Los Angeles community (AP)
Search and rescue crew and two dogs inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. Several people remain missing in the area, officials said (AP)
Search and rescue crew inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. The fire has spread over nearly 24,000 acres (AP)
Jim Jordan backs idea Trump should move 2028 Olympics from LA to red-run town
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:32 , Julia Musto
Jim Jordan backs idea Trump should move 2028 Olympics from LA to red-run town
‘Fabulous’ 95-year-old grandmother with ties to old Hollywood is among California fire victims, family says
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:01 , Julia Musto
An undated image provided by Dalyce Kelley shows her with her grandmother, Dalyce Curry, left, in Catalina, California. Curry is one of 25 killed in the past week’s deadly wildfires (AP)
Dalyce Curry, also known as “Momma Dee,” is remembered by her family as “fabulous.”
”My grandmother still wore her big hair, glasses, nails, you know, painted makeup,” her granddaughter and namesake Dalyce Kelley told The Associated Press in an interview published on Wednesday. “You know, she was just fabulous, period.”
The 95-year-old, who was an extra in a scene with Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues, died last week at her Altadena home as the Eaton Fire burned through the community.
With reporting from The Associated Press
NBA reschedules games postponed by California wildfires, Atlanta winter storm
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:53 , Julia Musto
Los Angeles Clippers players stand during a moment of silence for victims of the ongoing California wildfires before an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP)
The NBA has rescheduled two games that had been postponed due to the catastrophic wildfires in Southern California and a winter storm that hit Atlanta.
The league said Wednesday that the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets will take place on February 19.
The Hornets’ visit to the Los Angeles Clippers, originally set for January 11, will now be on March 16. And the Hawks’ home game against Houston, Texas, is scheduled for January 28.
With reporting from The Associated Press
More than 122,000 California customers are left without power amid windy conditions
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:49 , Julia Musto
More than 122,000 California customers were left without power Wednesday afternood amid windy weather conditions, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.
Officials had warned outages could spike. Under 90,000 customers were reported to be affected earlier in the day.
Videos show Cal Fire crew creating fuel break on Eaton Fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:45 , Julia Musto
5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the Palisades Fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:40 , Julia Musto
Eaton and Palisades Fire destruction impacts important places for communities, photos show
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:40 , Julia Musto
A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire is seen in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Crews have made progress on the 14,000-acre blaze (AP)
A firefighter inspects homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Some residents returned to their homes on Tuesday (AP)
Corpus Christi Church is seen in Palisades, California, on Wednesday. The Palisades Fire is still under 20 percent contained (AP)
Gelson’s Market is seen in Malibu, California, on Wednesday. The city said 5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the fire (AP)
While 8 new fires have broken out in the last day, all have been extinguished
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:23 , Julia Musto
LA sports teams – many who have billion-dollar valuations – donate a paltry $8 million to fire victims
Wednesday 15 January 2025 20:16 , Julia Musto
LA fires latest: ‘ ‘Particularly dangerous’ winds warning in Southern California
City asks people not to bring donations to Disaster Recovery Centers
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:59 , Julia Musto
Federal and local law enforcement authorities form task force to combat crimes related to Los Angeles wildfires
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:55 , Julia Musto
Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright says climate change is real – but stands by comments on wildfire hype
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:52 , Julia Musto
Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Energy, testifies for his pending confirmation, on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Wright (AP)
Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Energy, doubled down on past comments about wildfire “hype” at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla had asked the Liberty Energy CEO if he stood by prior remarks on social media claiming that the hype over wildfires is just hype to justify more impoverishment from bad government policies.
“Given the devastation that we’re currently experiencing in Los Angeles, do you still believe that wildfires are just hype?” the senator asked.
“Climate change is a real and global phenomenon,” Wright replied, noting that he was watching the fires with “great sorrow and fear.”
“I stand by my past comments,” he added.
In a video posted on YouTube in 2023, Wright said: “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”
‘The Hills’ stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt on losing their home: ‘It’s a place that you love’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:31 , Julia Musto
Air quality could be worse than sensors indicate, health official warns
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:28 , Julia Musto
Police officers inspect cars that lie abandoned on Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday following the Palisades Fire in Palisades, California. The fire is nearly 20 percent contained (AP)
The air quality index for much of Los Angeles County shows good to moderate air quality on Wednesday.
But, officials have warned that measurements could be deceiving.
“Wind-blown ash particles may be too large to be picked up by our regular instruments and will not influence the AQI measures that we pointed folks to look at for air quality,” Dr. Nichole Quick, chief medical adviser for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, told reporters at a morning news briefing.
Actor Danny Trejo calls out Kim Kardashian over using wildfires to promote incarcerated firefighter pay raise
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:17 , Julia Musto
“Kim, worry about the people who lost everything. You’ve still got everything,” actor Danny Trejo told TMZ on Wednesday.
A retro blue VW van miraculously survives deadly Los Angeles fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:12 , Julia Musto
A retro blue VW van miraculously survives deadly Los Angeles fire
Newsom once again calls on Trump to support Californians
Wednesday 15 January 2025 19:04 , Julia Musto
YouTube and Google are contributing $15 million to organizations providing immediate relief in Los Angeles
Wednesday 15 January 2025 18:58 , Julia Musto
Google and YouTube announced Wednesday that they would contribute $15 million to organizations providing immediate relief during the Los Angeles wildfires.
“Los Angeles is the heart of entertainment and storytelling and has an impact on culture all over the world. It’s also where many YouTube creators, artists, partners and our employees call home. Like so many, we’ve been heartbroken by the devastation from the wildfires and want to do our part to support the community as it rebuilds,” YouTube said in a statement.
Watershed Emergency Response Team activated to identify post-fire risks
Wednesday 15 January 2025 18:48 , Julia Musto
Forecasters say Los Angeles County on ‘back end’ of this stretch of Santa Ana winds
Wednesday 15 January 2025 18:37 , Julia Musto
A church destroyed by the Eaton Fire stands in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. The fire is nearly half contained (AP)
Los Angeles County is “definitely on the back end” of its recent stretch of Santa Ana winds, according to forecasters.
Winds are expected to continue into Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said.
Temperatures are warming up into the 70s for coasts and valleys and there are still some wind gusts of 50mph or more across western Los Angeles and eastern Ventura Counties, as well as the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.
“May see a 5-10 mph wind increase through the morning hours as is typical with offshore conditions, but weakening again in the afternoon and evening,” the agency’s Los Angeles office wrote in an update.
Officials put up guidance for safe wildfire debris clean up
Wednesday 15 January 2025 18:30 , Julia Musto
These are the latest numbers on the California wildfires
Wednesday 15 January 2025 18:29 , Julia Musto
Newsom denies claim he is setting the stage for developers to buy up devastated LA County lands: ‘This is absolutely false’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:59 , Julia Musto
EPA teams to remove hazardous debris from homes impacted by fires
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:57 , Julia Musto
Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles are seen on Wednesday. Teams are waiting until it’s safe to move into affected areas and collect hazardous debris (AP)
As soon as it is safe to do so, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said debris removal teams will immediately move into Los Angeles neighborhoods devastated by fire to begin clearing debris.
Federal and state removal teams are pre-positioned on standby. The Environmental Protection Agency has been tasked with safely removing and disposing of hazardous waste from homes and structures. That includes paint, ammunition, propane tanks, batteries, and pesticides.
“California is working closely with the federal government to get debris removal teams quickly into neighborhoods devastated by fire. This is the first step to rebuilding and recovery — and we’re clearing any obstacle to ensure this happens as soon as it’s safe for teams to move in,” Newsom said in a statement.
LA City Fire Chief on wildfire response: ‘We followed the system in place’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:49 , Julia Musto
“We followed the system in place,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told reporters, defending the department’s initial response to the fires on Wednesday.
While acknowledging that there would be lessons to be learned about the response to the fires, she told CBS News’ Jonathan Vigliotti that resources had been allocated where they needed to to do the greatest good at the time.
Firefighters inspect homes destroyed by Eaton Fire as officials brace for more strong winds
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:41 , Julia Musto
A firefighter inspect homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Search and rescue teams are nearly done in the area (AP)
Charred remains of buildings and vehicles are seen on Wednesday following the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The fire is still burning (REUTERS)
A firefighter inspects homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. Winds were expected to pick up on Wednesday, leading to new concerns about fire behavior (AP)
Beach front homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen in Malibu, California, on Wednesday. The Palisades fire is 19 percent contained (AP)
The Auto Fire is 50 percent contained
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:35 , Julia Musto
Governor Newsom hits back at Trump for ‘Newscum’ nickname: ‘This isn’t about me’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:34 , Julia Musto
Around 53,000 affected residents have registered for FEMA’s individual assistance
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:32 , Julia Musto
FEMA Region 9 Regional Administrator Bob Fenton said Wednesday that some 53,000 people have registered for nearly $12 million of individual assistance.
