California Wildfires
Live Blog EndedJan 17, 2025

LA's sports teams lead wildfires donation drive

Evacuations are lifted for some Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire areas, but the wait continues for other residents.

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JAN 182:05 AM PST

Homeowner talks rebuild process after losing home to wildfire years ago

Homeowner talks rebuild process after losing home to wildfire years ago

An Orange County man who lost his him nearly three years ago in the Laguna Niguel fire offered support and advice to recent wildfire victims. Hetty Chang reports for NBC4 at 4 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2025. 

With the devastation still fresh for thousands of families who lost their homes to wildfires, they may not be ready to think about the rebuilding process, but one Orange County man is offering his support and advice after facing similar destruction.

Ramin Yazdi, who lost his Laguna Niguel home to the Coastal Fire, is still in the process of rebuilding nearly two and half years later.

As Yazdi walked through his Coronado Pointe neighborhood, the street was a mish-mash of homes in different stages of construction and a few empty lots too.

"He (neighbor) basically decided not to go through the trouble of rebuilding and sold it," said Yazdi.

Read Full Article

JAN 181:07 AM PST

Gusty offshore winds will return to SoCal next week

Most gusts are expected to fall within the 40-50mph range, with isolated gusts of 50-60mph in the mountains. Southern California would get a “break” for Wednesday (lighter Santa Ana Winds) before the gusts pick up again for Wednesday night into Thursday. 

This is not as strong as the Jan 6-7 windstorm. One of the concerns for this Santa Ana Wind is the extremely dry air: humidities may drop down into single digits, with a few spots possibly below 5%.

IMPACTS

  • Possible downed trees & powerlines
  • Power outages (both planned & unplanned) possible
  • If a fire starts, extreme and erratic fire behavior
  • Gusty crosswinds, a threat to high profile vehicles near passes (like trucks)
JAN 1812:10 AM PST

Fire-impacted homeowners advised to work with licensed contractors, CSLB says

Shutterstock

Eusebio Maldonado es buscado por las autoridades en el Condado Harris,.

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) urges homeowners impacted by the wildfires to work with licensed contractors for any type of repair or construction.

“After a disaster, homeowners are vulnerable to scams and poor workmanship,” said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. “Licensed contractors have proven qualifications that help ensure they can perform safe and reliable work.”

The CSLB adds that any repair or construction project costing more than $1000, including labor and materials, should done by a licensed contractor.

The CSLB has a list of licensed contractors, which homeowners can find here.

JAN 1711:12 PM PST

Altadena family staying hopeful after losing apartment in Eaton Fire

Altadena family staying hopeful after losing apartment in Eaton Fire

A donation drive was hosted by multiple LA sport teams Friday to help fire victims in need, on of them being the Gonzalez family who lost their home in the Eaton Fire. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBCLA News at 6 p.m. on January 18, 2025. 

An Altadena family who lost their home to the Eaton Fire is choosing to look at the brighter side of things in a time of hardship.

The Gonzalez family was among the thousands of households evacuated due to wildfires who say they are now feeling the love from a community looking to help each other out.

Twelve professional Los Angeles sports teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels and Rams teamed up with Fanatics to help families like the Gonzalez, who were impacted by the wildfires.

Adriana Gonzalez said their apartment was the only home her 13-year-old son ever knew. He was devastated when he heard what happened to his home, according to Gonzalez. 

Read Full Article

JAN 1710:15 PM PST

Eaton Fire victims rally for fair rebuilding efforts in Altadena

Eaton Fire victims rally for fair rebuilding efforts in Altadena

Community leaders and fire victims have come together to ensure the rebuilding efforts after the Eaton fire in Altadena are done fairly and with equity. Mekahlo Medina reports for NBC4 at 4 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2025. 

Altadena community leaders and fire victims rallied together Friday to ensure the rebuilding efforts after the Eaton fire are done fairly and with equity.

Faye Austin, an 88-year-old Altadena resident, lost her small home on Crosby Street in the blaze and was forced to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter. 

“I’ve been there ever since,” said Austin. “I’ve been there a week and I think it’s 5 days now.”

Donny Kinecy, an Altadena resident who also lost his home in the Eaton Fire, was one of hundreds of people who came out to advocate for the thousands of others struggling after the fire.

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JAN 179:19 PM PST

Palisades Fire is 39% contained: Cal Fire

The Palisades Fire is now at 39% containment, Cal Fire announced Friday night.

