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Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025

California wildfires: Over 6 million in Los Angeles area under ‘critical fire threat’

California wildfires: Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, is the largest of all the current wildfires.
California wildfires live: The entrance to the house of Laeticia Hallyday, widow of late French singer Johnny Hallyday, is seen after being destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on January 14, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. (AFP).
California wildfires live: The entrance to the house of Laeticia Hallyday, widow of late French singer Johnny Hallyday, is seen after being destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on January 14, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. (AFP).

California wildfires: Fanned by strong winds, the wildfires in Los Angeles area of California have killed at least 25 people and swept through 40,000 acres of land in the area. Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, alone has burned 23,000 acres of land, and was contained only 18% as of Wednesday morning as it threatened the Brentwood, Encino and Westwood neighbourhoods....Read More

Together, the fires have destroyed more than 23,000 structures.

More on the California wildfires:

- Southern California is braced for "extremely critical fire conditions" caused by a new period of Santa Ana winds today through tomorrow across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, NBC reported.

-Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials have expressed confidence that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters from around the US, Canada, and Mexico.

-The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also warned that it could deliberately cut power for safety purposes in the coming days as wind speeds picked up, posing a serious risk for new fires in the region.

-There have been more than a dozen wildfires in Southern California since Jan. 1, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area.

-The latest started late Monday in a dry riverbed in Oxnard, about 55 miles (about 89 kilometres) northwest of Los Angeles, and was burning in an agricultural area.

-Authorities have not yet determined an official cause for any of the fires. However, electric services company Southern California Edison has acknowledged agencies are investigating whether its equipment may have started a smaller blaze.

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Follow all the updates here:
Jan 16, 2025 2:19 AM IST

California wildfires live: Devastation caused by LA fires

The blazes that began January 7 have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 25 people, with nearly 30 missing.

The conflagrations fueled by dry Santa Ana winds have scorched a total of at least 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) of land, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, stretching firefighting efforts thin, knocking out power to tens of thousands and making the water unsafe to drink in some areas.

Jan 16, 2025 1:24 AM IST

California wildfires live: LA fires test how Democrats plan to counter Trump

Massive wildfires that incinerated broad swaths of Los Angeles are offering an early window into how President-elect Donald Trump plans to govern — and how Democrats eager to counter him intend to deal with the Republican.

Jan 16, 2025 12:02 AM IST

California wildfires live: NBA reschedules games postponed by LA fires

The NBA has rescheduled two games postponed due to catastrophic wildfires in Southern California, as well as a game postponed due to a winter storm in Atlanta, reported AP.

Jan 15, 2025 11:31 PM IST

California wildfires live: Final round of dangerous fire weather in forecast

Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as winds began picking up during a final round of dangerous fire weather forecast for the region Wednesday where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes, reported AP.

Jan 15, 2025 11:04 PM IST

California wildfires live: 2025 Grammys to proceed with wildfire relief changes

The 67th annual Grammy Awards will still take place Sunday, February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles — though the Recording Academy has refocused its aim to support relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, AP reported.

Jan 15, 2025 9:40 PM IST

California wildfires live: Winds pick up again in Los Angeles

California wildfires live: A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph (56 kph) on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph (88 kph) in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said.

Jan 15, 2025 9:13 PM IST

California wildfires live: What is the latest status of wildfires?

California wildfires live: According to latest figures, updated on Wednesday morning (local) time, the Palisades Fire is 19% contained and remains at 23,713 acres.

The corresponding figures for other fires are: 79% and 997 acres (Hurst), 47% and 61 acres (Auto) and 45% and 14,117 acres (Eaton).

Jan 15, 2025 8:44 PM IST

California wildfires live: Over 93,000 consumers without electricity in California

California wildfires live: As of 6 am local time (Wednesday, 4:30 pm in India), Los Angeles County had over 31,000 consumers without power, while in San Bernardino County there were over 32,000 were without electricity. Over 12,600 were without power in Ventura County, according to PowerOutage.Us

Jan 15, 2025 8:13 PM IST

California wildfires live: People share harrowing accounts on GoFundMe

California wildfires live: As California's massive wildfires burn, a barrage of GoFundMe campaigns for victims have become an outlet for onlookers transfixed by the blazes and eager to do something to help. Those appeals for help — plastered with photos of saffron flames or the charcoal aftermath or, most of all, the faces of the people at the center of the plea — are personalizing a tragedy too big to comprehend.

Jan 15, 2025 7:43 PM IST

California wildfires live: Palisades, Eaton Fires expected to be ‘most destructive’ in LA County history

California wildfires live: The Palisades and Eaton Fires are expected to be the most destructive in Los Angeles County’s history, The Washington Post reports.

