Firefighters are bracing for the the return of fierce Santa Ana winds which are expected to fan the flames of wildfires raging across southern California, as the death toll climbs to at least 24 people.
The National Weather service warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” on Sunday evening and, although peak winds will be weaker than last week, they will be “strong enough to potentially cause explosive fire growth”. The agency anticipates gusts of up to 70mph in mountainous regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said 70 additional water trucks have been deployed to help firefighters fend off blazes spread by renewed gusts.
As of Monday morning, the fires have scorched more than 40,000 acres, including more than 23,000 acres across the Pacific Palisades and along the Pacific Coast Highway. Only 13 percent of the Palisades fire has been contained. The Eaton fire has burned more than 14,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena and is 27 percent contained.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the Los Angeles wildfires as the worst disaster in U.S. history during Sunday’s appearance on NBC’s meet the press.
Key Points
- Death toll: At least 24 people killed in LA wildfires
- Evacuation orders across southern California to remain in place until Thursday
- Return of strong Santa Ana winds on Monday could bring ‘explosive fire growth’
- Meghan Markle’s Netflix series delayed by LA wildfires
Man disguised as firefighter arrested for ‘robbing homes'
09:27
James Liddell
A man who is believd to have disguised himself as a firefighter was arrested adfter allegedly looting a home near fire-ravaged Malibu, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said deputies stopped the suspect in the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
“I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter, and I asked him if he was okay, because he was sitting down,” Luna told reporters. “I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs. We were turning him over… because he was dressed like a fireman and he was not.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jim McDonnell shared his disdain over those looking to take advantage of locals adhering to advice due to the wildfires.
“We have people who will go to all ends to do what it is they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy,” he said.
More mandatory evacuation orders lifted, Newsom announces
09:04
James Liddell
Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for the #SunsetFire, #KennethFire, #HurstFire, and #LidiaFire — but residents are strongly encouraged to continue heeding evacuation warnings still covering these affected areas.
— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 13, 2025
Track real-time information ➡️ https://t.co/1ByBwAM0c2
Critial fire weather set to continue this week
08:27
James Liddell
Monday's National Forecast Chart:
— National Weather Service (@NWS) January 13, 2025
Critical fire weather conditions will continue for coastal southern California including the areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires through Wednesday due to moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds. Red Flag Warnings are in effect.
A fresh… pic.twitter.com/mhjSZi8b0F
Iconic $125m 'Succession' mansion destroyed in Palisades wildfire
07:30
Stuti Mishra
A luxury mansion worth $125m featured in HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series Succession has been destroyed by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
The San Onofre estate, located in the Pacific Palisades area near Topanga, was purchased in 2021 by Luminar Technologies founder and CEO Austin Russell for $83 million.
Photos reported by The Daily Mail show the once-lavish 20,000 sq ft property – known for its six bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, and $450,000 monthly rental price – reduced to little more than rubble.
Watch: Pope Francis prays for victims of Los Angeles wildfires
07:00
Ariana Baio
LA fire chief says crews are ready ahead of 'critical fire weather'
06:30
Stuti Mishra
The California Department chief said the crews were ready ahead of the “critical fire weather”.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts.“We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Mr Marrone said.
Fire retardant dropped by aircraft on Sunday will act as a barrier along hillsides, officials said.In the meantime, LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighbourhoods.
“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public,” Ms Crowley said at a Sunday morning briefing.
“There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”
LA Medical Examiner releasees information on victim Victor Shaw
06:00
Ariana Baio
Victor Shaw, 66, is among the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office reported.
Shaw, who was found in his home, is suspected of dying from “smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.” He is among the 24 people who the medical examiner’s office has confirmed have died.
Meghan Markle’s Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’ delayed by LA wildfires
05:43
Stuti Mishra
Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series With Love, Meghan has been delayed due to the ongoing wildfire crisis in California, she has announced.
