California fires live: LA fire chief says ‘we are ready’ ahead of ‘critical fire weather’ and heavy winds forecast | California wildfires

Here’s a look at where things stand:

• The California department of forestry and fire, or Cal Fire, is warning southern California over “critical fire weather” through to Wednesday. In a post on BlueSky, CalFire said: “Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of southern California – from Ventura to San Diego – creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread. The winds will cause increased fire activity.”

• Rob Bonta, the attorney general of California, has warned against scammers attempting to prey on victims amid the wildfires. Speaking at a press conference, Bonta said: “[In] emergencies like this, in addition to bringing out the best in so many, [it] also brings out bad actors who seek to use the trauma, the chaos of moments like this for their own gain.”

• The Hurst fire could have been caused by the failure of electrical equipment belonging to power supplier Southern California Edison (SCE), the company said Sunday in a press release. SCE said it discovered a downed power line at a tower that “experienced a relay” at almost exactly the same time as the first report of the Hurst fire, which is 89% contained and has consumed 799 acres.

• Cal Fire, California’s department of forestry and fire prevention, reports the Palisades fire is 11% contained, and has consumed almost 24,000 acres; the Eaton fire is 27% contained and has burned more than 14,000 acres; and the Hurst fire is 89% contained having destroyed 799 acres.

• A fourth fire, Kenneth, burned just over 1,000 acres before it was brought under control early Sunday.

• The unofficial death toll from the fires remains at least 16, although officials acknowledge it is certain to rise. At least another 16 people are missing, according to Los Angeles county sheriff Robert Luna, who said search and rescue efforts were ongoing.

• Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up again over the next few days and bring more danger to Los Angeles county. Red flag warning will remain in place until at least Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

• California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said he will suspend a number of environmental laws to allow rebuilding across southern areas of the state destroyed by the wildfires. He said more than 50 teams of inspectors had been assigned to evaluate all damaged structures, and hoped to complete the work inside two weeks.

• According to Cal Fire, more than 12,300 homes and businesses are known to have been destroyed, mostly in the Palisades and Eaton fires. The number is all but certain to rise.

• Joe Biden will receive an updated briefing later on Sunday in a virtual meeting. The meeting will include vice-president Kamala Harris, the Fema administrator Deanne Criswell, and Randy Moore, chief of the agriculture department’s Forest Service.

• At least 20 arrests have been made for looting. Among them were two burglars who posed as firefighters when entering houses, according to the police.

The California department of forestry and fire, or Cal Fire, is warning southern California over “critical fire weather” through to Wednesday.

In a post on BlueSky, CalFire said:

Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of southern California – from Ventura to San Diego – creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread. The winds will cause increased fire activity.

It went on to warn residents to avoid mowing or trimming dry grass on windy days, not to park vehicles on dry grass, and make sure campfires are completely.

Rob Bonta, the attorney general of California, has warned against scammers attempting to prey on victims amid the wildfires.

Speaking at a press conference, Bonta said:

“[In] emergencies like this, in addition to bringing out the best in so many, [it] also brings out bad actors who seek to use the trauma, the chaos of moments like this for their own gain. They see an opportunity, an opportunity to pray and take advantage. They take advantage of vulnerable and hurting families to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, we’ve seen that before, so it’s important for us to be prepared now.

We’ve seen businesses and landlords that use increased demand during emergencies to jack up the price of essential supplies and services of gas and water, batteries, first aid, supplies, construction materials and housing, including hotels and including short term rentals. It’s called price gouging. And during the state a state of emergency like there is currently in effect in Ventura county and Los Angeles county, it is illegal.”

The scams have spread across social media, including on BlueSky, according to Chad Loder, a community-based activist and anti-fascist researcher in LA. According to Loder, scammers have been creating fake Bluesky accounts using the profile photos of unsuspecting foreigners found online.

The Hurst fire could have been caused by the failure of electrical equipment belonging to power supplier Southern California Edison (SCE), the company said Sunday in a press release.

SCE said it discovered a downed power line at a tower that “experienced a relay” at almost exactly the same time as the first report of the Hurst fire, which is 89% contained and has consumed 799 acres.

Both the report and the relay issue occurred a few minutes after 10pm on 7 January, according to the statement.

“SCE does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire,” the company said, adding that it had reported the incident to the Los Angeles fire department for investigation.

It’s just after 12.45pm in Los Angeles as three wildfires – Palisades, Eaton and Hurst – continue to burn. Here’s what we know so far:

• Cal Fire, California’s department of forestry and fire prevention, reports the Palisades fire is 11% contained, and has consumed almost 24,000 acres; the Eaton fire is 27% contained and has burned more than 14,000 acres; and the Hurst fire is 89% contained having destroyed 799 acres.

• A fourth fire, Kenneth, burned just over 1,000 acres before it was brought under control early Sunday, Cal Fire said.

• The unofficial death toll from the fires remains at least 16, although officials acknowledge it is certain to rise. At least another 16 people are missing, according to Los Angeles county sheriff Robert Luna, who said search and rescue efforts were ongoing.

• Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up again over the next few days and bring more danger to Los Angeles county. Red flag warning will remain in place until at least Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

• California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said he will suspend a number of environmental laws to allow rebuilding across southern areas of the state destroyed by the wildfires. He said more than 50 teams of inspectors had been assigned to evaluate all damaged structures, and hoped to complete the work inside two weeks.

• Newsom told CNN on Sunday the fires would be the worst natural disaster in US history, “in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope”.

• According to Cal Fire, more than 12,300 homes and businesses are known to have been destroyed, mostly in the Palisades and Eaton fires. The number is all but certain to rise.

• Joe Biden will receive an updated briefing later on Sunday in a virtual meeting including vice-president Kamala Harris, the Fema administrator Deanne Criswell, and Randy Moore, chief of the agriculture department’s Forest Service.

• At least 20 arrests have been made for looting. Among them were two burglars who posed as firefighters when entering houses, according to the police.

• Almost 64,000 customers in California remained without power on Sunday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us.

Joe Biden will meet virtually with “key officials” to discuss the California wildfires later on Sunday, CNN is reporting, citing a White House source.

Kamala Harris will join the call, the network said, along with other members of Biden’s inner circle including Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema); Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary; and Randy Moore, chief of the agriculture department’s Forest Service.

The president will be briefed on “efforts to suppress the wildfires across Los Angeles and how the federal resources he has directed are supporting the state and local response”, the White House official said, according to CNN.

Governor Gavin Newsom will suspend various landmark environmental laws to allow for rebuilding across southern California in areas that have been destroyed by the wildfires.

In an announcement on Sunday, Newsom said that as part of his executive order, he will waive the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act.

Newsom said:

When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks. The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I’ve also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process.”

In addition to the suspension of CEQA review and California Coastal Act, the executive order will direct state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements that can be safely be suspended or streamlined to accelerate the rebuilding process.

It will also extend protections against price gouging on building materials, storage services, construction and other essential goods and services to 7 January 2026 across Los Angeles county.

CEQA, signed into law by California’s then governor Ronald Reagan in 1970, requires state and local agencies to disclose the environmental impacts of proposed projects. Meanwhile, the California Coastal Act, approved in 1972, offers guidance on how coastal land across California is developed or protected from development.