Officials said at the same briefing that more schools would be open, but that a countywide emergency has gone into effect and there may be additional power outages.
LA Mayor Karen Bass: ‘We will rebuild our city stronger’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 16:37 , Julia Musto
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass assured residents Wednesday that the city will do everything it can to expedite the rebuilding process following the region’s deadly wildfires.
“We will rebuild our city stronger,” she said.
Bass noted that the are is still “not quite out of the woods.”
“Please take the warnings seriously and the evacuation notices seriously,” Bass insisted. She advised that people in warning areas should “get prepared now.”
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna says evacuation warnings have gone up due to the wind event
Wednesday 15 January 2025 16:31 , Julia Musto
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that there were 82,400 residents under evacuation orders and some 90,400 under warnings due to the recent wind event.
A curfew for affected fire areas is still in effect.
Luna noted that more arrests had been made overnight, with 44 at the Sheriff’s Department. A second individual was arrested for impersonating a firefighter.
Luna also said that search and rescue efforts were still underway and around 78 percent completed in Altadena. Teams hope to be done there tomorrow. The same operations started yesterday in Pacific Palisades.
There are 26 active missing persons.
Luna left residents with a sobering message about returning to the area.
“There are things you can’t see that are underground. There are hazards,” he said.
Fire officials warns residents to stay alert as winds whip up
Wednesday 15 January 2025 16:24 , Julia Musto
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters Wednesday that while 70mph winds have yet to materialized in the area, the situation could change.
While there was little to no fire growth since Tuesday, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley noted that there had been 30 to 40mph winds with low humidity around the Palisade Fire and numerous hot spots were burning within the fire footprint.
“I urge everyone to stay alert. The combination of low humidity and strong winds has further dried out the brush, increasing the risk of fire,” she said.
‘FireAid’ benefit concert to be held to raise funds wildfire victims
Wednesday 15 January 2025 16:00 , James Liddell
Benefit concert “FireAid” is set to be held latest this month in Los Angeles in a bid to raise funds for wildfire victims and southern California’s damaged infrastructure.
The conert, which is being organized by entertainment moguls Shelli and Irving Azoff, is due to be held at the Intuit Dome in LA on 30 January promising an “evening of music and solidarity”.
Proceeds gathered from the concert “will focus on rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced families, and advancing fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure LA is better prepared for fire emergencies,” according to a statement released by Live Nation.
The lineup is yet to be announced.
Watch live: LA County officials give wildfire update as residents warned to ‘stay on guard’ amid high-fueling wind gusts
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:59 , Julia Musto
Watch: LA officials give wildfire update as residents warned to ‘stay on guard‘
Lara Trump eviscerated online after asking ‘how climate change is the reason’ for devastating LA fire conditions
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:59 , Julia Musto
Wednesday will present ‘dicey situations’ for some firefighters
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:54 , Julia Musto
A beach front home that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, California, on Wednesday. Winds were expected to whip up again on Wednesday (AP)
Firefighters are facing challenging conditions and terrain, Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Wednesday.
“To put it in perspective, these firefighters when they show up to these fires, they’re facing flame lengths that are about three- to five-story buildings,” he explained.
Firefighters will use bulldozers if they can get them up fire roads, but many crews must hike up to 4,000-foot elevations to build perimeters around wildfires, according to Hall.
“There will be some dicey situations here for some firefighters,” he said. “So we’ll have to monitor that and be in touch with them constantly as far as letting them know what the latest forecast is and when that transition is supposed to occur because that wind shift can essentially blow that fire back towards them when they’re building these lines.”
With reporting from The Associated Press
Los Angeles officials to host daily press briefing
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:49 , Julia Musto
Vice President Kamala Harris hits insurance companies over their handling of wildfire risks
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:48 , Julia Musto
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a White House briefing on the federal response to the Los Angeles wildfires in Washington, D.C., on January 10, 2025. Harris said climate change has exacerbated such events (AFP via Getty Images)
“They are canceling coverage, making it more difficult for young homeowners who are just buying their first home, not even insuring them,” Vice President Kamala Harris said, speaking Wednesday at an event hosted by the National Action Network.