Read more:
Fire crews scrambling to contain Los Angeles blazes before 'dangerous' week ahead
05:30
Stuti Mishra
Firefighters scrambled on Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed 24 people in the Los Angeles area as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week.
At least 16 people were missing, and authorities said that number was expected to rise.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson.
"You're going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there," Thompson said at a community meeting on Saturday night.
“This will be another incredibly dangerous week near the fire zones and across much of the Los Angeles region as stronger wind gusts return,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva.
“We could face another round of hurricane-force winds in some areas. These winds could ground firefighting aircraft at critical moments, making it more difficult to contain wind-driven fires.”
Canada sends 60 firefighters to California
05:00
Ariana Baio
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he sent 60 firefighters to assist in efforts to control the blazes in the Los Angeles area.
Canada is deploying 60 firefighters to help battle the California wildfires.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 12, 2025
AccuWeather raises damage estimate for LA wildfires
04:30
Stuti Mishra
AccuWeather has revised its estimate of total damage and economic loss to between $250-$275bn, making these fires among the most destructive in modern U.S. history.
It cited factors like home destruction in affluent neighbourhoods, smoke damage, and long-term health impacts from toxic wildfire smoke behind increasing the estimate.
Earlier AccuWeather estimated losses between $135-$150bn.
In Photos: Fire retardant blankets parts of Los Angeles
04:00
Ariana Baio
Watch: Timelapse shows how quickly Palisades wildfires spread across Los Angeles
03:00
Ariana Baio
12 missing within Eaton Fire, four missing from Palisades
02:00
Ariana Baio
At least 16 people are missing in the Los Angeles area as firefighters work to battle the wildfires before the Santa Ana winds pick up again.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 12 people were missing within the Eaton Fire and four were missing within the Palisades Fire. Luna said the sheriff’s office received more reports of missing individuals on Sunday but investigators had not determined if those people may be among the deceased.
No children are among those reported missing.
At least 24 people are confirmed dead from wildfires
01:33
Ariana Baio
At least 24 people have died as a result of the California wildfires, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office reported on Sunday evening.
The LA medical examiner said an additional four people were found deceased in Altadena and one in Malibu – bringing the total to 24.
Los Angeles Getty Center’s priceless collection braces for wildfires
01:00
Ariana Baio
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 Brentwood Getty Center was put under an evacuation order on Friday, while 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 center.
“It was a watchful but fortunately uneventful night up here at the Getty Center,” Katherine E Fleming, president of the J Paul Getty Trust, the organization that operates the structures, said in a statement on Saturday.
The trust’s officials were told to anticipate stronger winds later in the day. Still, Fleming ensured that the museum’s galleries “are safe and protected.”
The Getty Villa, which houses the trust’s educational center, has not been harmed, though there are a few hot spots nearby. The structure has 1 million gallons of water on-site to prevent fires from setting it ablaze.
Newsom deploys 1,000 addtional National Guards service members
00:30
Ariana Baio
California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed an additional 1,000 National Guard service members on Sunday afternoon to help the communities affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
That is in addition to the 1,500 National Guard service members already deployed.
I'm deploying 1,000 more California National Guard
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 12, 2025
service members to Los Angeles.
The now approx. 2,500 service members mobilized will continue to help keep the communities devastated by the fires safe.
Evacuation order will remain in place until Thursday, at least
00:00
Ariana Baio
Evacuation orders will remain in effect until Thursday at the least due to red flag conditions, officials in California said on Sunday.
The forceful, dry winds that have escalated the fire in the Los Angeles area are expected to return this week. Combined with the low humidity and dry vegetation, it makes conditions preferable for fires.
Ashley Tisdale opens up about her mental health struggles during LA wildfires
Sunday 12 January 2025 23:30
Graig Graziosi
Ashley Tisdale has candidly addressed her mental health less than a week after the first of several ravaging wildfires sparked across Los Angeles.
“There are times in life due to my mental health where I feel very alone when I’m out to dinner with friends,” she started in a message posted to her Instagram story on January 11.
