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3 days ago

LA fires live updates: ‘Dangerous’ winds return as residents are warned over threat of new wildfires

Officials warn that Angelenos are ‘not out of the woods’ with the Santa Ana winds expected to pick up Wednesday, fanning the flames of the Palisades and Eaton blazes raging through southern California

Auto Fire: Another fast-moving blaze breaks out in California

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Bruising Santa Ana winds have returned to Los Angeles County early Wednesday, as the death toll from the still-raging wildfires sits at 25.

Forecasters again declared a “particularly dangerous situation” – the most extreme advance warning also used when violent tornadoes are possible – with local wind gusts expected to reach up to 60mph in the mountains.

The Palisades and Eaton fires are now among the most destructive in Southern California’s history, and progress on containing the blazes has been slow in the windy weather.

The Palisades Fire has torn across nearly 24,000 acres and was 18 percent contained. The Eaton Fire is 35 percent contained after burning more than 14,000 acres.

While Wednesday is expected to be “the last really windy day,” Red Flag conditions continue until 6 p.m. PST due to very low humidity.

While tens of thousands still are unable to return to their homes, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Tuesday to start the rebuilding process.

“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” she said in a post on social media.

“We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home,” Bass said.

4 days ago

Republican senator says California ‘doesn’t deserve funding’ after devastating wildfires

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said that California “doesn’t deserve” any funding for the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles.

The Alabama senator, a staunch Donald Trump ally, said he didn’t object to sending the state “some money,” but not unless state leaders “change their ways.”

Tuberville joins a growing number of Republicans who have hit out at California’s political leaders for the fires, blaming them partly on “woke policies.”

Read more:

GOP senator says California ‘doesn’t deserve funding’ after devastating wildfires

Tuberville joins a growing number of Republicans who have hit out at California lawmakers for the fires

Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 07:00
4 days ago

Emmy award stolen during LA fires looting as nine people charged over thefts in Palisades and Eaton

Nine people have been charged with looting in connection with the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, the district attorney has said.

Nathan Hochmann told reporters that among the stolen property was an Emmy award, which was taken from a resident’s home in Altadena by four individuals who were quickly apprehended. Authorities would not be drawn on who the Emmy belongs to.

In another case, two people entered two different houses in the same neighborhood and are facing two counts of first-degree burglary, which could see them get 12 years behind bars. Read on:

Emmy stolen in LA fires looting as nine charged over thefts in Palisades and Eaton

Three suspects were arrested stealing $200,000 worth of valuables from one property during mandatory evacuations

Holly Williams15 January 2025 06:00
4 days ago

Wind gusts up to 60 mph expected overnight into Wednesday

The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts up to 60 mph in the mountains overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.

“Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,” the Los Angeles NWS said in a statement. “Please stay on guard for a fast-moving fire. The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow.”

The Palisades and Eaton fires are among the most destructive in Los Angeles history. At least 25 people are dead and officials are warning residents to stay alert as the fires persist.

Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 04:40
4 days ago

Malibu Mayor dispels rumors of permits for re-entry into evacuation zones

Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart dispelled rumors that the city is offering permits to people who want an expedited return to evacuation zones.

“We … need to address and dispel a rumor circulating in the community: there is no permit for expedited re-entry into evacuation zones. Any claims or offers to provide such a permit are false,” Stewart said in a statement Tuesday.

“Many of you are understandably anxious to return to your homes. We hear you, and we are doing everything in our power to make that happen as quickly and safely as possible,” he added. “However, we remain in the midst of an active fire incident.”

Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 04:15
4 days ago

Watch: Buckeye Fire helps woman’s cat as she flees from CA fires

Buckeye Fire helps woman's cat as she flees from CA fires
Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 03:45
4 days ago

Speaker Johnson calls for ‘conditions’ on California wildfire aid

House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested on Monday that lawmakers might attach “conditions” to wildfire aid for California, where blazes in Los Angeles have killed at least 25 and burned hundreds of homes, one of the worst natural disasters in state history.

“I think we’re going to have a serious conversation about that,” Johnson told reporters. “Obviously there has been water resource mismanagement, forest mismanagement, mistakes, all sorts of problems, and it does come down to leadership. It appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects. That’s something that has to be factored in.”

Read on:

Speaker Johnson calls for ‘conditions’ on California wildfire aid

He suggests help could be traded for raising the debt ceiling

Josh Marcus15 January 2025 03:15
4 days ago

Watch: Jimmy Kimmel breaks down in tears over LA wildfires

Jimmy Kimmel breaks down in tears over LA wildfires
Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 02:45
4 days ago

Palisades fire may be linked to previous blaze in popular hiking area

Officials are probing the area near where a small New Year’s Day fire broke out for clues about what started the deadly Palisades Fire, which has grown since last week to more than 23,000 acres and devastated the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

At the start of the new year, firefighters used a water-dropping helicopter to snuff out a blaze that began a few hours earlier near Skull Rock, a popular hiking destination on the Temescal Ridge trail above the Palisades.

Some residents wonder whether parts of that fire survived and set off the Palisades fire, which began on January 7.

Continue reading:

Palisades fire may be linked to previous blaze in popular hiking area

Elite federal fire investigators arrived in Los Angeles this week to probe cause of deadly blaze

Josh Marcus15 January 2025 02:15
4 days ago

LAPD arrests at least 14 in connection with Palisades Fire

The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested at least 14 people in connection with the Palisades Fire, including three arson suspects, Commander Steve Embrich said Tuesday.

Others were arrested on suspicion of violating curfew, impersonating a firefighter and looting, among other crimes.

“Looting is not just a crime against property; it also takes away any sense of security from evacuated residents and it will not be tolerated,” Embrich said.

Katie Hawkinson15 January 2025 01:45
4 days ago

Tyler Perry calls out ‘appalling’ insurance company decisions in wake of LA wildfires

Tyler Perry has criticised insurance company cancellations amid the ongoing catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires raging through Southern California.

Several blazes have destroyed more than 35,000 acres of land across Southern California – the largest being the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire – resulting in the death of 25 people. Several celebrities, including Paris Hilton and When Harry Met Sally star Billy Crystal, have lost their homes.

The American filmmaker and actor shared a message calling out unnamed insurance companies who had either chosen not to renew their policies or to stop writing new ones, especially for high-value homes located in areas of high-risk fire-prone areas.

Read more:

Tyler Perry calls out ‘appalling’ insurance  company decisions in wake of LA fires

Actor and filmmaker criticised insurance companies for taking ‘billions of dollars out of communities’ only to ‘cancel millions of policies’ in fire-prone areas

Ellie Muir15 January 2025 01:15

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