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Los Angeles firefighters continue to battle several stubborn wildfires across the California county as the death toll grows to at least 16 people.
The county’s medical examiner announced on Saturday at least five people have died in the Palisades fire, and another 11 people were killed in the Eaton fire.
On Friday night, reports that the Palisades fire on the city’s western edge was heading in a new direction prompted fresh evacuation orders for much of the Brentwood neighborhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
High desert winds picked up on Saturday across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and are expected to strengthen into the weekend, which could hinder firefighting efforts and strengthen the blazes.
The Palisades and Eaton fires are among the most destructive in the state’s history. Roughly 11 percent of the Palisades fire is contained, while 15 percent of the Eaton fire has been contained, as of Saturday evening.
Firefighters have made some progress containing several other fires: The Kenneth fire is 80 percent contained, the Hurst fire is 76 percent contained, and the Lidia fire has been entirely contained, according to authorities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has demanded investigations into the county’s fire hydrants and other water failures. Some hydrants in the Palisades were unusable earlier this week and reservoir water was reportedly not available, impairing efforts to protect homes.
UCLA Chancellor issues update
UCLA is extending remote instruction for undergraduate and graduate courses through Friday, January 17, Chancellor Julio Frenk announced in a statement on Saturday.
Campus operations will continue to be modified during this time as well.
“Additional instructions will be provided by your instructors and supervisors, and we ask for continued flexibility and understanding as we all work through these difficult times.” Students will obtain further instructions from their teachers, the statement noted. Employees should also be able to work remotely during this time.
The development does not apply to UCLA Health staff.
“Throughout all of this, I have been deeply moved by the unwavering kindness, empathy and support shown by our Bruin community. I want to thank you for these acts of compassion, which I have seen firsthand. We are seeing what happens when we all come together,” Frenk said.
“We will continue to communicate with you immediately on any new developments. We are here for each other, and as Bruins, we will get through this together.”
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 03:45
Los Angeles County Supervisor invites Trump to survey damage
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger extended the invitation on Saturday.
“We need all levels of support, both at the local county level, the state level and the federal level, and we need it immediately,” Barger said Saturday afternoon at a news conference. “I cannot stress enough how important that is and will continue to be in the future.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Trump’s team had responded, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Engaging the White House makes the way for the rapid deployment of federal resources, including emergency personnel and financial assistance,” she said.
President Joe Biden spoke with Lindsey Horvath, another Los Angeles County supervisor, and Ventura County Supervisor, Kelly Long, by phone to discuss the latest updates on the wildfires.
The president has been receiving regular briefings from his staff on the wildfires and has pledged full federal reimbursement for 100% of disaster assistance costs over the next 180 days. It’s not clear if that will stick as Trump’s inauguration is on January 20.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 03:05
Death toll rises to 16
At least 16 people have died due to the fires, according to an update from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner. Eleven deaths were related to the Eaton fire, and five others to the Palisades fire. All cases are pending identification and next of kin notifications before additional information is available.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 02:57
Woman who is five months pregnant loses everything in Palisades fire
Lacey Galbraith and her husband Jordan learned their home was destroyed a day after the fire ignited up the hill from where the couple work. As the blaze grew, the couple, who work at a church and school, helped evacuate children, walking them a mile to the nearest fire station where parents picked them up.
The remaining kids were walked another three miles to Pacific Coast Highway for safety. The couple were unable to return to their homes and needed a friend to grab their passports and dog.
“They have literally nothing but the clothes on their backs,” a friend who started a GoFundMe for the couple wrote. The couple is expecting a child in a few months, the post noted.
Many homes in the couple’s neighborhood have been dropped from insurance companies in recent years due to fire danger, the GoFundMe page states. “Because of the fire risk, Jordan and Lacey were not able to get renters insurance, so they have lost everything.
“They have lost their home, all of their possessions, and probably their places of work.” Funds raised through the site will go toward purchasing new clothing, personal items, furniture, and “to help fill the gap as there is much uncertainty about the future of their jobs.”
Photos of the couple’s home show it burnt to the ground. The GoFundMe has raised $80,000 out of a $85,000 goal.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 02:45
Los Angeles Getty Center’s priceless collection braces for wildfires as evacuation order expands to museum
The Getty Center and Villa, museums that house some of the most priceless pieces of art in the Los Angeles area, remain stable as wildfires continue, a museum representative said in an update on Saturday.
The villa, located in the Pacific Palisades, has been in an evacuation zone for days. The Palisades fire pushed eastward on Friday, prompting officials to expand mandatory evacuation orders into an area that encompasses the museum.
Both are in affluent neighborhoods that many celebrities call home. More than 35,000 people live in Brentwood and roughly 24,000 people reside in the Pacific Palisades. Vice President Kamala Harris owns a home in Brentwood with her husband, First Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Read more from Michelle Del Rey below:
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 02:15
Wildfires threaten 40 area prisons
Dozens of jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities across Los Angeles may be at risk, according to The Appeal, a nonprofit news outlet.
One juvenile detention facility, Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, located in the San Fernando Valley, is holding 96 children. The complex is reportedly close to the Hurst Fire.
The Independent has contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for information on whether area detention facilities have been evacuated due to the fires.
As of Thursday evening, none of the nearly 100 kids incarcerated in the facility were moved to safety, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Probation Department told the outlet.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 01:45
Dangerous fire conditions to continue through January 14
The National Weather Service Prediction Center anticipates dangerous fire weather will continue across portions of southern California where ongoing fires continue.
“Offshore flow is expected to peak again on Tuesday with high-end critical conditions,” the NWS said.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 01:11
Mexican firefighters arrive at LAX to help fight four LA fires
The firefighters will be joining 14,000 other personnel members already battling the Palisades Fire.
“California is immensely grateful to our neighbors’ support in the fight against the wildfires in Los Angeles,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement on X.
LA County is currently battling flames brought on by the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Kenneth Fire and Hurst Fire. The Hurst Fire is 76 percent contained, while the Kenneth Fire is 80 percent contained. The Eaton Fire is 15 percent contained and the Palisades Fire is 11 percent contained.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 00:41
California is grappling with an alarming increase in wildfire activity, fire officials say
Cal Fire, the agency tasked with fighting the state’s wildfires, has released an update on how wind conditions are impacting the state’s ability to respond to blazes.
Michelle Del Rey12 January 2025 00:04
Khloe Kardashian calls Los Angeles mayor ‘a joke’ amid ongoing wildfires
With five major wildfires continuing to devastate neighborhoods across Los Angeles, Khloe Kardashian took to Instagram to admit she wasn’t a fan of Mayor Karen Bass right now.
The Good American founder slammed the mayor next to a video of Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley telling Fox 11 Los Angeles that the city had failed them after recent cuts to the department’s budget.
“I stand by YOU Chief Crowley!!!! You spoke the truth and you had tears in your eyes because I can tell you didn’t even want to say that but it was THE TRUTH,” Khloe wrote on Instagram last night (January 10). “Thank you for being honest. Mayor Bass, you are a joke!!!!”
Read more from Kaleigh Werner below:
Michelle Del Rey11 January 2025 23:30