According to Cal Fire, the Palisades Fire has destroyed nearly 3,500 structures and burned through about 23,700 acres since it broke out last week.

The Eaton Fire, on the other hand, stands at 65% containment and has burned over 14,100 acres and destroyed over 7,100 structures since it broke out on Jan. 7, Cal Fire data shows.

JAN 178:46 PM PST

Angeles National Forest to remain closed through Jan 24.

The Angeles National Forest will remain closed through Jan 24. as the park remains under critical fire danger, the United States Forest Service said in a statement.

The service said the park will remain closed "for public safety and the protection of natural resources." People with valid California Campfire Permits will not be exempt from the closure, the statement said.

JAN 178:21 PM PST

Texas sends emergency management personnel to California

Texas emergency management officials said today that a team from their division was sent to California to help with wildfire recovery.

Texas Division of Emergency Management said in a statement the personell would help with care and sheltering, navigating federal assistance, and managing volunteers.

They will join dozens of other Texans deployed by Gov. Greg Abbott to help California fight and recover from those blazes in Los Angeles County. The department said more than 135 firefighters from Texas have been assigned to the fires since they started last week.

The deployments are part of a mutual-aid agreement among states known as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the Texas division said. They're made in coordination with federal officials and their response.

JAN 177:40 PM PST

Watch Duty founder explains the benefits of the wildfire app for LA residents 

Watch Duty founder explains the benefits of the wildfire app for LA residents 

The Watch Duty app, a non-profit organization, received over 2 million downloads as the historic wildfires burned in Los Angeles. As seen on the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2025.

Watch Duty, an app designed to alert citizens of nearby wildfires has reached over two million users as fires burned in Los Angeles over the past week.

John Mills, the founder and CEO of Watch Duty, was inspired to create the app after being affected by previous fires in California.

The app relies on a team made up of around 200 volunteers, many being active and retired firefighters, dispatchers and first responders.

“They have a lot of experience either on the fire ground or listening to fire service radios for a very long time, " Mills said. “After a year of thinking about this, it occurred to me that the only way to solve this problem was to ban them altogether and then build this application so they could talk to the world.”

Read Full Article

JAN 176:46 PM PST

Man shares heartbreaking video of moment he realized childhood home burned in Palisades Fire

Man shares heartbreaking video of moment he realized childhood home burned in Palisades Fire

A Pacific Palisades resident documented his heartbreaking return to his childhood home that was destroyed by the raging Palisades Fire. Karma Dickerson reports for the NBCLA News at 5 p.m. on January 17, 2025. 

A Pacific Palisades man shared heartbreaking video of the moment he realized the Palisades Fire destroyed his childhood home.

Henri Yonet took the video the morning after the fire started in an unrelenting Santa Ana windstorm, which fanned flames into neighborhoods near the Los Angeles County coast. Yonet recorded his harrowing drive into the neighborhood where he grew up in the community of about 23,000 people.

Yonet can be heard narrating the nightmarish scene.

"At that point it was total adrenaline," Yonet told NBCLA.

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JAN 175:47 PM PST

Museums in Pasadena and Griffith Park reopen; The Autry is free this weekend

Danielle Klebanow Photographyautry-exterior-danielle_klebanow_photography

Many museums across Southern California temporarily closed after the fires that began Jan. 7.

Some, including the Gamble House and Pasadena Museum of History, are located under five miles from the Eaton Fire; the Autry Museum of the American West was also within five miles of the Sunset Fire in Hollywood.

Now cultural favorites are beginning to reopen, with a special eye on giving families a place to retreat to, at least for a few hours.

Read Full Article

JAN 174:50 PM PST

Palisades father travels 20 miles on e-bike to learn fate of family home

Palisades father travels 20 miles on e-bike to learn fate of family home

Is my house still standing? A lifelong Pacific Palisades resident had to know the answer. NBC4 photojournalist Jeremy Lee was with him.

Do I still have a home? And, if so, is it even habitable? 

Those questions still linger for many residents in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena communities. Meanwhile, public officials have been unable to give a definitive date for re-entry into burn zones with a search and recovery operation still underway.

One father, who rents a townhome for his family of four in the Palisades Highlands, decided in the early days of the fire to see for himself. 

