Los Angeles wildfire death toll rises to 24 amid warnings of winds returning

13 January 2025, 09:24

California Wildfires
California Wildfires. Picture: PA

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office says eight of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 resulted from the Eaton fire.

The death toll from wildfires in Los Angeles has risen to 24 as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said eight of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 resulted from the Eaton fire.

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 to Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50mph (80kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70mph (113kph).

The most dangerous day will be on 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,” Mr Thompson said at a community meeting on Saturday night.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C Marrone said 70 additional water trucks have now been dispatched to fire ravaged or at risk areas to prepare for Tuesday’s gusts.

Fire retardant was parachuted into at-risk areas on Sunday, with the obsrutive material designed to form hillside barriers to stop flames from spreading.

“We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,”  Mr Marrone said.

Fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that levelled entire neighbourhoods around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.

 firefighter sets up a hose while fighting the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon
A firefighter sets up a hose while fighting the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon (Eric Thayer/AP)

Authorities have established a centre where people can report the missing.

Officials were building an online database to allow evacuated residents to see if their homes were damaged or destroyed.

In the meantime, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighbourhoods, saying: “There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public.

“There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures. The first responders are working as quickly as possible to ensure that it is safe for you to return into your communities.”

A person walks down a street in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire
A person walks down a street in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles (John Locher/AP)

Officials warned the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.

About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters, Mr Luna said.

By Sunday morning, Cal Fire reported the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had consumed more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometres), an area larger than San Francisco.

The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes accounted for 59 square miles (nearly 153 square kilometres).

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes 1,354 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico, he said.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Three Israeli Hostages Released As Part Of Ceasefire Deal

Abuse suffered by Hamas hostages during their 500 days in captivity revealed

Garda

Man arrested after several people reportedly stabbed in Dublin

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing

easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing after pilot collapses on board

Donald Trump has spoken to Vladimir Putin

Trump confirms he 'spoke to Putin about ending war in Ukraine' as Russian president 'wants to see people stop dying'

displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops withdraw from key militarised corridor that splits Gaza in two as part of ceasefire deal

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.

Mysterious death of British couple in French villa suspected murder-suicide as investigators consider new theories

David Schwimmer has called for Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X

Friends star David Schwimmer calls for Kanye West to be banned from X over 'hate-filled, ignorant' remarks

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

A Thai hostage who was freed from Hamas, Pongsak Thaenna, hugs a relative upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

'We never gave up hope': Freed Thai hostages in tears of joy as they reunite with families after more than a year

'Make Europe Great Again' Rally In Madrid

'Make Europe Great Again': Far-right European political leaders praise Trump at Madrid meeting

Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by a crowd as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Emotional scenes in West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians reunited with their families after release from Israeli prisons

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband

The Government has ordered Apple to allow it to access encrypted files uploaded to the cloud by any Apple user worldwide, it has been reported.

UK Government orders Apple to give it access to users’ encrypted data in 'unprecedented attack on privacy'

The wreckage of the small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska has been found

Missing Alaska Bering Air plane found with all 10 people on board confirmed dead