“This experience has shown me how many amazing people I have in my life and I am far from alone,” she continued. “The amount of people checking in with each other is amazing. You realize in dark moments you have each other.
READ MORE:
Meghan Markle’s Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’ delayed by LA wildfires
Sunday 12 January 2025 23:00
Graig Graziosi
Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series With Love, Meghan has been delayed due to the ongoing wildfire crisis in California, she has announced.
The US state has been devastated by wildfires over the past week, described by California governor Gavin Newsom as the worst natural disaster in the country’s history “in terms of the scale and scope”.
More than 12,000 homes have been destroyed in the blazes, with more than 150,000 people evacuated from their residences and at least 16 people confirmed to have died.
READ MORE:
Cal Fire warns of “critical fire weather” between tonight and Wednesday
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:54
Graig Graziosi
Cal Fire warned that Southern California will face “critical fire weather” between Sunday night and Wednesday in a post on Facebook on Sunday evening.
High winds — reaching 70mph — are expected between later on Sunday evening through Wednesday. The winds can help spread and stoke existing fires and potentially start new ones by moving embers to previously untouched parts of the region.
“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,” Cal Fire warned. “The winds will cause increased fire activity.”
LA County Sheriff says curfew will be in effect, law enforcement will not be deescalating number of officers on the streets
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:47
Graig Graziosi
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference on Sunday that a curfew, from 6pm to 6am, will be in effect in wildfire affected areas of LA County on Sunday night into Monday morning.
“Simply stay out of the areas if you are not a first responder or have emergency business there,” he said.
Luna also said that law enforcement would not be decreasing the number of officers and deputies on the ground. He also said that while he understood that people wanted to get back to their homes, many areas are too dangerous to allow residents to return at this time.
“I know there’s a lot of folks trying to get back to their houses. We are very empathetic and sensitive to those needs, but your safety comes first,” he said. “A lot of these areas still look like they were hit by a bomb. There are live electrical wires, gas lines and other hazards. We want to make sure you’re safe, not to mention the health hazards that come with that information.”
Los Angeles residents share what’s packed in their emergency evacuation bags amid ongoing wildfires
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:45
Graig Graziosi
As deadly wildfires continue to displace people across Los Angeles, some residents affected by the natural disaster, which has now been described as the most destructive in U.S. history, have taken to TikTok to share what they packed in their evacuation bags.
Since the first flames sparked in the Santa Ana winds on January 7, at least 16 have been confirmed dead, 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and over 150,000 residents have been ordered to leave their homes.
Those forced to evacuate, leaving behind houses full of memories, have had to frantically pack necessities and decide which valuables they want to salvage in case their properties are ruined in the fires.
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Update on Palisades fire: 604 structures destroyed, 83 damaged, fire still at 11 percent containment
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:39
Graig Graziosi
California fire officials offered an udpate on the state of the Palisades fire today during a press conference.
According to officials, the Palisades fire has burned 23,713 acres, has destroyed 604 structures, and has damaged another 83.
The fire is currently 11 percent contained. The fire was 11 percent contained as of Saturday morning.
“We have airplanes, we have helicopters, even drones. We’re dropping retardants. We drop out everywhere we can again to secure that edge all around the fire,” fire officials said.
High winds, expected to kick up on Sunday night, are expected to further stoke and potentially spread the fire.
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley offered the following:
“This wind event is approaching us, and it’s approaching us very, very quickly. I want to reassure you that your LAFD, all of our regional partners, every single agency that has come from up and down this state and outside the state, we are ready ... We need [the community] to stay informed. Please stay informed. With trusted news and official updates, be prepared to evacuate. We keep going back to that, but with this next wind event, [you’ve] got to stay informed follow all evacuation warnings and orders.”
Trump reposts image of Hollywood sign replaced by words “Trump Was Right” against flaming landscape
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:35
Graig Graziosi
President-elect Donald Trump reposted an image showing the iconic Hollywood sign replaced by the words “Trump Was Right” set against a burning landscape.