After the Jan. 7 inferno, lifetime Palisades resident Will Adams urgently pedaled for over 20 miles on an e-bike to find out what was still standing. On Day 3, the Cal Fire map had slightly changed. Adams told NBC Los Angeles that he and his neighbors were concerned that the row of townhomes may have been gone.

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JAN 174:37 PM PST

Three confirmed cases of norovirus at fire evacuation shelter

Getty Images

Norovirus, computer illustration. Norovirus is a genus of RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses (of the family Caliciviridae), which cause about half of all gastroenteritis cases around the world. The disease is characterised by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. The diarrhoea results in fluid loss and dehydration, which may become life-threatening in the young, the elderly, and the immunocompromised if not treated promptly.

Three people at the American Red Cross’ Pasadena Evacuation Shelter have tested positive for norovirus, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department. 

There are an additional 25 people at the shelter who have acute gastrointestinal illness. 

“The spread of illness in congregate living situations, including shelters, is unfortunately common given the close quarters and communal spaces,'' the Pasadena Public Health Department wrote in a statement.

According to the Center for Disease Control, norovirus causes diarrhea and vomiting. It is contagious and symptoms also include stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches. 

Read Full Article

JAN 174:35 PM PST

More than 67,000 register for FEMA assistance

More than 67,000 people had registered for FEMA assistance as of Friday morning, the agency told NBC News. More than $23 million has been approved for individual and households, according to FEMA.

JAN 174:19 PM PST

Critics Choice Awards rescheduled to Feb. 7

The Critics Choice Association announced Friday that the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards will move to Feb. 7. The awards show hosted by Chelsea Handler will broadcast LIVE on E! from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. It was previously postponed from Sunday, January 12 to Sunday, January 26.

JAN 172:15 PM PST

Mayor appoints LA wildfires chief recovery officer

soboroff_steve_dodgers

Former LA Police Commission President and longtime civic leader Steve Soboroff has been appointed to lead the city's wildfires rebuilding effort, Mayor Karen Bass said in a Friday announcement.

"I know that he will help lead us on a path forward," Bass said.

Soboroff will be faced with leading the city's rebuilding efforts following two of the most destructive wildfires on record in California. He will be charged, among other things, with developing a plan that will include executive directives that are expected to be issued next week to expedite the rebuilding process, Bass said.

Soboroff, a real estate developer who raised his family in the Pacific Palisades, also organized the California Science Center's transportation and installation of the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. He was an advisor to Mayor Richard Riordan during the Northridge earthquake and served on the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners and Harbor Commission.

JAN 171:17 PM PST

Residents impacted by Eaton, Palisades fires can check status of property on damage inspection maps

Foto de Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News vía Getty Images

Altadena , CA – January 13: City of Santa Barbara Fire Captain Aaron Vaughn searches a burned home for victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Monday, January 13, 2025. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Los Angeles-area residents who have been impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires are able to check the status of their property on a damage inspection map that is being continually updated by Cal Fire.

The damage inspection maps provide updated images of properties along with other additional information gathered as thousands of residents still await a return home.

Here are the interactive damage inspection maps for the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire. Buildings without an icon next to them have not been inspected yet, officials said.

JAN 171:09 PM PST

What is defensible space? The step-by-step guide to protecting your home in a wildfire

Bloomberg via Getty Images

A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire next to an intact home in Pasadena, California, US, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The Eaton Fire has become the fifth-deadliest in state history, killing at least 16 people and consuming more than 7,000 structures, according to Cal Fire. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The term "defensible space" has been noted by firefighters as a crucial part of protecting homes and businesses from the January Los Angeles County wildfires.

But what does it mean?

According to Cal Fire, "Defensible space is the buffer between your structure and the surrounding area."

The space acts as a barrier to stutter the progress of a fire near a property and help ensure the safety of firefighters defending your home.

Read Full Article

JAN 1712:46 PM PST

Los Angeles County fire officials release updated repopulation notice for Palisades Fire

Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – JANUARY 8, 2025 – – The fire ravaged Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

As firefighters continue to battle the deadly Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County fire officials released an updated repopulation notice for residents affected by the blaze as evacuation orders and warnings are reduced.

Officials said two zones within Los Angeles County were reduced from evacuation orders to warnings, while 11 zones in Los Angeles County were reduced from evacuation orders to resident-only access.

Four Los Angeles city zones were also moved from evacuation orders to resident-only access, officials said.

