Wildfires continued to blaze across the Los Angeles area in Southern California, killing at least 25 people and destroying numerous homes, schools and commercial buildings. Dozens of people remain missing.
The widespread fires have consumed an area nearly the size of the entire city of San Francisco. Nearly 90,000 people remain under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.
No cause has been identified for the largest fires. Dry conditions and strong winds have made it difficult to fight the fires.
The Palisades fire is already the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
Read our liveblog for the latest updates:
This Liveblog Is Closed
We're ending updates on the wildfires on this liveblog. Please go to huffpost.com for continuing coverage of the fires in the Los Angeles area.
Fires Largely Maintain Size — But Containment Grows
Roughly 38,690 acres remain burning between the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Auto wildfires, which is nearly identical to the size reported yesterday. The good news is that containment of all four fires has grown, according to the latest numbers shared by CAL FIRE.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the numbers show:
Pacific Palisades Fire (in LA County)
- 23,713 acres, 19% contained — up from 17% Tuesday
Eaton Fire (in LA County)
- 14,117 acres, 45% contained — up from 35% Tuesday
Hurst Fire (in LA County)
- 799 acres, 97% contained — no change from Tuesday
Auto Fire (in Ventura County)
- 61 acres, 50% contained — five acres more than Tuesday, but when the fire had 0% containment
Winds have died down in strength, allowing firefighters to make some gains, though portions of Ventura and Los Angeles counties are continuing to see wind gusts of 30-50 mph. These conditions are expected to improve, albeit slowly, during the day on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
Critical fire weather conditions are forecast to continue across southern California through Wednesday, with Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warnings remaining in effect until noon on Thursday.
LA Police Chief: 2 Arrested For Intentionally Setting Fires
Two people were arrested Tuesday by the Los Angeles Police Department for allegedly intentionally setting fires, authorities said.
One person was detained in the San Fernando area — reportedly with the help of a citizen — as a small fire in a tree was extinguished nearby. The suspect admitted setting the fire, stating that “he liked the smell of burning leaves,” L.A. Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said at a late morning press conference.
Later, a woman was detained after being accused of setting multiple piles of rubbish and trash on fire. The woman also admitted to setting the fire, saying she “enjoyed causing chaos and destruction,” said McDonnell.
Both suspects were booked on arson charges.
L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stressed that the penalties facing arson suspects are strict. His office charged 10 people in total Monday with arson and looting, and the shortest sentence those detainees face is six years in prison, he said. Another person faces nine years, while others face up to 22 years and life in prison.
LA County Sheriff: 44 Arrests Within Wildfire Areas
A total of 44 people have been arrested within areas of the Eaton and Palisades fires as of Wednesday morning, including one person overnight for impersonating a firefighter in the Palisades area, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
“Basically, we stand at about 14 for burglary within those jurisdictions. Everything else is either curfew, trespassing, individuals that are possessing narcotics and, or guns,” he said at a press conference.
The vast majority of the arrests, 36, were in the Eaton Fire area, he said.
More than 1,000 personnel with his department are actively working throughout the area, many on 12-hour shifts. They’re being assisted by roughly 300 state troopers, 30 special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and nearly 900 California National Guard soldiers, he said.
A 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew meanwhile remains in effect, he said.
“If you don’t belong there, you don’t live there, stay out of there,” he said of areas under the curfew. “There’s no reason for you to be there and you will be subject to arrest if you’re there with no business.”
A 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' Is Forecast For Southern California
Millions of Southern Californians continue to be on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region, along with a rare warning of a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" for an area near where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes.
Read more below:
Dire Fire Warning For L.A. Area Pushed Back As Winds Ease
Easing winds delivered a brief but much-needed reprieve to firefighters Tuesday as they battled two massive blazes burning in the Los Angeles area, and the National Weather Service pushed back its unusually dire warning of critical fire weather until early the following day.
Forecasters said the winds were below danger levels in the evening, but they were expected to strengthen overnight with potentially fire-fueling gusts. Red flag warnings remained in effect from Central California to the Mexican border until late afternoon Wednesday.
Read more:
ATF Investigating Possible Link Between Palisades Fire And Earlier Blaze
The Los Angeles branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it is looking into an earlier blaze as it investigates what sparked the massive Palisades Fire last Tuesday.
On New Year’s Day, firefighters spent hours putting out a fire near a trailhead on the Temescal Ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains, as The Washington Post reported Sunday. Six days later, the Palisades Fire broke out in the same area.
“The foot of the fire started real close to where the last fire was on New Year’s Eve,” said one Los Angeles County firefighter, according to a Washington Post analysis of archived radio transmissions.
Whether there is a link between the two incidents — and whether the fires were sparked intentionally or naturally — is not yet clear. There have been cases where a fire reignites by hidden embers after it was believed to be fully extinguished.