Jan 15, 2025 7:20 PM IST

California wildfires live: LA Clippers to host ‘FireAid’ benefit concert

California wildfires live: National Basketball Association team Los Angeles Clippers, which plays its home games at the Intuit Dome, will host a “FireAid” benefit concert on January 30 to raise money for communities devastated by the wildfires

Jan 15, 2025 7:00 PM IST

California wildfires live: 4 fires still active in Los Angeles area

California wildfires live: The Hurst Fire is 97% contained, Auto Fire (47%), Eaton Fire (35%) and Palisades Fire (18%), according to California Fire.

Jan 15, 2025 6:17 PM IST

California wildfires live: Over 6 million residents in LA area remain under ‘critical fire threat’

California wildfires live: Officials estimate that over 6 million (60 lakh) resdents of the Los Angeles area remain under a critical fire threat, as firefighters face moderate-to-strong Santa Ana winds while they continue to try to get the flames under control.

Jan 15, 2025 5:39 PM IST

California wildfires live: Original works of composer Arnold Schoenberg, who escaped Nazi Germany, destroyed

California wildfires live: The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed a victim in the world of music. But instead of a person, it's their legacy. The original manuscripts and scores from legendary Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg were lost in the fires, the publisher of the composer's work has confirmed. Read more

Jan 15, 2025 5:15 PM IST

California wildfires live: Singer Beyonce postpones ‘mystery’ announcement

California wildfires live: Pop icon Beyonce has announced a delay to her 'highly anticipated' revelation, citing the ongoing devastation caused by the wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles.

The singer expressed her concern for the families and communities affected by the disaster and took to social media to explain her decision.

Jan 15, 2025 4:11 PM IST

California wildfires live: Actor Hilary Duff shelters fellow actor Mandy Moore and family

California wildfires live: Mandy Moore is one of the Hollywood celebrities who have lost homes in the raging Los Angeles wildfires. Now, The Hollywood Reporter states that she and her family have found refuge in fellow actor Hilary Duff's home. Read more

Jan 15, 2025 3:40 PM IST

California wildfires live: Biden announces two national monuments in California after wildfire chaos

California wildfires live: In an announcement postponed by the Los Angeles wildfires, President Joe Biden on Tuesday designated two sites in California as national monuments that will honour Native American tribes while shielding picturesque mountains and deserts from mining and energy development. Read more

Jan 15, 2025 3:00 PM IST

California wildfires live: Los Angeles rentals hit $40,000 a month as fires worsen housing

California wildfires live: Los Angeles already had a housing affordability crisis before devastating wildfires burned entire neighborhoods to the ground. The disaster is making it worse.

Incoming calls at LA Estate Rentals, which manages and leases homes in some of the area’s costliest neighborhoods, have jumped to 500 a day, more than 10 times the number before the fires, said owner Patrick Michael.

Jan 15, 2025 2:26 PM IST

California wildfires live: California might encounter rare, deadly fire tornado phenomena amid Los Angeles wildfires

California wildfires live: As if they aren't already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.

The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size. The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn't mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they're possible given the extreme conditions. Read more

Jan 15, 2025 1:36 PM IST

California wildfires live: Firefighters battle to hold line against blaze

On Tuesday, firefighters held the line against two massive wildfires that had ravaged parts of Los Angeles for the past week, even as desert winds and a parched landscape presented extremely hazardous conditions.

Some 8,500 firefighters from at least seven states and two foreign countries prevented the blazes from growing for the second day. Still, the fires have consumed an area the size of Washington, D.C.

Jan 15, 2025 12:23 PM IST

California wildfires live: CA Gov. Gavin Newsom appeals to Trump

“I want the President-elect to meet with the communities impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and understand the magnitude of the devastation. I urge him to meet with the brave firefighters and first responders on the ground and see firsthand how they've saved lives,” said Gavin Newsom on X.

Jan 15, 2025 11:29 AM IST

California wildfires live: No active flames in Palisades area, yet threat remains

California wildfires live: Firefighters made more progress on the Palisades Fire, the largest and most stubborn blaze. CalFire Operations Section Chief Christian Litz said Tuesday evening that he took a helicopter ride around the perimeter and saw no active flames, though it was far from over.

Jan 15, 2025 10:56 AM IST

California wildfires live: Santa Ana winds to continue tomorrow

Santa Ana winds that have been persistent since the Palisades Fire erupted will continue tomorrow, causing another day of critical fire weather, but this weekend could bring cooler conditions, a National Weather Service meteorologist said today.

The winds will not be as bad as they were on Jan. 7 when the Palisades and other fires broke out, Rich Thompson, incident meteorologist for the weather service, said at a news briefing. But the winds tonight and tomorrow are “going to maintain the critical fire weather conditions across the area,” he said.

