LA fires live updates: Santa Ana winds set to return as crews scramble to control blazes that left 10 dead
Death toll continues to climb from the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires that forced evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 residents as the Kenneth Fire arson suspect is held in police custody
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least 10 people have been killed by the fast-moving wildfires tearing across the Los Angeles area, while a suspected arsonist, allegedly armed with a “flamethrower,” has been arrested.
The Department of Medical Examiner announced it received notification of 10 fire-related fatalities on Thursday evening with the death toll expected to climb. It came hours after the Kenneth fire broke out north of the Palisades fire on Thursday, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
The Los Angeles Police Department said it believed the blaze was started intentionally. Later on Thursday, a man was restrained by citizens using zip ties after allegedly attempting to light a fire in Woodland Hills, before being detained, Sean Dinse of the LAPD’s Topanga Division told KTLA 5.
The suspect, believed to be in his mid-20s, was armed with a “propane tank” or “flamethrower,” according to a witness.
The Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive the city has seen, is now at six percent containment. The fire has scorched almost 20,000 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has burned 13,690 acres. At least 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate and 10,000 structures feared burned down.
Everything we know about ‘armed’ arson suspect arrested over Kenneth blaze as LA wildfires rage
Arson suspect arrested by citizens near Kenneth fire armed with a ‘propane tank or flamethrower’
NBC's Jacob Soboroff finds the burnt-out home where he grew up, as wildfire stories turn personal
LA wildfires mapped: Where could the blaze go next after Palisades, Eaton and Kenneth
Milo Ventimiglia fights back tears while visiting rubble of charred home lost in California fire
LA fires: Is it safe to travel to California and is LAX closed?
Kenneth Fire arson suspect investigation remains ongoing
At 4:32 p.m. on Thursday Los Angeles police received a 911 call that a suspect was attempting to light a fire in the community of Woodland Hills and was being detained by residents.
Officers took the suspect into custody.
“After the interview and additional investigative steps looking at some additional evidence that was president, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson,” LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi told reporters on Friday. “And, therefore, this person was arrested on a felony probation violation. This investigation is ongoing, however.”
Everything we know about ‘armed’ arson suspect arrested over the Kenneth Fire
153,000 are under evacuation orders than more than 57,000 structures are at risk
Officials said Friday that more than 153,000 residents were under evacuation orders and more than 166,000 are under warnings as wildfires continued to burn in the Los Angeles County region.
There are also 57,830 structures at risk.
A curfew will be “strictly enforced” at 6 p.m. PST for the area of the Palisades and Eaton Fires.
Small drone makes hole in wing of CL 415 Super Scooper aircraft during Palisades Fire
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone announced Friday that there had been a drone incursion at the Palisades Fire on Thursday.
A hole had been made in the aircraft’s wing. It should be back flying by Monday, he said.
Firefighter hospitalized after fall injury in the Eaton Fire
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that a firefighter had suffered a significant fall injury at the Eaton Fire on Thursday.
While he remains hospitalized, the firefighter is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
All active Los Angeles County wildfires are now partially contained
Firefighters finally made some progress on the nearly 14,000-acre Eaton Fire.
The blaze is now 3 percent contained.
LA officials apologize for erroneous emergency alert
Speaking at a press conference on Friday morning, Kevin McGowan, the Los Angeles County director of the Office of Emergency Management, apologized to residents who had received an erroneous emergency alert on Thursday afternoon.
“I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this experience,” he told reporters, explaining that the emergency alerts weren’t “human-driven.”
The Kenneth Fire is now 1,000 acres
The active wildfires have spread over 36,560 acres.
Firefighters have made significant progress on the Kenneth, Hurst, and Lidia Fires
Firefighters have made significant progress on the Kenneth, Hurst, and Lidia Fires.
The Kenneth Fire is 35 percent contained. The Hurst Fire is 37 percent contained. And, the Lidia Fire is 75 percent contained.
The Palisades Fire is also now 8 percent contained.
As the first home in Pacific Palisades was set ablaze on Tuesday morning, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass was absent from the city.
Neither was she there when a second brush fire broke out in the Altadena area that evening, nor a third in Sylmar.
Instead, Bass, a 71-year-old former physician and congresswoman, was in Ghana.
James Liddell reports on why the LA mayor was visiting the African nation.
Why was LA Mayor Karen Bass in Ghana as devastating wildfires broke out?
Los Angeles mayor set off for African nation on Saturday despite reports of possible fire weather the day prior
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments