Fire crews in Los Angeles brace for more heavy winds; at least 24 killed, thousands of buildings lost
Our coverage of the Los Angeles fires continues here with the latest updates on Monday, Jan. 13. Earlier coverage below.
What to know about the Los Angeles fires and California windstorm
- Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, officials said, scorching more than 60 square miles and displacing tens of thousands of people.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles office posted "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) red flag winds warnings for 4 a.m. Tuesday (local time) through noon Wednesday, saying winds could be strong enough to cause "explosive fire growth."
More than 150,000 people in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders, with more than 700 people taking refuge in nine shelters, officials said. Curfews are in effect for the Palisades and Eaton fire zones from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Crews from California and 8 other states, Canada and Mexico are part of the ongoing response that includes more than 1,300 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, officials said.
Owners of popular Malibu eatery "Moonshadows" raising money for employees now out of work
The owners of the Malibu restaurant "Moonshadows," which was completely destroyed by the intense flames of the Palisades Fire last week, are now trying to raise money to support the employees who once made it so popular.
The beloved eatery, which has been a staple along the coast for more than 40 years, is one of many landmarks along the Pacific Coast Highway that were razed after the blaze erupted last Tuesday.
"The restaurant meant an incredible deal to this community," says JD Slajchert. "I feel like I've only begun to even realize that myself."
In the days since the news broke, he says, they've reached an outpouring of messages and support from the community.
The Palisades Fire isn't the Slajchert family's first run in with devastating wildfires: His childhood home was destroyed in the Woolsey Fire in 2018.
"We know first hand how devastating these wildfires can be," he said. "My first thought was about all the staff that are like brothers and sisters to me and my family."
He immediately took to social media, working to try to raise money for the people who helped make their business run so well, many of whom have been there since it opened back in the 1960s. Information on the fundraising efforts can be found on the restaurant's Instagram page.
- Josh Sanders, Dean Fioresi
Downed SoCal Edison equipment probed in Hurst Fire
Now that almost all of the nearly 800-acre the Hurst Fire in Sylmar has been contained, authorities say they're investigating whether downed Southern California Edison equipment sparked it.
The blaze was first reported at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, hours after both the Palisades and Eaton fires had erupted elsewhere in Los Angeles County.
On Friday, SCE officials said a preliminary investigation revealed that a circuit in the Eagle Rock/Sylmar area experience a glitch in power at 10:11 p.m, just before the fire was reported. They also said a downed conductor was found near an electrical tower. The company says it's unsure if the damage occurred before or after the fire broke out.
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in the wake of news that the fire had broken out. All related evacuation orders have since been lifted. There was no structural damage sustained in the fire, crews said.
Power companies douse poles with retardant to protect grid during fires
Several Los Angeles power companies have started to try to get ahead of the potentially volatile and erratic wildfires, working to mitigate risks by clearing dry vegetation and protecting valuable power lines.
They've been at work for days, stopping at as many power poles as possible along the edges of the Palisades Fire along the Los Angeles coast and the Eaton Fire in the mountains above Pasadena and Altadena.
"We are way ahead from the fire," said Connor Norton, one of the PG&E employees working in North Hollywood on Sunday.
First, they clear dry shrubbery from the area surrounding the poles, using hoes and power tools to clear as much vegetation as they can that may pose a risk to the power grid.
"Our job is to get out along the fire's edge where the fire may go," said Rob Cone, also of PG&E.
Afterwards, they use their trucks to douse each power pole with fire retardant, the same thing that's dropped by firefighting aircraft from above.
They try to spray the substance as far up the pole as they can and into the cracks of each pole, so embers can't latch inside and start a fire.
- Dillon Thomas, Dean Fiorisi
Zelenskyy offers help from Ukraine for L.A.-area firefighters
Crews battling the Los Angeles-area wildfires have received an offer of help from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy.
"I instructed Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California," he said a message posted on X. "The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives. This is currently being coordinated, and we have offered our assistance to the American side through the relevant channels. 150 of our firefighters are already prepared."