The source image either was or was based on a criticized image showing the Hollywood hills on fire, which was generated by AI and was not reflective of the situation on the ground in Los Angeles.
Trump’s repost comes as the wildfires that have killed at least 16 and have damaged more than 20,000 structures continue to rage in the area.
Despite his criticism of California’s leadership, Governor Gavin Newsom and other California lawmakers have invited him to tour the area ahead of his inauguration later this year.
More than 24,000 people have registered for FEMA aid, White House says
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:20
Graig Graziosi
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed today on how federal resources were being used to battle the wildfires in Los Angeles and on the overall state of the ongoing response and recovery efforts.
According to a White House statement, more than 24,000 people have registered for FEMA assistance. which was made available to affected individuals on Wednesday following Biden's Major Disaster Declaration on Wednesday.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told ABC News's This Week that military personnel were on standby and prepared to deploy if needed to assist the wildfire response efforts.
"We are in there supporting them. You know, the support for the firefighters themselves, that is coordinated through the NIFC, the National Interagency Fire Center,” Criswell said. “There are active duty military personnel that are on a prepare to deploy order, that are ready to go in and continue to support the firefighting effort.”
Ukraine may join firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, even as it defends itself against Russian incursion
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:10
Graig Graziosi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that he may be sending firefighting resources to help battle the blazes in Los Angeles.
Zelenskyy said the following:
“Today, I instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California. The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives. This is currently being coordinated, and we have offered our assistance to the American side through the relevant channels. 150 of our firefighters are already prepared.”
Today, I instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 12, 2025
The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives.
This is… pic.twitter.com/1yiIiOz8bi
Both Canada and Mexico have also sent firefighting resources to assist battling the wildfire.
Governor deploys another 1,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles
Sunday 12 January 2025 22:00
Graig Graziosi
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday he was deploying another 1,000 National Guard troops to help the with wildfire response and law enforcement efforts in Los Angeles.
After the latest deployment, there will be 2,500 National Guard members deployed to the Los Angeles area.
Why aren’t firefighting aircraft used all the time on wildfires?
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) January 12, 2025
Firefighting aircraft are essential in slowing wildfire spread and supporting ground crews. However, high winds can limit the effectiveness of water and retardant drops, dispersing them before they reach their… pic.twitter.com/OttRqCtFMQ
Cal Fire explains why firefighting aircraft aren’t constantly in the air fighting wildfires
Sunday 12 January 2025 21:45
Graig Graziosi
Cal Fire released a video explaining why firefighting aircraft aren’t constantly in the air dropping water on wildfires.
Chief among the reasons is a force that has been plaguing firefighters since the start of the wildfires — wind.
“High winds can make flying an aircraft over a wildfire much more challenging, even for the most highly-skilled pilots,” a Cal Fire spokesperson says in the video.
High winds can dispersee the fire-retardant liquid that planes drop on fires and can make flying dangerous for pilots.
Watch the full video below:
Why aren’t firefighting aircraft used all the time on wildfires?
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) January 12, 2025
Firefighting aircraft are essential in slowing wildfire spread and supporting ground crews. However, high winds can limit the effectiveness of water and retardant drops, dispersing them before they reach their… pic.twitter.com/OttRqCtFMQ
High winds — which may stoke or spread wildfires — expected as early as Sunday night
Sunday 12 January 2025 21:30
Graig Graziosi
The National Weather Service issued an update Sunday that high winds expected for the Los Angeles region early next week will begin this evening and continue until Wednesday.
Winds up to 70mph (113kph) are expected over the course of the next three days.
High winds can both stoke existing fires and spread embers that can spark new fires. Relatively calm winds in Los Angeles have allowed firefighters to make gains containing the current fires torching the region.
Edison Electric investigating whether or not faulty equipment had any role in starting the Hurst fire
Sunday 12 January 2025 21:15
Graig Graziosi
Fire agencies in California are investigating whether or not Edison Electric equipment had any role in the start of the Hurst fire, according to a press statement from Edison International on Sunday.