“We’re looking at every possibility, going down every rabbit hole, and examining video footage from residents in the area,” an ATF agency spokesperson told the Journal. Among the investigators are chemists, engineers and other specialists.
Law enforcement sealed off the site of the Jan. 1 burn scar with yellow caution tape on Monday.
Financial Aid Available For Restaurant Workers Impacted By Fires
Food and beverage workers impacted by the wildfires in California can apply for financial aid offered by Restaurants Care, a local nonprofit.
Grants being offered range between $350-$1,500 and are being made available based on need and available funding, the organization said.
Applicants must be able to provide proof of employment in the industry and proof of financial hardship due to the fires. More information can be found on the organization's website.
The nonprofit is funded entirely through donations, which help provide financial assistance, scholarships and professional training across the state. The goal is to provide a safety net for food and beverage workers as they recover from an injury, illness, death in the family, or unseen hardship, according to the organization's website.
“Los Angeles is our backyard; it is our home,” Alycia Harshfield, president of the California Restaurant Foundation — which runs the Restaurants Care nonprofit — said in a statement shared with the Los Angeles Times. “Restaurants Care has stood by California’s restaurant community through its most challenging times, from devastating natural disasters like the Camp, Thomas, Tubbs and Carr Fires to the pandemic, Hollywood strikes and everyday crises.”
What It's Like To Be A Pilot Fighting The LA Fires
As the devastating Los Angeles fires stretch into their second week, a small army of firefighters has descended on the area, along with eight C-130 aircraft activated by U.S. Northern Command.
36-year-old Mitch Hoke pilots one of those C-130s for the Wyoming Air National Guard and has been in the LA area since Saturday, on alert for any new fire activity that may spring up.
The self-described “airplane nerd” agreed to chat with HuffPost about what goes into a drop.
Read more:
FEMA Receives More Than 40,000 Relief Aid Applications
FEMA said Tuesday that it has received more than 40,000 applications from those seeking wildfire relief aid, and that it has already distributed $8 million to those applicants.
Applications for federal aid were opened late last week for anyone impacted who is uninsured or underinsured and needs help with their basic household needs.
This can include affording essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. It can also include money to help with rental assistance, transportation, basic home repairs, and personal property losses.
“FEMA assistance is really intended to cover your basic needs and help jumpstart the recovery process,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Robert Fenton Jr. said at a press conference.
“I encourage every head of household to apply for FEMA assistance,” he said. “All the assistance we provide is financial assistance and it will be directly deposited into your account.”
The agency said it is offering maximum grants of $43,600 in two different categories.
“That is the maximum assistance that we can provide. There are other federal agencies such as [the Small Business Administration] that could do low-interest loans, and there will be other forms of assistance to help with some of those unmet needs," said Fenton.
More information about applying can be found online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA App, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
Wildfires Span More Than 38,000 Acres
Firefighters are continuing to battle four fires in and around the Los Angeles area that as of Tuesday morning span 38,685 acres, according to CAL FIRE.
The latest numbers show:
Pacific Palisades fire (in LA County)
- 23,713 acres, 17% contained
Eaton Fire (in LA County)
- 14,117 acres, 35% contained
Hurst Fire (in LA County)
- 799 acres, 97% contained
Auto Fire (in Ventura County)
- 56 acres, 0% contained
National Weather Service Warns Of ‘Extreme Fire Danger’ Through Wednesday
The National Weather Service is warning of “extremely critical fire weather conditions” across coastal Southern California after a Red Flag Warning was issued for large parts of the area.
These extreme fire conditions include wind gusts near 70 mph across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. These conditions will continue into Wednesday for many of the same locations, the NWS said.
“The environment is expected to remain extremely dangerous, favorable to very rapid fire growth if a fire does start,” the NWS stated in a public bulletin on Tuesday.
Large parts of southern California were placed under Red Flag Warnings starting on Monday. These warnings don’t predict a fire starting but alert conditions that are extremely favorable for rapid fire growth if a fire were to start.
Those under a Red Flag Warning are urged to be aware of their surroundings, be ready to evacuate, and to avoid anything that can spark a fire.
The Sun Rises On A Charred Malibu On Tuesday
Charred vehicles sit along the coast on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Malibu.
Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP
LA Mayor Issues Executive Order Fostering Rapid Rebuild Of Lost Homes
LA Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Monday that will foster a rapid rebuilding process for residents who lost their homes.
The order puts debris removal on a fast track, eases regulatory restrictions on home repair, and expedites the availability of about 1,400 housing units, among other mandates.
“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” Bass said in a press release. “This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion. We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home.”