The California National Guard took to X on Sunday to laud Zelenskyy's offer.
"Ukraine's offer of support to California during these devastating wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary," the post said. "President Zelenskyy's leadership and the preparation of 150 Ukrainian firefighters are a testament to the power of global partnerships. @TheCalGuard is proud of our 30+ years of working with Ukraine through the State Partnership Program. Together, we stand stronger."
Most schools in L.A. Unified district reopening
The L.A. County Unified School District — the nation's second-largest after New York City's -- says it's reopening all but a handful of its schools Monday. The only exceptions will be the ones "in the highest impact areas that will remain closed due to mandatory evacuation orders."
The Santa Monica Malibu district says it's reopening all Santa Monica schools except one elementary school, but keeping Malibu schools shut through at least Wednesday "due to ongoing safety concerns of the Palisades Fire and the need for campus assessment, cleaning and road reopenings."
And the Beverly Hills district says it's "fully reopening" Monday. The district's superintendent, Dr. Michael Bregy, says in a letter on the district's website that the decision "was not made lightly."
"Particularly dangerous" winds warnings issued for Tuesday
The National Weather Service Los Angeles office has posted "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) red flag winds warnings for 4 a.m. (local time) Tuesday through noon Wednesday.
The office says winds during that span won't be as strong as last week's but will still be strong enough to cause "explosive fire growth."
Gusts could be in the 45-70 mph range, with some "locally damaging," the office says, adding that the relative humidity is forecast to be relatively low, in the 8-15% range. Higher humidity helps firefighters.
Palisades Fire 13% contained
The Palisades Fire was 13% contained Sunday night, up from 11% containment a few hours earlier, the city of Los Angeles said. The Eaton Fire remained at 27% containment, the city said.
Los Angeles fires reignite political battles
The fires burning in the Los Angeles area have also brought with them political battles. California officials have been pushing back on attacks and claims of incompetence from President-elect Donald Trump and some of his allies.
Death toll in Southern California wildfires rises to at least 24
The L.A. County coroner's office said Sunday night it is investigating at least 24 deaths related to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Eight suspected deaths were linked to the Palisades Fire while 16 were attributed to the Eaton Fire.
Only two of the victims were identified as of Sunday night. Charles Mortimer, 84, was killed in the Palisades Fire and Victor Shaw, 66, was killed in the Eaton Fire. Both died on Wednesday, according to the coroner's office.
Maps of inspected, damaged or destroyed homes available
Cal Fire has released maps showing homes that have been inspected, damaged or destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
"Field damage inspections are ongoing and will continue until every structure within the footprint of each fire is inspected. Initial aerial assessments estimate 5,316 structures for the Palisades Fire and over 7,000 structures destroyed from the Eaton Fire, CAL FIRE said Sunday night. "These initial numbers make the Eaton and Palisades fires likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California's history respectively."
The Palisades Fire inspection map can be found here.
The Eaton Fire inspection map can be found here.
Mobile home community devastated by fire
A community of mobile homes tucked in between luxury mansions has been devastated by the Palisades Fire in Southern California. Maurice DuBois gets a birds-eye view of the wreckage.
Evacuation orders to remain in place until at least Thursday
Officials said Sunday that evacuation orders would remain in place until Thursday at the earliest because of ongoing fire conditions.
Heavy winds are expected to pick up again Monday and last until Wednesday night. In addition, humidity will remain low and the vegetation in the area will stay dry without any rain.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Palisades Fire had burned over 23,000 acres and was 11% contained.
Newsom deploying 1,000 more National Guard troops
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday he is deploying another 1,000 members of the California National Guard to help fight the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.
Newsom said the additional deployment brings the number of National Guard service members helping with the fire response to about 2,500.
Biden to convene virtual briefing on Los Angeles wildfires response
President Biden will convene a virtual briefing with "key officials" on Sunday to discuss the ongoing response to the Los Angeles wildfires, the White House said.