Jan 15, 2025 10:19 AM IST

California wildfires live: La County using technology to help residents get an update about their properties

Maps hosted by Los Angeles County government are allowing residents to determine whether their homes are still standing.

The maps include information from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crews on the ground at the Palisades and Eaton fires. They're conducting damage assessments of every building possible, and their information will end up on the maps, which are updated daily, according to Cal Fire and the county.

Jan 15, 2025 9:51 AM IST

California wildfires live: Utility workers begin restoring essential infrastructure along Pacific Coast Highway

Utility and other workers have begun restoring wrecked infrastructure and trying to make Pacific Coast Highway safe again after the Palisades Fire, but residents must still wait to return, a fire commander said.

“We will not allow people into their homes until it is safe to do so, but we want to make it safe again,” Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Kristian Litz, who is an operations sections chief on the fire, said at a community meeting.

Jan 15, 2025 9:40 AM IST

California wildfires live: Additional death reported in Palisades fire, death toll remains at 25

The deaths from the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles area is 25, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said today in an update, but the reported fatalities in each changed slightly.

A new death was reported in the Palisades Fire today, bringing the number of fatalities attributed to that blaze to nine, the office said.

The office earlier said there had been an additional death discovered in the Eaton Fire today, but those remains turned out to not be human.

The number of known deaths in the Eaton Fire is 16.

Jan 15, 2025 9:14 AM IST

California wildfires live: Homeless asked not to light warming fires despite cold temperatures at night

Unhoused people in Los Angeles are being asked not to light warming fires as the region remains under Santa Ana winds and dry conditions in which flames can get out of control.

Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris said anyone experiencing homelessness should seek help from the county or the city “so that we can ensure that you have housing during this period.”

Jan 15, 2025 8:36 AM IST

California wildfires live: Donald Trump yet to pick the next FEMA head

Days away from Donald Trump's inauguration, with wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area in what California Governor Gavin Newsom predicts will be one of the worst natural disasters in history, a key position remains unaddressed: administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jan 15, 2025 8:21 AM IST

California wildfires live: The Palisades fire is 18 percent contained

The Palisades fire tore through the Pacific Palisades, damaging or destroying about 5,000 structures. Residents are not yet able to re-enter the area and the blaze is 18 percent contained.

Jan 15, 2025 8:09 AM IST

California wildfires live: LA utility flags misinformation about water shortage

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) said claims that fire hydrants were broken before the Palisades Fire started are misinformation.

"LADWP’s fire hydrant repair list was current and updated, and all reported fire hydrants were fully operational in the Pacific Palisades and in L.A.’s Westside communities prior to the fire," the utility company said in an update.

Jan 15, 2025 7:51 AM IST

California wildfires live: Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order to curb speculations

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday issued an executive order that aims to limit speculation on properties in areas that were destroyed or damaged by the fires. The order covers about a dozen fire-ravaged zip codes and extends for three months.

Jan 15, 2025 7:41 AM IST

California wildfires live: A fire, believed to have been delibrately started near a homeless shelter in Riverside, has been contained

A fire that burned 2.6 acres this afternoon near downtown Riverside, California, is now completely contained, officials said. The fire began along the the Santa Ana River near a homeless encampment and is believed to have been deliberately set, the Riverside Fire Department said. Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which did not result in any injuries or damage to buildings.

Jan 15, 2025 7:24 AM IST

California wildfires live: Investigations ongoing for the cause of Palisades fire

Authorities are in the hills above the Pacific Palisades for the second day in a row investigating the cause of the Palisades fire that swept through the area last week.

Jan 15, 2025 7:02 AM IST

California wildfires live: ATF says it knows everyone wants answers and the community deserves answers

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is working on getting answers for those with questions about the Palisades fire, Jose Medina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Los Angeles Field Division said Tuesday while providing an update, according to CNN.

“Within ATF personnel and our partners, together there are about 75 dedicated personnel working to help process the scene and follow investigative leads of the Palisades fire," he said.

“We are going through all the 911 calls and talking and interviewing residents,” Medina said. “We know everyone wants answers and the community deserves answers.”

“ATF will give you those answers but it will be once we complete a thorough investigation," he added.

Jan 15, 2025 6:36 AM IST

California wildfires live: 84-year-old man identified as the latest Eaton Fire victim

Zhi Feng Zhao, an 84-year-old Altadena man is the latest victim to be identified from the Eaton Fire.

Zhao was identified by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME). His place of death was listed as his residence, according to CNN.