JAN 1712:28 PM PST

Hundreds of fire victims line up for sports team donation drive

Hundreds of fire victims line up for sports team donation drive

12 Los Angeles professional sports teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC and Angel City FC teamed up with Fanatics to give out free merchandise to wildfire victims. Brittany Hope reports for the NBC4 News at 11 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2025.

Hundreds of Angelenos lined up Friday morning to receive gear from their favorite local sports team in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium.

Participating teams included the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC and Angel City FC

JAN 1712:16 PM PST

Los Angeles fires have scorched largest urban area in California in at least 40 years

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty ImagesThe burnt remains of a hardware store in Altadena, California, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in the aftermath of a destructive and deadly wildfire that burned through the historic community.

The burnt remains of a hardware store in Altadena, California, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in the aftermath of a destructive and deadly wildfire that burned through the historic community.

Two wildfires still burning in Los Angeles have torched more urban area than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s, an Associated Press analysis shows.

The Eaton and Palisades fires that erupted last week have collectively burned almost 4 square miles of highly dense parts of Los Angeles, more than double the urban acreage consumed by the region's Woolsey Fire in 2018, according to the AP's analysis of data from the Silvis Lab at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Experts say several factors could lead to wildfires reaching cities more often. Urban areas continue to sprawl into wildland. Climate change is raising global temperatures that lead to more severe weather, including droughts, especially in the western United States.

“If these conditions get worse or more frequent in the future, it wouldn’t be surprising, in my opinion, if there were more events that threaten densely populated places,” said Franz Schug, a researcher studying the boundaries between the wildland and urban areas at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Read Full Article

JAN 1712:15 PM PST

From the archives: November 1961 Bel Air Fire Disaster

Bel_Air_Brush_Fire_Video_One_Troops_and_Rubble_1200x675_1634043971622.jpg

In November 1961, a disastrous brush fire destroyed nearly 500 homes when it roared over a mountain ridge and swept through canyons in Los Angeles' Bel Air community, a grim illustration of the potential for wildfire devastation in Southern California decades before the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires.

See below to read more.

JAN 1711:56 AM PST

By the numbers: Eaton Fire reaches 65% containment

Through 11 days, the January Los Angeles fires have become the second- (Eaton Fire) and fourth-most (Palisades Fire) destructive on record in California.

As of Friday morning, the blazes have resulted in combined 27 confirmed deaths, according to the LA County Medical Examiner.

  • The Eaton Fire has scorched 14,117 acres at 65% containment, damaged 805 structures, destroyed 7,193, and threatens an additional 14,518.
  • The Palisades Fire, currently at 31% containment, has charred 23,713 acres, damaged 603 structures, destroyed 3,501, and threatens 12,250 more.
JAN 1711:53 AM PST

LAUSD superintendent discusses next steps for district and wildfire response

LAUSD's superintendent talks about the district's wildfires response and what happens next.

LAUSD Superintendent talks about plans and challenges due to LA County wildfires
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho talks about the district's wildfires response and what happens next. Video broadcast Friday Jan. 17, 2025 on the NBC4 News at 11 a.m.
JAN 1711:49 AM PST

Rams thank Cardinals, local community for hosting playoff game in Arizona Republic ad

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 13: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) during the NFL Wild Card Playoff football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on January 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams may be preparing for their NFC Divisional Round battle against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they're is also thanking another NFL team for its hospitality during last week's Wild Card Round.

The team took out a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic, thanking the Arizona Cardinals and the local community for accommodating the team as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings.

Los Angeles played what was meant to be a home game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, though preparations were made to bring as much of an LA flair as possible to the desert.

"In times of adversity, true integrity is shown. Arizona, you were there for us when we needed it most. We are grateful to the Bidwill Family, the entire Arizona Cardinals staff, and the local community who took us in without hesitation and with gracious hospitality," the ad said.

Read Full Article

JAN 1711:11 AM PST

Over 14,400 residents in fire-damaged neighborhoods remain without power

David Swanson | Reuters

Smoke billows as fire burns while powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025. 

Approximately 14,450 residents in Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Bel-Air and Encino remain without power as officials work to restore services in neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades Fire.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said Friday morning that service had been restored to around 4,400 residents in the same areas.

The repairs were made after fire holds placed by Unified Command were lifted, which are necessary to ensure that lines are safe before being re-energized.

