Elevated fire threat is accompanying the return of some Santa Ana winds in Southern California. Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola has the forecast for Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
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What to Know
- The Palisades Fire is now 52% contained at 23,700 acres. The Eaton Fire is 81% contained at 14,100 acres.
- More than two dozen deaths are believed to be linked to the fires.
- Out of state firefighters began to demobilize Saturday to head back home amid crews' better containment of the fires.
- Investigators are working to determine the cause of the Eaton Fire.
- The disasters displaced hundreds of Southern Californians. As a result, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced mortgage relief for property owners affected by the fires.
Continue following the latest coverage:
LA County braces for another round of Santa Ana winds
By Alondra Anaya, Telemundo 52
As the week begins, another round of Santa Ana winds is expected in Southern California with a red flag warning going into effect Monday through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service is again categorizing this event as an “especially dangerous” event due to the intensity of the winds in combination with the low humidity (5-10%).
This is the fifth Particular Dangerous Situation (PDS) in the last 3 months. This is the highest, most severe warning issued by the National Weather Service as the weather conditions can be very damaging to property and life.
Griffith Park closed until Wednesday due to red flag warning
By Missael Soto
Out of precaution for the red flag warning in Los Angeles County, Griffith Park will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20 and Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The Autry Museum, Lake Hollywood, and Bronson Canyon will also be closed through Wednesday.
More Palisades Fire evacuees allowed to return home
By Camilla Rambaldi
People who live in the Palisades Highlands were allowed back into their homes with law enforcement escorts. Camilla Rambaldi reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2025.
Residents who live in the Palisades Highlands were allowed to return to their homes Saturday after being evacuated over a week ago.
Authorities set up checkpoints along Pacific Coast Highway to verify the addresses of those attempting to return home.
Acres burned, containment percentages on Eaton and Palisades fires
By Bill Feather
Fire crews take proactive measures ahead of red flag warning
By Missael Soto
Fire expert shares tips as LA County prepares for dangerous wind event
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna explains the expected winds should be taken seriously as the current fire conditions make for an extremely dangerous situation. Amber Frias reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2025.
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna shares readiness tips for residents as a new round of gusty winds are expected to impact LA County.
DiGiovanna says the forecasted winds paired with the region's current fire conditions could be a recipe for disaster.
LADWP's Do Not Drink water alert remains in effect for Pacific Palisades area
By Missael Soto
LA County Public Health issues windblown dust and ash advisory
By Missael Soto
2 people used firetruck purchased at auction to impersonate firefighters in Pacific Palisades
By Karla Rendon
Two people suspected of impersonating firefighters were detained Saturday after trying to go through a checkpoint limited to emergency crews responding to the Palisades Fire.
Sheriff’s deputies stopped two individuals from trying to access a checkpoint in a vehicle that looked like a fire engine, Commander Minh G. Dinh of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced in a press conference Sunday.
During questioning, deputies learned one of the individuals purchased the vehicle at an auction. Officials also learned the pair had been in the area for a couple of days.
According to Dinh, the two had equipment similar to what firefighters use, including radios and turnout gear. As a result, they were booked at the Malibu Lost Hills station. Their cases will be presented to the district attorney’s office to consider charges.
When houses are fuel: Why firefighting was no match for a California disaster decades in the making
By Evan Bush and Lewis Kamb | NBC News
Workweek begins with return of Santa Ana winds
By Karla Rendon
Return of Santa Ana winds brings elevated fire threat with it
By Shanna Mendiola and Karla Rendon
Elevated fire threat is accompanying the return of some Santa Ana winds in Southern California. Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola has the forecast for Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
Elevated fire threat is accompanying the return of Santa Ana winds that are taking aim for Southern California at the beginning of the week.
While the Southland’s weather conditions have been relatively mellow throughout the weekend, a welcomed relief for firefighters responding to the Eaton and Palisades Fires, Monday and Tuesday will mark the winds’ return.
“We can’t let our guard down because things are going to change here this week that will dry out the skies also increase those temperatures outside, as well, and delete that fire threat as we see the return of the Santa Ana winds,” NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola said.
Along with increased winds will be depleted humidity, with some areas in the region reaching single digits.
L.A. County Fire Department offering PPE for residents returning to communities
By Dominga Gutierrez
South Coast AQMD offers tips and precautions when cleaning up ash
By Dominga Gutierrez
Some Altadena evacuation orders, warnings lifted
By Karla Rendon
Northbound Lake Avenue in Altadena reopens to traffic
By Karla Rendon
More people could return home to Altadena as evacuation orders lift in the region. Annette Arreola reports for Today in LA on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
As repopulation efforts continue in Altadena, a major street that was affected by the Eaton Fire has reopened.