Edison said that a downed power line connected to a circuit that experienced a relay was found near the fire’s origin site, but added that the company was not sure if “the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire.”
The company said it has submitted an incident report related to the Hurst and Eaton fires to the California Public Utilities Commission.
California Democratic Representative Judy Chu said she is inviting Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson to tour wildfire areas
Sunday 12 January 2025 21:00
Graig Graziosi
California Democratic Representative Judy Chu said she will extend an invitation to President-elect Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson to tour the areas of Los Angeles devastated by wildfires.
“We are planning to invite Speaker Johnson as well as President Trump, to come to this area and to witness the devastation for themselves,” Chu told CBS’s Face the Nation on Saturday. “We have already been in touch with Republican Congress members, and they have expressed that they are very open to coming and seeing what is going on.”
Governor Gavin Newsom has also invited Trump to tour the affected areas.
Governor wants all fire-damaged structures in LA to be inspected within two weeks
Sunday 12 January 2025 20:45
Graig Graziosi
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that all of the fire-damaged structues in Los Angeles will be inspected for safety, and hopes the process will be complete within two weeks.
Newsom said that 53 teams of inspectors will be working over the new two weeks to inspect structures damaged in the LA-area wildfires. Their inspections will lay the groundwork for property owners to start dealing with their insurance companies and begin rebuilding efforts, according to CNN.
Newsom said that the state would provide any resources needed by the inspectors to complete the review.
After the inspections have finished, Newsom said debris removal efforts will begin in earnest.
He expects that process to take between six and nine months.
JD Vance slams ‘incompetent’ California government as Gavin Newsom battles wildfire conspiracy theories
Sunday 12 January 2025 20:30
Graig Graziosi
JD Vance led the Republican assault against California’s state and local governments on Sunday as conservatives eagerly pile on Democratic leaders for insufficient water supplies and emergency efforts as firefighters continue to battle wildfires around Los Angeles.
On Sunday, the incoming vice president told Fox News Sunday’s Shannon Bream that California’s leaders were incompetent.
“We need to do a better job. We need competent, good governance,” Vance said. “There was a serious lack of competent governance in California, and I think it’s part of the reason why these fires have gotten so bad.”
READ MORE:
FBI searching for drone operator that damaged firefighting water scooper plane in Los Angeles
Sunday 12 January 2025 20:20
Graig Graziosi
The FBI has released photos of a Super Scooper firefighting plane that was damaged when it collided with a drone that someone was flying near the site of the Los Angeles wildfires.
According to fire officials, the plane hit a privately owned drone, which caused significant damage to its left wing. The impact put a 3x6 hold in the wind, which forced the plane to land for repairs and caused a 20-to-30-minute delay in its operations.
Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s LA field office, said on Saturday that whoever flew the drone put people’s lives in danger.
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Governor issues executive order suspending environmental regulations to help expedite LA-area rebuilds
Sunday 12 January 2025 20:05
Graig Graziosi
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday he will suspend some environmental laws to help expedite the rebuilding process across Southern California once the wildfires torching Los Angeles have been extinguished.
Newsom issued an executive order waiving the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act for affected areas of the state.
“When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks,” Newsom said in a statement on Sunday. “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.”
The executive order also directs state agecies to identify other permitting regulations that can be safely suspended to help expedite rebuilding efforts.
The suspended CEQA requires environmental impact reviews by state agencies for new buildings, while the CCA regulates how coastal land is developed and provides protections from overdevelopment of the coast line.
Biden to receive briefing on current state of LA firefighting efforts
Sunday 12 January 2025 19:48
Graig Graziosi
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will receive a briefing today on the state of the wildfire response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles and on how federal government resources are being used in the fight.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA officials, and other administration officials will also be participating in the call.