Residents wanting to know if their home is affected by a fire hold can call LADWP at 1 (800) 342-5397 to receive up-to-date information.

JAN 1711:07 AM PST

Mayor Bass to hold 2 p.m. conference on upcoming ‘massive rebuild effort'

Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass will hold a 2 p.m. press conference in West LA to discuss the upcoming "massive rebuild effort" in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas.

The Palisades Fire has torched 23,713 acres at 31% containment. The Eaton Fire near Altadena has burned 14,117 at 65% containment. Some areas have been repopulated, but many neighborhood remain under evacuation orders.

You can watch the conference live above.

JAN 1710:53 AM PST

Here's where LA wildfires evacuation orders remain in effect as weekend begins

Here's where LA wildfires evacuation orders remain in effect as weekend begins

As some evacuees from the Palisades Fire are returning home, it is important to stay safe. Brittany Hope reports for the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2025. 

Los Angeles-area firefighters made significant progress over the week in battling the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, but evacuation orders for areas impacted by the blazes remain in effect as the weekend begins.

While some evacuation orders for areas impacted by the Palisades Fire were lifted Thursday, others may need to wait over a week before they’re able to return to their homes.

"Our search and rescue efforts continue," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday morning. "There are areas we are holding because we believe there may be deceased victims there. Please be patient with us.”

As of Friday morning, the Palisades Fire is 31% contained at 23,700 acres, more than a week after breaking out in the city’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The Eaton Fire, which has devastated parts of Altadena and Pasadena, is 65% contained at 14,100 acres.

Read Full Article

JAN 1710:29 AM PST

How a wildfire protection success story unfolded on Mount Wilson

How a wildfire protection success story unfolded on Mount Wilson

The Mount Wilson towers were left untouched after the Eaton Fire came within feet of the vital communication towers. Conan Nolan reports for the NBCLA News at 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. 

When the Eaton Fire flared up Jan. 9, flames producing heavy dark smoke climbed to the summit of Mount Wilson, a peak high above the San Gabriel Valley that is home to vital communication towers for the Los Angeles vicinity and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory.

What happened next is a fire protection success story.

Winds were light in the area, but the steep slopes were covered in heavy brush, providing fuel for a fire that started two days earlier in a Santa Ana windstorm described by firefighters as among the worst they've seen. Roads to the summit are twisting and narrow, making the area difficult to access for fire trucks and crews.

Flames could be seen near the towers and other structures at the summit with thick smoke drifting over the ridge.

Read Full Article

JAN 178:28 AM PST

Cal Fire warns of fake social media accounts requesting donations

California's state firefighting agency is warning of fake social media accounts requesting donations for LA County wildfire recovery. The accounts are impersonating Cal Fire's accounts.

"All of Cal Fire's social media accounts are verified accounts and have the blue or gray checkmark and are categorized as a Government Organization," the agency said in a statement. "If you do not see the checkmark, it is not an official Cal Fire account.

"While CAL FIRE does not request donations, there are legitimate organizations that support victims affected by disasters, the fire service, and first responders. Anyone wishing to contribute to such organizations are encouraged to thoroughly research them to ensure their validity before making a donation."

JAN 177:47 AM PST

Many Los Angeles schools seeking places to hold classes after fires scorched campuses

Many Los Angeles schools seeking places to hold classes after fires scorched campuses

After the Eaton Fire caused Pasadena Unified School District to close their campuses, the district will meet Thursday to finalize plans to reopen. As seen on the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025.

Days after losing her home in the same fire that destroyed her Los Angeles elementary school, third-grader Gabriela Chevez-Muñoz resumed classes this week at another campus temporarily hosting children from her school. She arrived wearing a t-shirt that read “Pali” — the nickname for her Pacific Palisades neighborhood — as signs and balloons of dolphins, her school’s mascot, welcomed hundreds of displaced students.

“It feels kind of like the first day of school,” Gabriela said. She said she had been scared by the fires but that she was excited to reunite with her best friend and give her hamburger-themed friendship bracelets.

Gabriela is among thousands of students whose schooling was turned upside down by wildfires that ravaged the city, destroying several schools and leaving many others in off-limits evacuation zones.

Educators across the city are scrambling to find new locations for their students, develop ways to keep up learning, and return a sense of normalcy as the city grieves at least 27 deaths and thousands of destroyed homes from blazes that scorched 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) of land.