They will discuss the "efforts to suppress the wildfires across Los Angeles and how the Federal resources he has directed are supporting the State and local response," the White House said.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is from California and whose Los Angeles home was included in one of the evacuation zones, is expected to join the briefing.
Also expected to attend the briefing are Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, FEMA Region 9 administrator Bob Fenton, U.S. Forest chief Randy Moore, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and deputy Homeland Security adviser of resilience & response Caitlin Durkovich.
Last week, Mr. Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.
Newsom signs new executive order to help Los Angeles rebuild faster
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new executive order aimed at helping Los Angeles rebuild from the ongoing devastating wildfires that have killed at least 16 people.
Newsom's new order will suspend permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act that will allow victims to rebuild their homes and businesses faster.
"When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks. The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger," Newsom said.
How to help wildfire victims
The wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of acres of land in less than a week, forcing more than 100,000 residents of Los Angeles County to evacuate and leaving some of their neighborhoods in complete ruin.
While President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for California on Wednesday in response to the blazes, humanitarian groups and nonprofit organizations also began working to provide food, water, shelter and supplies to people affected by the fires. Anyone in need of assistance can apply through the Federal Emergency Management Agency at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Several initiatives to support victims of the wildfires are currently accepting donations and volunteers. They include the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Fire Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Nearly 30 arrested in Palisades, Eaton fire zones amid concerns over looting, sheriff says
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has arrested nearly 30 people in areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, as concerns of looting remain.
At a news conference on Sunday, Sheriff Robert Luna said 25 people have been arrested in the Eaton Fire area and four people in the Palisades Fire area. In response to the increase in arrests, Luna has requested additional assistance from the National Guard.
"I saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter, and I asked if he was okay because he was sitting down, and I didn't realize we had him in handcuffs," Luna said. "We were turning him over to the LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman and was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home."
Rep. Judy Chu says fire agencies have assured her there is "enough water" to fight wildfires going forward
Rep. Judy Chu, who represents areas devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires, explained on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that fire agencies have assured her there is "enough water" to continue fighting fires amid concerns over water pressure in the area.
"This is not an ordinary incident, and many fire hydrants were going on at the same time, and also the electricity used to pump the water had been turned off so that there would not spark any more fire," Chu said. "So that happened at that point, but I believe that we're in a good place right now."
Officials said the wildfires ripping through communities in Los Angeles in recent days have killed at least 16 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures, and displaced thousands. And the high winds are expected to pick up again this week. Meanwhile, questions are swirling around how Californians can rebuild when the wildfires cease.
Los Angeles wildfire evacuees face price gouging
Days after an inferno razed the Pacific Palisades, Maya Lieberman is desperate to find somewhere to live. But unscrupulous landlords who are jacking up prices are making it hard.
"The price gouging is going haywire, it's obscene," the 50-year-old stylist told AFP. "I can't find anywhere for us to go."
Huge fires that have torn through Los Angeles since Tuesday have leveled whole neighborhoods, turning swaths of the city to ash. More than 105,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes, while another 87,000 are under additional evacuation warnings, as authorities try to keep down a death toll that has already reached 16.
FBI investigating Los Angeles firefighting aircraft damaged by drone
An investigation is underway to find the operator of a private drone that collided with a firefighting aircraft battling the blazes in Los Angeles on Thursday, the FBI said.
The unauthorized drone damaged the aircraft, known as a "super scooper," as it was working to suppress the massive Palisades Fire that has so far engulfed more than 23,000 acres of land in western L.A. County.
Laura Eimiller, a spokesperson for the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said in a statement to CBS News on Sunday that the drone violated temporary flight restrictions enacted by the Federal Aviation Administration in the wake of the blazes.
FEMA administrator says L.A. officials were "very prepared" for wildfires
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said Sunday that L.A. officials were "very prepared" for devastating wildfires, noting that the area is prone to fires. But "they have never seen 100-mile-an-hour winds that are fueling the fire," she said.