WATCH: Incredible timelapse shows how quickly Palisades wildfires spread across Los Angeles
Sunday 12 January 2025 19:30
Graig Graziosi
FBI trying to find the owner of a drone that damaged a Super Scooper plane
Sunday 12 January 2025 19:00
Graig Graziosi
The FBI is reportedly trying to find the owner of a drone that struck a Canadian Super Scooper plane on Thursday.
The drone caused damage to the plane, forcing it to land and taking it away from the fight to contain the LA wildfires while it was repaired.
The FBI called on members of the public with any informtation to report it to the agency.
“These fire suppression efforts using aircraft is probably the most effective tool that our firefighters have against fighting these fires to help contain them,” Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, told CNN on Saturday. “When you take one plane out of commission like that, it’s going to impact the speed in which the fire grows, it’s going to cause loss of property, potentially loss of life, and it’s a danger to everybody all around.”
Investigators managed to find some of the pieces of the drone.
California Senator calls for unity, says he has faith in state leaders
Sunday 12 January 2025 18:40
Graig Graziosi
Democratic California Senator Alex Padilla told NBC’s Meet the Press that he was confident in the state’s leadership, despite some criticism coming from conservatives — including President-elect Donald Trump.
“I do have faith in our leaders, and not just as individuals, but especially because we — after disaster, after disaster, after disaster — have gotten really good at working together,” he said on Sunday.
He said that regardless of Trump’s criticisms, he hopes the president will visit the region, and that he and the rest of the nation will rally behind California in its time of need.
“Just as Californians have been there for other regions of the country in their times of crisis, it’s time for the country to unite behind California, and that includes incoming President Trump,” he said.
Stern arrest warning issued after LA fires air tanker is grounded by crash with civilian drone
Sunday 12 January 2025 18:25
Graig Graziosi
The Los Angeles County district attorney has issued a stern warning after a civilian drone grounded a water tanker as firefighters battled a Los Angeles area fire this week.
The incident occurrred Thursday afternoon when the aircraft hit the drone as it operated over the Palisdades Fire, according to officials.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson said the Canadian plane, Quebec 1, sustained wing damage and remains grounded and is out of service. It’s only one of two super scoopers being operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An image of the damage shows a large hole in aircraft’s wing.
READ MORE:
CA Rep Judy Chu says LA is in a ‘good place’ ahead of fire-stoking Santa Ana winds this week
Sunday 12 January 2025 18:10
Graig Graziosi
California Rep Judy Chu, whose districts have been affected by the LA wildfires, told CBS News’s Face the Nation that the city was in a “good place” when it comes to water pressure and availability ahead of this week’s forecasted Santa Ana winds, which threaten to stoke and spread the wildfires burning the city.
She told CBS News the following:
“We have been in touch with the governor, but what I want to do is to assure people that there is enough water, and in fact, the fire department agencies have assured me that there is enough, but when the fires first happened, there was a combination of drastic winds and the fire and as a result, they were overwhelmed. This-this is not an ordinary incident, and many fire hydrants were going on at the same time, and also the electricity used to pump the water had been turned off so that there would not spark anymore fire. So that happened at that point, but I believe that we’re in a good place right now.”
Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim accuses LA landlords of 'illegally' raising rental prices to cash in on wildfire disaster
Sunday 12 January 2025 18:00
Graig Graziosi
Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim has accused LA landlords of “illegally” raising rental prices to cash in on the wildfire disaster.
Mr Oppenheim said he is seeing companies “take advantage” of people left without homes following LA wildfires, when he appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg today (12 January).
“There are price-gouging laws in California that are just being ignored right now,” he said.
Meanwhile, California governor Gavin Newsom has described the Los Angeles wildfires as the worst natural disaster in US history “in terms of the scale and scope”.
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Los Angeles Getty Center’s priceless collection braces for wildfires as evacuation order expands to museum
Sunday 12 January 2025 17:45
Graig Graziosi
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 Brentwood Getty Center was put under an evacuation order on Friday, while 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 center.
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.
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