Read Full Article

JAN 177:42 AM PST

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JAN 177:38 AM PST

Safety tips for residents returning to fire-affected areas

Residents who are starting to return home after the wildfires in Los Angeles County, it is important to take safety precautions.

According to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, residents who are going home to fire-affected areas should inspect their surroundings when they arrive.

They should wear protective clothing like sturdy shoes, gloves and a mask.

Check utilities before using them. Do not attempt to restore power, gas or water unless a professional has inspecred the systems.

It is also important to take photos, videos and notes of any damage in the home before starting a cleanup process.

JAN 177:26 AM PST

Where the fires stand as of Friday morning

The Palisades Fire remains at 23,713 acres and is up to 31% contained, up from 27% yesterday, according to this morning’s Cal Fire numbers. 

The Eaton Fire remains at 14,117 acres with 65% containment. 

The Auto Fire in Ventura County is 61 acres with 85% containment.

JAN 176:50 AM PST

Dining platform Resy donates $200,000 to World Central Kitchen

Restaurant reservation service Resy, and its sister company Tok, have committed a combined $200,000 to World Central Kitchen.

"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires in Los Angeles. Especially all of our friends and partners in the restaurant industry as they navigate closures, displacements, grief and uncertainty," Pablo Rivero, Resy CEO and Head of American Express Global Dining, said in a letter Thursday. "January is already an extremely difficult month for restaurants. One in which many of them struggle simply to make ends meet."

Rivero also shared that The American Express Foundation is donating $500,000 to a myriad of organizations including World Central Kitchen and American Red Cross.

Additionally, Resy is temporarily waiving monthly fees for restaurants in affected areas that utilize the platform, and invites its customers to purchase restaurant gift cards, order takeout, or dine out if it is safe to do so.

"Restaurants are not just places to grab a meal; they are cornerstones of our neighborhoods that employ countless members of our community,” Rivero said. "Together let’s be there for our restaurants and show them the same love they show us every single day."

JAN 175:45 AM PST

LAFD captain recalls seeing his burning home in Altadena

LAFD captain Al Hugo shared haunting videos of his Altadena home engulfed in flames during the Los Angeles wildfires. 

“I couldn’t get anywhere near, we’re talking 300, 400 feet from here,” he recalled to NBC News last week from the rubble of his home.

“It was kind of surreal. I mean it’s something I’m used to but at the same time it’s a little more personal now because you know your life is in there. The thing I'm grateful for is my wife and my pets we made it out, and that you can’t replace. Everything else here I can replace.”

He was looking through the debris for mementos and his wife’s wedding band. 

JAN 175:23 AM PST

Firefighter who lost home in Eaton Fire returned to help neighbors

Jerry Puga comes from a family of firefighters — he, his son and his daughter’s boyfriend all serve with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

He was one of many to lose his home in the Eaton fire in last week's firestorm.

“I was just overwhelmed,” he told NBC’s Morgan Chesky.

Despite the devastating loss, he returned the next day to help neighbors protect their residences against the flames. Now he's left to figure out how to rebuild his life.

JAN 174:45 AM PST

Landslide dangers grow in California's fire damaged areas

Firefighters continue to make progress as winds die down in California, but the threat of landslides are now a growing risk in areas where vegetation was destroyed.

JAN 174:18 AM PST

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani donating $500,000 to LA wildfires relief

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani donating $500,000 to LA wildfires relief

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and accomplished another significant MLB feat after a season for the ages. Mario Solis reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is donating $500,000 to help firefighters and animals forced to flee the deadly wildfires around the region.

Ohtani announced his intention on Instagram, with LA Strong in white lettering against a black background.

“We'll be donating $500,000 to help those firefighters and those forced to live in shelter to help animals in need,” he wrote.

The Dodgers and other Los Angeles sports teams are partnering in selling an “LA Strong” collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts, with all proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and American Red Cross.

Read Full Article

JAN 173:25 AM PST

More than 100,000 energy customers reconnected but repairs remain challenging

More than a hundred thousand energy customers have power again, more than a week after wildfires broke out across the Greater Los Angeles area. But connecting the more than 20,000 people still in the dark remains a challenge, the main supplier for the city said Thursday.

Southern California Edison said in a statement that some homes were without power due to a public safety power shut-off, during which power supply is limited in some areas to help stop the spread of wildfires.