"Those winds and that weather condition is what really impacts, you know, where this fire is going to go, but more importantly, how they're able to try to contain it in those first few hours and days," Criswell said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
The FEMA administrator said she doesn't have any information on the cause of the wildfires at this time, though she noted that will be investigated. She urged as the winds are expected to return, she wants people to "make sure that they are listening closely to what local officials are saying" to stay out of harm's way.
L.A. county sheriff says at least 16 people missing as wildfire danger remains high
Authorities have received at least 16 missing person reports in the wake of the wildfires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a briefing Sunday morning. Twelve of those reports came from areas around the Eaton Fire, and four came from the Palisades Fire.
"If there's any good news, there's no juveniles missing within those numbers," said Luna.
The sheriff's office may have recently received "dozens and dozens more" reports of missing people, he added, but the numbers will need to be checked before the office shares them at a later time.
Regardless, Luna said he expects the number of missing people "will absolutely go up."
He and other L.A. officials reiterated at the briefing the importance of heeding evacuation orders and warnings, as roughly 105,000 county residents remain under evacuation mandates and another 87,000 are under warnings. Some have tried to return to their neighborhoods since evacuating last week.
"Driving through some of these areas, they literally look like war zones," Luna said, referencing downed electric lines and smoldering flames continuing to burn in and around the Pacific Palisades and Altadena. "It's not safe."
The Eaton Fire is 27% contained, officials say
Crews battling the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles made progress on controlling the blaze, which is now 27% contained, as of Sunday morning, officials said. It has burned at least 14,117 acres.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the upper elevations of the fire area through next week as gusty and dry Santa Ana winds are expected.
More than 7,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged since the fire broke out last week. The L.A. County Medical Examiner's office said Saturday that 11 of the 16 wildfire-related deaths are attributed to the Eaton Fire.
Wildfires are still largely uncontained after nearly a week
Almost a week after the wildfires began to erupt across Los Angeles, some 40,000 acres continue to burn and the scope of the disaster is becoming shockingly clear. At least 16 people have died in the blazes and more than 12,000 structures, including homes, are destroyed, while tens of thousands remain under evacuation warnings.
Startling footage shows houses up in flames and a red haze setting in shortly after the fires broke out Tuesday.
"This entire mountain is covered in flames, the wind pushing them up to 50 feet into the sky," said "CBS Sunday Morning" correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti, who reported on the ground in Los Angeles last week.
Where the wildfires are burning right now
An updating map created by CBS News' data team is documenting the spread of the Los Angeles wildfires in real time, as two massive blazes continue to burn on opposite ends of the county.
The Palisades Fire is the larger of the two. It has engulfed at least 23,654 acres of land since first exploding out of a brush fire last Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Trailing that wildfire in size is the Eaton Fire, which now covers at least 14,117 acres in northern L.A. County.
Crews have contained 11% of the Palisades Fire and 15% of the Eaton Fire as of Sunday morning, Cal Fire said.
Palisades Fire spawns "firenado" in wild video footage
Video footage recorded Friday shows the moment a so-called "firenado" took shape while the Palisades Fire moved quickly toward the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Also referred to as a fire whirl or fire devil, the phenomenon can happen when a wildfire is so intense that it essentially creates its own weather system, said CBS News Los Angeles meteorologist Dani Ruberti.
"The heat is so incredibly intense that the air starts to rise and it starts to pull in the surrounding air … kind of creating that spinning vortex," Ruberti said. "The particles in there, they're moving faster than on the outside, and that's what causes the air to spin faster and give that look of a tornado."
Fire tornadoes only last for a few minutes but can grow to be hundreds of feet tall in that short time, the meteorologist added.
Trump calls Los Angeles officials "incompetent" in Truth Social post
President-elect Donald Trump again blamed Los Angeles officials for the destruction caused by the ongoing wildfires, calling them "incompetent" in a Truth Social post shared early Sunday.
"The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out," Trump wrote. "Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?"