Harris noted that climate change has exacerbated extreme weather events, disproportionately affecting communities of color.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Looting suspects roam Altadena home during devastating Los Angeles wildfires
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:41 , Julia Musto
LA’s Department of Water and Power sued by residents over water supply issues
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:40 , Julia Musto
A group of residents impacted by the Palisades Fire is suing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
The complaint was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, according to ABC 7.
The plaintiffs allege the water supply system servicing the Pacific Palisades area “failed miserably” on the day of the fire.
“The Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117- million-gallon water storage complex that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system was empty, and had been empty for nearly a year,” Roger Behle, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, said in a release.
The department said the loss of water pressure in the system had affected its ability to refill water tanks that supply the area.
“This impacted … a low percentage of hydrants in the area, mostly in the higher elevations,” the statement said. “As soon as LADWP identified the risk of losing water in the tanks and water pressure in the system, we immediately deployed potable water tankers to sustain support for firefighting efforts.”
The Independent’s request for comment from the department was not immediately returned.
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:35 , James Liddell
Firefighters in California are facing a rare and dangerous phenomenon: swirling fire tornadoes.
High winds combined with severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologist Todd Hall told the Associated Press that fire tornadoes could be created in such extreme conditions.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group defines a fire whirl as a “spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris and flame,” and says large whirls “have the intensity of a small tornado.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fire tornado spotted in blazing Pacific Palisades fires (KABC)
Eaton Fire evacuees return home: ‘It’s a bittersweet feeling’
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:27 , Julia Musto
Part of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire still stands on Tuesday in Altadena, California. Evacuees started to return home this week (AP)
Eaton Fire evacuees are beginning to return home as officials continue to inspect the area.
Jillian Pelentay, who lives in the Kinneloa Mesa community, told ABC 7 that the past week has been emotional, but she’s thankful that her childhood home remains.
“It is a bittersweet feeling,” she said. “It’s a mix of, you know, relief but also survivor’s guilt just because you know … I’ve seen my family, friends and friends have lost everything.”
Photos show California Department of Corrections crew work to contain Palisades Fire
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:20 , Julia Musto
A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California. The fire is now 19 percent contained (AP)
A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California. Winds were calmer on Tuesday and expected to pick up again on Wednesday morning (AP)
A member of a California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California. The fire has spread over nearly 24,000 acres (AP)
A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California. The fire has been burning for more than a week (AP)
Eaton Fire inches closer to 50 percent containment
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:13 , Julia Musto
Kansas Republican says Trump should ‘absolutely’ tell California to repeal climate rules to receive wildfire aid
Wednesday 15 January 2025 14:59 , Julia Musto
Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall told Fox Business host Stuart Varney on Wednesday that president-elect Donald Trump should force California to repeal climate regulations in order to receive wildfire aid.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Critical fire weather conditions driven by Santa Ana winds are possible again next week, forecasters say
Wednesday 15 January 2025 14:47 , Julia Musto
Winds expected to ease after Wednesday, forecasters say
Wednesday 15 January 2025 14:40 , Julia Musto
A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California. Winds were expected to ease by midday on Wednesday (AP)
While Wednesday will be “noticeably windier than yesterday” in Los Angeles County, forecasters shared some good news in the early morning hours.
“The good news is that the winds through the Santa Monica mtns will be focused on the western third of the range far away from the Palisades Fire,” the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office wrote. “The upper reaches of the Eaton fire may see an increase in winds but this is not a for sure situation.”
The “really good news,” it said, is that Wednesday will be the “last really windy day,” with a decrease seen this afternoon. Advisory level gusts should conclude by 3 p.m. PST. Red Flag conditions will continue through the evening, with extra critical fire conditions continuing until winds subside.
Death toll rises to 25
Wednesday 15 January 2025 10:16 , James Liddell
At least 25 people have been killed in the southern California wildfires, the Los Angeles county medical examiner’s office confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
Officials said that nine of the victims died in the Palisades fire and 16 in the Eaton fire, which continues to rage across Altadena and Pasadena.
The death toll is likely to climb, officials warn.