The company said it would be able to inspect power lines once strong had fully subsided, after which it will take up to eight hours to restore a power line, provided there is no damage.

"So far today, we have already restored power to approximately 100,000 customers. While we have made good progress, we have more to do. In some burn scar areas, we haven’t yet been granted access or it isn’t yet safe to restore power," the company said.

JAN 173:15 AM PST

LASD release identities of 17 at-risk, missing people in LA County wildfires

The remains of the Wellema Hat Co. in Altadena, California, after the Eaton fire outside Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has released the identities of at least 17 people who are still at-risk, missing since the start of the wildfires in Southern California.

A total of 31 missing person cases are still actively being investigated.

LASD is asking for the public's help in finding these missing people:

Read Full Article

JAN 172:20 AM PST

Fullerton Police, fire authorities hosting wildfire relief drive

The Fullerton Police Department and fire authorities are collaborating with North Valley Caring Services to host a fire relief drive for those affected by devastating wildfires.

The drive-thru event will take place Friday beginning at 8 a.m. at the Hunt Branch Library in Fullerton.

New and unused donation items being accepted include:

  • Diapers
  • Blankets
  • Leggings
  • Baby Wipes
  • Sweatshirts
  • Body Wash
  • Adult Diapers
  • Disposable Razors
  • Shampoo/Conditioner
  • Men’s underwear (including larger sizes)
  • Women’s underwear (including larger sizes)
JAN 171:25 AM PST

What the wildfires mean for LA's readiness to host 3 major sporting events

What the wildfires mean for LA's readiness to host 3 major sporting events

With parts of LA still under mandatory evacuation orders due to fires, many wonder how the future sporting events will be affected. Bigad Shaban reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. 

The stage is set for Los Angeles to host three major sporting events in the next four years, but following historic wildfires, new concerns have sprung up on whether the city will be ready.

Inglewood Mayor James Butts says he is looking out over his city as he sees first-rate venues ready to host the World Cup, Super Bowl and Olympics.

This is happening amid the raging wildfires that have devastated other parts of Los Angeles to the north.

“The County of Los Angeles has 88 cities. This fire is involved in three,” Butts said. “This is a terrible event, and we have firefighter and police personnel working 24 hours a day to combat it. But the reality is, this is not consuming the entirety of LA County or the entirety of LA city.”

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JAN 1712:25 AM PST

Light wind, cooler weather ahead for Southern California

Southern California is expecting some promising weather changes for the weekend as fire crews continue to work to grow containment lines on LA's wildfires.

Los Angeles will see light wind, and cooler temperatures, along with increasing clouds and humidity.

"It’s been 10 days since the start of the Southern California wildfires. Containment numbers are up, and we have promising weather for the weekend," wrote NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola.

JAN 1611:29 PM PST

Beverly Hills passes urgency ordinance suspending restrictions on short-term rentals for emergency housing

Beverly Hills City Council approved a temporary urgency ordinance that suspends short-term rental restrictions in the city for 90 days, according to a press release.

“The decision comes as a result of thousands of displaced individuals and families that are in need of housing following the devastating wildfires occurring across Los Angeles County,” the city said. 

Under current regulations, single-family properties can be rented for less than six months up to twice a year. Multi-family residential units are also prohibited from being used as short-term rentals for a period of less than 30 days. 

The new ordinance, which goes into effect immediately, allows short-term rentals for any length of time for both single-family homes and multi-family homes as long as the units are clearly being rented to displaced individuals, the release said.

Additionally, property owners will need to submit documentation verifying the tenant lived in an active evacuation order or warning area, had lost their home, or had been displaced from their home due to the emergency, according to the release.

JAN 1610:40 PM PST

Pasadena home burned in Eaton Fire days after being fully paid off

Pasadena home burned in Eaton Fire days after being fully paid off

Homeowner, Totress Beasley, had just made her final payment on her Pasadena home days before it was destroyed in the Eaton fire. Candace Sweat reports for the NBCLA News at 7 p.m. on Jan.16, 2025. 

Homeowner Totress Beasley had just made her final payment on her Pasadena home days before it was destroyed in the Eaton Fire

The home, described as a gathering place for worship and annual block parties, sat on Glen Avenue near the Pasadena-Altadena line. 