His post came after California Gov. Gavin Newsom invited Trump to Los Angeles to see the damage in person. Newsom — who refutes the president-elect's allegations that he refused to sign a restoration order that would direct millions of gallons of water to the current fires — asked Trump to join him in meeting with firefighters and victims.
Los Angeles homeowner opens up about how CBS News journalists helped rescue pets in Palisades Fire
Andrea Pasinetti was in San Francisco for work and his wife, Sixuan, was overseas when the Palisades Fire broke out on Tuesday, devastating neighborhood after neighborhood — including their own. Their dogsitter was stuck in the roads leading to their block, leaving the Pasinettis' three dogs waiting at home as the flames began ravaging their street, Lachman Lane.
Bundled with anxiety and not knowing the fate of his beloved pets, Pasinetti said he jumped on a flight to Los Angeles, hoping to make it home in time to get Alma, Archie and Hugo out of danger.
"It's this feeling of helplessness and devastation and also just the unknown," he told CBS News. "Wanting to maintain hope, but also kind of bracing for the worst."
While on the phone with his wife, Pasinetti said he determined there were two options they could move forward with — either he finds a way to the house, or someone else needs to.
That's when Sixuan saw CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reporting from Palisades Charter High School, which was a short distance from their residence.
Firefighting support from 8 states, Canada and Mexico
Cal Fire says its firefighting efforts in Southern California are receiving additional support from crews from Texas, Canada and Mexico. Teams from eight states are now assisting, the agency said.
"These reinforcements are crucial not only for containment efforts but also to provide much-needed relief to the brave firefighters on the frontlines," Cal Fire tweeted.
Makeshift donation center springs up in parking lot of L.A. County racetrack
With every hot meal, hope and humanity were the focus at a makeshift donation operation in the parking lot of Santa Anita Park, a racetrack in the city of Arcadia in Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley, where community members are feeding and clothing their neighbors who have lost everything in the wildfires.
Joceline Taveres came here to look for basic needs after she lost her home in the fires and was unable to save anything.
"Nothing, just the paperwork, one pair of tennis shoes, a couple of clothes," said Taveres, a single mother.
"This all started with me and my friends," said Juan Diaz, who helped start the donation site. "We have a team, we had two hot dog carts and 500 hot dogs."
The love shown from just those hot dogs grew to a large donation operation after Diaz put out a call to action on social media. He believes hundreds of volunteers have come out to help at least 1,000 people find clothes, shoes, bedding and household necessities.
"I just want people to know that you don't have to be rich to come out here and help," volunteer Amber King said. "I feel like I'm God's soldier. This is what I should be doing."
"Materials come in and out but lives don't," said Elizabeth Nuno, who lost her home in the fires. "We'll come up again. It's going to take a while. It's going to take a process. But we're together as community, family. We're all here and they're all here for us."
The site is one of many across L.A. which is taking donations. For information on how to help, click here.
Death toll from L.A. area wildfires rises to 16
The L.A. County coroner's office announced Saturday night that it is investigating at least 16 deaths related to the Southern California wildfires.
Eleven of the deaths were attributed to the Eaton Fire and five to the Palisades Fire, the coroner's office said in a statement on its website.
The name of only one of the victims was released, 66-year-old Victor Shaw, whose cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Another of the victims was a man in his 80s who died at an area hospital.
The identities of several of the victims remains unknown, officials said.
Video shows hundreds of goats escaping amid Palisades Fire evacuations
Video footage showed goats Friday night being shepherded down a hillside in the affluent Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood with flames from the approaching Palisades Fire in the background.
The video shows bleating goats being loaded — at first quite docile – into a blue truck when a sudden noise or lights startles them.
A dozen or so goats start running into the street toward cars and trucks, quickly multiplying. Drivers got out of their vehicles to try to help grab the goats as handlers started running after them, working to bring them into blue trucks.
Goat herds, with their ability to clear underbrush and create fire breaks at low cost and without detriment to the environment, have long been seen as a key tool for wildfire mitigation.
California has implemented targeted grazing statewide as part of its strategy to reduce wildfire risks – even though recent skirmishes around labor laws and overtime payments could hold up some programs.