Lake Avenue, which was scorched by the fire that consumed several homes, businesses and even a school on the busy street, has opened to traffic heading north.
Westbound Lake Avenue and New York Drive are only open to residents. Those who are heading to that area must provide proof of residency/identification for access.
For a detailed look of road closures in Los Angeles County, click here.
Community meeting for Eaton Fire to be held Sunday
By Dominga Gutierrez
Families of wildfire victims mired in grief, questioning what more could have been done
By Janie Har
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Araxy Manookian receives a hug in front of her home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. She has lived there since 1997. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The house was burning with her brother-in-law and nephew inside when Jackie McDaniels flagged down a firetruck and begged for help.
"Whoever is in there is no longer alive,” she recalled one of the firemen telling her before urging her to flee her Altadena neighborhood. “I pray to God that they were. But it was horrible to have to leave them there.”
Now McDaniels, like so many, is facing the gripping realities of grief and questions about what more could have been done. Experts say these survivors are victims themselves; the fires that swept through the Los Angeles area this month were fast-moving and fierce.
“It’s really just a different beast of a fire when it’s this propagating entity of just total mayhem,” said Benjamin Hatchett, a fire meteorologist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University.
California officials warn against price gouging as rents soar in fire-stricken Los Angeles
By Janie Har and The Associated Press
Pedestrians help a firefighter stretch a hose as an apartment building burns, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Southern California's expensive housing market is going to get a lot more competitive after deadly firestorms torched more than 12,000 homes and other structures in the Los Angeles area, leaving tens of thousands of people without a place to stay.
Already there are reports of rent-gouging, prompting elected leaders to issue stern warnings against the practice and pleading with the public to report unethical property owners who hike up rents above the allotted 10% cap.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement Saturday that it is illegal for landlords to accept rent that exceeds the cap, even if someone is offering to pay a higher amount.
“You cannot jack up prices and take advantage of disaster victims, plain and simple,” he said at a news conference.
Why are lone homes left standing after the fires? It's not entirely luck
By Ed Davey and Ingrid Lobet
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.
Emails and videos of burned buildings in Los Angeles next to those left standing have been flying back and forth among architects, builders and fire safety specialists around the world.
For many homeowners, like Enrique Balcazar, the sometimes scattershot nature of the carnage can seem like random chance. Balcazar, a real estate agent, posted video that showed little more than chimneys remaining of most homes on his block after fire leapt through his Altadena neighborhood. Balcazar stood on his neighbor's destroyed classic Mustang to douse his smoldering roof, but his home was otherwise fine.
“It's an older house and it still has the old wood sidings,” Balcazar said. “To me there's nothing explainable in logical or scientific reason of why my house would not have burned.”
Many experts say luck does play a part. After all, wind can shift 180 degrees in a split second, pushing fire away from your house and towards a neighbor's. But they also say there are many ways that homes can be made less vulnerable to fire.
Lawmakers tour destruction from Palisades Fire
Congressman Brad Sherman led a group of lawmakers through the wreckage left behind by the Palisades Fire Saturday.
With more than 4,300 homes and buildings destroyed, Sherman is calling on Congress to support all future bills for additional emergency aid
Latest acres burned, containment percentages on Eaton and Palisades fires
By Missael Soto
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 14: The death toll has risen to 25, according to the Los Angeles medical examiners in Los Angeles, California, United States on January 14, 2025. The latest victim, the 25th, died in the Eaton Fire, which has already claimed 17 lives. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fire crews continue to build containment lines and assess the damages caused by the historic wildfires burning in Los Angeles County.
Palisades Fire:
- 23,713 acres burned
- 49% containment
- 628 structures damaged (residential, commercial and other)
- 3,857 structures destroyed (residential, commercial and other)
Eaton Fire
Investigators looking into the cause of Eaton Fire
By Jonathan Gonzalez
Investigators were seen scouring the hillside above Altadena looking for more clues as to what caused the Eaton Fire.
Newschopper4 spotted groups of people in Eaton Canyon near the same voltage transmission towers where witnesses say they saw the first flames.
South Coast AQMD shares tips on how to keep a clean space during a wildfire
By Missael Soto
Damage assessment percentage grows for SoCal wildfires
By Missael Soto
A few homes remain intact in a neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
Authorities continue to assess the damages from the Eaton and Palisades fires as containment grows.
Damage assessments have been completed in about 55% of the Palisades Fire area and 90% of the Eaton Fire area, according to officials.
Palisades Fire damage assessment:
- 628 structures damaged (residential, commercial and other)
- 3,857 structures destroyed (residential, commercial and other)