“The day before the fire took our home, the home was paid off the day before and it cleared Bank of America’s mortgage,” said Aaron Miller, Beasley’s son. “So we paid off the home in 12 1/2 years.”

Beasley learned about the destruction through the news and realized her home might not be left standing.

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JAN 169:52 PM PST

California is years behind in implementing a law to make homes more fire resistant

California is years behind in implementing a law to make homes more fire resistant

Homeowner, Totress Beasley, had just made her final payment on her Pasadena home days before it was destroyed in the Eaton fire. Candace Sweat reports for the NBCLA News at 7 p.m. on Jan.16, 2025. 

Reeling from destructive wildfires, including the deadliest in California history, state lawmakers in 2020 passed new requirements for clearing combustible materials like dead plants and wooden furniture within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of homes in risky areas.

The rules were set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. But as Los Angeles grapples with blazes that have destroyed thousands of homes in what could be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the regulations still haven't been written. The state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has no firm timeline for completing them.

“It’s frustrating at every level of government,” said Democratic state Sen. Henry Stern, who was part of a group of lawmakers who authored the legislation. “I feel like a failure on it, being quite frank.”

Most of the neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades Fire are in areas that must follow state requirements to keep the immediate surroundings of their homes free of combustible materials and would be subject to the new rules because they are deemed at highest fire risk by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire, driven by hurricane-force winds that spread embers by air, destroyed at least 5,000 structures across areas including Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga Canyon.

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JAN 169:09 PM PST

LA sports teams to host supply distributions for those impacted by wildfires

Southern California's major sports teams are coming together to support those impacted by the recent wildfires.

On Friday, LA's 12 professional sports teams, including the Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, Kings and more, are hosting wildfire relief events at three stadiums in the city. The "LA Strong Essentials Distribution" events will be taking place at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium and BMO Stadium.

According to the Dodgers' social media post, evacuees are invited to receive "team and Fanatics merchandise, along with toiletries, schools supplies" and other items.

Organizers are also reminding the public that they must show proof of residency in the evacuated zip codes to be able to attend the events.

For more information, click here.

JAN 168:24 PM PST

Locksmith's generosity plays a key role for car owners returning to Eaton Fire neighborhoods

Locksmith's generosity plays a key role for car owners returning to Eaton Fire neighborhoods

The owner of Altadena Lock and Key Shop in Pasadena is making keys free of charge for people impacted by the Eaton Fire who had to abandon their cars. Alex Rozier reports for the NBCLA News at 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. 

A long-time San Gabriel Valley locksmith is providing his services for free to evacuated residents forced to abandon their cars as they escaped the Eaton Fire.

Manuel Almanza's Altadena Lock and Key opened in 1951 in the community that was devastated by the Eaton Fire after it started on the night of Jan. 7. Fanned by a Santa Ana windstorm, flames destroyed homes and businesses, some of which had been part of the community for decades.

"What it's been like this past week, having this community you love have this fire? It’s been quiet. Very quiet, very sad," Almanza said.

Some residents had just minutes to escape, so they had to leave cars behind. Almanza saw a way to help.

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JAN 165:57 PM PST

FBI warns of fraudulent charitable donations

Federal officials are warning the public about fraudulent charitable donations that claim to assist victims and their families.

The FBI issued a public service announcement to warn of scammers that "exploit mass casualty events and disasters, such as the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans and the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, to commit fraud."

"Scammers may pose as disaster relief agencies to collect personal information, conduct charitable fraud schemes, or commit fraud against disaster assistance programs," it said. "Scammers may also impersonate official entities, celebrities, influencers, or other individuals."

Last year, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 4,500 complaints reporting about $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities, crowdfunding accounts and disaster relief campaigns.

People are encouraged to do their own research before they donate and not to send payments or personal information to unknown people.

JAN 164:28 PM PST

Taylor Swift lists out organizations for fans to consider donating to

Popstar Taylor Swift shared a list of organizations that she said she has donated to help communities rebuild in the wake of the wildfires, encouraging her nearly 300 million Instagram followers to consider donating as well.

"The fires in California have devastated so many families and it's heartbreaking to see these stories unfold," Swift wrote in an Instagram story. "So much suffering, loss, and destruction."

She listed a number of organizations including the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, MusiCares, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation Eaton Fire Respond Fund.

Swift described her list as some of the groups that are helping as people "embark on some of the most challenging times of their lives."

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