Olympic Swimmer To Have 10 Medals Replaced After Fire
The International Olympic Committee said it will replace 10 Olympic medals that U.S. swimmer Gary Hall Jr. lost in the wildfires.
Hall’s lost accolades included five gold, three silver, and two bronze medals that were won in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Hall, speaking with People, said he fled his home with only his dog and the insulin he needs for his diabetes as the flames started to surround and eventually overtake his home.
He said he’s grateful for those who have reached out to him and who have donated to his GoFundMe account as he tries to recover.
"I am so appreciative, but the medals are just one thing. A medal replacement can't provide the necessities of life, like rent and stuff like that. But yeah, I just am so grateful to everybody that's reached out,” he said.
Beyoncé Postpones Announcement Over LA Wildfires
In a post on her Instagram account, Beyoncé said she is postponing an announcement she had planned for Tuesday because of the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.
"I continue to pray for healing and rebuilding for the families suffering from trauma and loss," she wrote. "We are so blessed to have brave first responders who continue to work tirelessly to protect the Los Angeles community."
Earlier this week, the star's foundation BeyGood announced it is making a donation of $2.5 million to support those affected by the fires.
WSJ: Trump To Visit LA As Soon As Next Week
Trump will visit LA as early as next week to assess the fire damage, source familiar with his plans told The Wall Street Journal. The visit is reportedly likely to take place some time after his inauguration next Monday.
Trump has very publicly criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his handling of the fires, accusing him of "gross incompetence." Newsom has accused Trump of spreading misinformation about the fires, including by falsely claiming he blocked a measure that would have allowed water to flow from southernly from Northern California.
Multiple Lawsuits Accuse LA Utility Company Of Starting Fire
At least four lawsuits have accused Southern California Edison, LA's electrical utility, of starting the Eaton fire, which has destroyed more than 1,400 homes and killed at least 11 people. Though the fire's cause remains undetermined, the lawsuits blame Edison because the fire started under one of its transmission towers and accuse the company of negligence.
The company "failed to properly inspect and maintain their electric facilities in order to cut costs, with the full knowledge that any incident was likely to result in a wildfire that would burn and destroy real and personal property, displace homeowners from their homes and disrupt businesses in the fire area," one of the complaints from an Altadena resident said.
Biden 'Deeply Saddened' By LA Fire Deaths And Destruction
President Joe Biden said in a new statement that his and first lady Jill Biden's "hearts ache for the 24 innocent souls we have lost in the wildfires across Los Angeles."
"We are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the unprecedented ongoing wildfires across Southern California," he continued, noting that "hundreds of federal personnel and unique federal aerial and ground support has been sent to California to support the firefighting efforts and help communities in need."
Oscars Season Timeline Changes As SoCal Fires Continue
The timeline for the Oscars season has changed as SoCal fires rage on, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the coveted awards show.
Nomination announcements were pushed from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23, and will be hosted virtually. The Oscar Nominees Luncheon has been canceled and the Scientific and Technical Awards have been postponed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the voting window for the awards show, which started on Jan. 8, has been extended to Jan. 17. Originally, it was set for Sunday, Jan. 12, and it was later pushed to Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The show is still set to occur on March 2.
Four officials of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences lost their homes in the fires, as well as the former CEO of the Academy, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement, multiple outlets reported. “Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.”
LA Supervisor: Approaching Weather Is 'Very Concerning At This Time'
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told CNN's Dana Bash that the current weather forecast is highly concerning to her.
"Right now we're going into a weather event that could mirror exactly what we saw last week," she said. "It's called a particularly dangerous situation -- a PDS. It was upgraded from the Red Flag Warning that we had yesterday, and so it's cause for serious concern for us on the ground."
"We are seeing that there could be hurricane level winds, and so it is very concerning at this time," she continued.
Bash pressed Horvath to address concerns that the county isn't as prepared as officials have said.
"You said that you were prepared before, and yet we still saw so much devastation," Bash noted. "What is your response to those who are your constituents, your residents, your neighbors, who wanted political accountability?"
Horvath said the government is working hard to make sure all of its planning and communications are centralized through the county's Office of Emergency Management and that all first responders are highly familiar with the landscape of the neighborhoods they're working in.
LA Fire Chief: 'We Are Not In The Clear'
Los Angeles officials said “strike teams” are place in case new fires break out in the city, as they warned: “We are not in the clear.”
At a news briefing Monday, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley highlighted how the department is prepared if dangerous winds return as forecast.
She said, “We are not in the clear as of yet, and we must not let our guard down, as we have right now extreme fire behavior.”
Crowley added, “I have strategically pre-positioned engine strike teams and task forces which are dedicated to rapid response for any new fire that breaks out in the city.”
Also at the briefing, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said it was too dangerous for displaced people to return to their homes.
“We will not put anybody's safety at risk,” he said.