Jan 15, 2025 6:21 AM IST

California wildfires live: Eaton fire destroys nearly 4000 structures, official says

Nearly 4,000 structures have been found destroyed as inspections in the Eaton fire area are 40 percent complete, the incident commander for the Eaton fire, said at a community meeting.

Jan 15, 2025 5:59 AM IST

California wildfires live: Death toll rises to 25

25 people have lost their lives so far in the wildfires around Los Angeles, according to the county’s medical examiner, raising the death toll by one, New York Times reported. Eaton fire alone has killed 17 people in all, making it the fifth-deadliest wildfire in California’s history.

Jan 15, 2025 5:31 AM IST

California wildfires live: LA official warns overnight power shutoffs

Lindsey Horvath, a Los Angeles County supervisor, told residents to prepare for the possibility that increased winds would lead to overnight power shutoffs.

“If you have power now, charge your phones, charge your batteries and be prepared to be without power,” she was quoted as saying by the New York Times.

Jan 15, 2025 5:21 AM IST

California wildfires live: Governor Gavin Newsom says 11 fresh fires extinguished

California Governor Gavin Newsom said that at least 11 fresh fires were extinguished overnight because fire crews were well positioned ahead of time. Most were small blazes east of Los Angeles in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, in inland suburbs and wildlands, but pre-positioning also helped firefighters in Ventura County hold the Auto fire to 56 acres, officials said.

Jan 15, 2025 5:15 AM IST

California wildfires live: Auto Fire in Ventura County 25% contained with no additional growth

The Auto Fire in Ventura County is now 25% contained and remains at 56 acres after the fire broke out last night, according to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection incident page.

Jan 15, 2025 2:47 AM IST

California wildfires live: LA fire to have limited national economic impact, say experts

Devastating fires in the Los Angeles area are likely to put modest pressure on the US national economy in the near term but are unlikely to derail strong forward momentum, economists say, reported Bloomberg.

Jan 15, 2025 2:09 AM IST

California wildfires live: Millions under extreme fire weather alert

Millions of people across Southern California faced frightening new wildfire warnings Tuesday and tens of thousands saw their power shut off as strong winds blew across the parched landscape around Los Angeles where two massive blazes have been burning for a week.

Jan 15, 2025 1:42 AM IST

California wildfires live: Workers at a senior home race to evacuate residents

Dinner service at the Terraces at Park Marino in Pasadena, California, was about half over, and residents were gathering in the lobby for the night’s movie feature: “Scent of a Woman", reported AP.

Jan 15, 2025 12:58 AM IST

California wildfires live: Fire hit LA faces new danger

Powerful winds on Tuesday threatened to rekindle and whip up major fires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles, killing at last 24 people and changing the face of America's second biggest city.

A week after blazes erupted and spread uncontained, forecasters predicted "particularly dangerous" Santa Ana winds would spike the wildfire threat anew for already exhausted firefighters.

Jan 14, 2025 11:54 PM IST

California wildfires live: An additional 84,000 people could be evacuated

Fires burning homes and businesses in Los Angeles for a week have killed at least 24 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings.

About 88,000 people remained under evacuation orders Tuesday morning because of the fires. But another 84,800 have been warned that they might be ordered to evacuate.

Jan 14, 2025 10:29 PM IST

California wildfires live: Firefighters use pink flame retardants

California wildfires live: Fire agencies say the suppressants are an invaluable tool as flames race through canyons and other rugged areas that are difficult for firefighters on the ground to reach.

The hot-pink mixture is generally considered safe for people, even though some worry about potential effects on wildlife, according to AP.

Jan 14, 2025 8:56 PM IST

California wildfires live: Concern over drinking water

Several utilities in Los Angeles have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise. Toxic chemicals from the fires can get into damaged drinking water systems. Experts say filtering or boiling won’t help.

Jan 14, 2025 7:38 PM IST

California wildfires live: Strong wind alert issued

California wildfires live: Much of Los Angeles and Ventura County could experience wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph from early Tuesday through Wednesday as dry Santa Ana winds picked up after relative calm last week, Reuters reported, citing the National Weather Service.

Jan 14, 2025 6:31 PM IST

California wildfires live: Search for victims continues

California wildfires live: Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says death toll is likely to rise as search for victims continues. At least two dozen people are still missing, he says, according to AP.

Jan 14, 2025 5:49 PM IST

California wildfires live: Beyonce postpones teased

California wildfires live: US singer Beyonce has postponed a teased announcement because of the “devastation” of the California wildfires that has seen thousands of homes destroyed and communities ravaged.

The 43-year-old superstar, whose BeyGood foundation has donated 2.5 million US dollars to Los Angeles relief efforts, had previously said she would reveal something on Tuesday – which fans have speculated is a tour or album. Read more.

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