Dozens of drone incidents disrupt firefighting efforts, officials say
Firefighters battling the flames from above air tankers are dumping thousands of gallons of flame retardant, as super scoopers and helicopters drop massive amounts of water to slow the fast-moving Palisades Fire.
But complicating the attack are drones.
"Over the last few years have we seen an increase in personal drone activity," CAL Fire spokesperson Chris Harvey said. "The message we try and get out to the public is, if you fly, we can't."
California state officials say there've been at least 40 incidents involving drones, forcing firefighters to temporarily ground air operations. One drone even hit a super scooper, putting a hole in the wing and taking it out of commission.
"It's very significant," Harvey said of the incident. 'There's no excuse for flying a drone, it's just willful misbehavior at this point, which is hard for me to fathom in an incident like this."
While the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a warning for drones to stay out of the skies , firefighters still battle to control the flames and the airspace.
"There's no proven method to stop these drones that we can deploy on an incident like this in a real blanket fashion to keep all the drones down, that technology just doesn't exist yet at that level," Harvey said.
L.A. Mayor Bass, LAFD chief put on united front after speculation of chief's firing
A day after reports surfaced saying the Los Angeles fire chief had been fired, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley put on a united front during a news conference.
When asked by CBS News correspondent Tom Hanson how Angelenos can be sure that Bass and Crowley are on the same page, Bass responded: "Well, I think first of all you have heard it directly from me. I'll give her an opportunity to repeat it again, that we have one mission, and that is going to be our sole focus. Now, prior to this, the chief and I have always been in regular communication and we will continue to do that."
Crowley followed up by saying that Bass, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and herself "are all on the same page."
Both offices released statements Friday night confirming that Crowley is still leading the agency as chief as speculation mounted following a meeting the two held Friday hours after a television interview in which Crowley expressed frustration over budget cuts to her department.
Bass said Saturday: "The fire chief and I are focused on fighting these fires and saving lives. And any differences that we might have will be worked out in private."
Read the full story here.
Officials warn against returning to burned homes
Some residents have been venturing back to see what can be salvaged after wildfires destroyed their homes, sifting through rubble for keepsakes. But officials on Saturday urged them to stay away, warning that the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.
"If you're kicking that stuff up, you're breathing it in," said Chris Thomas, a spokesman for the unified incident command at the Palisades Fire. "All of that stuff is toxic."
Residents will be allowed to return — with protective gear — after damage teams have evaluated their properties, Thomas said.
Residents should expect further power shut-offs to prevent new fires with high winds forecast, L.A. County fire chief says
Residents in Los Angeles County affected by the wildfires should expect more public safety power shutoffs with high Santa Ana winds in the forecast, officials said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. Power shutoffs are crucial to preventing new fire starts, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said at the news conference.
Santa Ana winds, coupled with dry conditions, have created the perfect storm for the fires to spread since starting last week. Winds are expected to hit the L.A. region Sunday through Tuesday, the National Weather Service said in an alert.
As of Saturday afternoon, more than 27,000 SoCal Edison customers were affected by public safety power shutoffs, the utility provider said.
Newsom doubles California National Guard deployment to Los Angeles wildfires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday he has doubled the number of California National Guard personnel assigned to assist with wildfires raging through the Los Angeles region.
About 1,680 service members have now been deployed to the region, the governor's office said.
About 1,000 members are assisting local law enforcement with traffic stops and control. The remaining 680 service members are helping with wildfire suppression through the CalGuard's Task Force Rattlesnake, additional handcrews training at Camp Roberts, and aviation resources, officials said.
More than 16,000 people registered for federal assistance amid L.A. wildfires, White House says
More than 16,000 people have registered for FEMA assistance as of Saturday morning amid L.A. wildfires, the White House said. President Biden approved on Wednesday a Major Disaster Declaration to supplement recovery efforts.
Eligible survivors can apply for assistance with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. They can also apply for housing needs if they can't return home due to the wildfires such as rental assistance, basic home repairs for their primary home, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to the wildfires.
If those in affected communities have insurance, they must file a claim first with their company before applying for federal assistance, officials said.
California officials warn against price gouging, looting and scamming amid Los Angeles wildfires
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned residents on Saturday if people engage in price gauging, looting, and scamming amid the ongoing response to the wildfires ablaze in Los Angeles, they are breaking the law and they will be held accountable.
He said businesses and landlords should not be raising prices by more than 10% and anything excessive is illegal and punishable by up to a year in jail and fines. He said California has laws in place to protect people suffering from a tragedy.
Bonta said some business owners and landlords use algorithms based on demand and supply to set their prices, but ignorance is not an excuse for violating the law.
"If you know someone who's been a victim of price gauging please report it," Bonta said.
He also addressed looting and fake organizations masquerading as legitimate aid providers.
ATF to lead Southern California wildfire investigations, LAPD chief says
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will lead a newly created Los Angeles regional wildfire investigative task force that will investigate the cause of the massive wildfires ablaze, Los Angeles police Chief Jim McDonnell announced at a news conference on Saturday.
The federal agency will lead a collaborative effort from agencies including teams from the Los Angeles Fire Department, arson counter-terrorism section, Los Angeles police, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
"They have tremendous resources and expertise and can bring in resources from across the country to do their investigation," McDonnell said.
He added determining the causes of these fires was critical.
Sports events postponed in L.A.-area as wildfires move east
The NBA said two games scheduled for Saturday are being postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires now moving east, according to officials. The Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers game at the Crypto.com arena and the Charlotte Hornets and LA Clippers at Intuit Dome are to be played at a later date.
"The game postponements ensure no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts," the NBA said in a statement, adding dates for the rescheduled games will be announced at a later date.
Organizers for the Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K scheduled for January 19 announced they decided to postpone the races due to the fires, the impact on air quality and the strain on local resources. A new date has yet to be announced, organizers said.
"The well-being of our participants, volunteers, and community is at the heart of every decision we make," organizers said.
Santa Anita organizers announced Saturday to cancel horse racing this weekend, citing the growing impact of fires throughout Los Angeles County, the Associated Press reported.
California Gov. Newsom invites Trump to see wildfire damage
Gov. Gavin Newsom invited President-elect Donald Trump to California to survey the destruction of the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires, penning a letter Friday asking Trump to join him in meeting with victims and firefighters.
With two massive blazes still burning on opposite sides of the county, Newsom reached out to Trump while referencing the federal assistance already granted so far by the Biden administration. The letter comes after the president-elect blamed the governor and Los Angeles leaders for the natural disasters, claiming they made policymaking decisions that have worsened the crisis.
Pope Francis saddened by havoc caused by the Los Angeles wildfires
Pope Francis expressed his sadness on Saturday over the ongoing wildfires in and around Los Angeles.
"Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction caused by the fires near Los Angeles," Francis expressed his "spiritual closeness" with the victims, Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said in a telegram to the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez.
"Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of almighty God, his holiness sends heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss," Parolin said. "He likewise prays for the relief efforts of the emergency services personnel and imparts his blessing to all as a pledge of consolation and strength in the Lord."
Among the thousands of buildings destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires were a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches, the Associated Press reported. Many members of these congregations were among the thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes.
Throughout the stricken areas, faith leaders were concerned about congregation members who lost their homes and have found temporary shelter with friends or in hotels. But they are finding hope in their faith and their communities.
"Nothing in my faith has been rocked by this," Melissa Levy of the Pasadena Jewish Center, told the AP. "If anything, it's been bolstered by the support we have received and we can give."
Woman sees clothing donations bolstered by celebrity support
When real estate agent Jenna Cooper decided to turn a home goods store she owns into a clothing donation center, she never expected the outpouring of support she received.
Cooper started asking friends for help, and the request quickly reached some of Los Angeles' most well-known residents.
Celebrities including Sharon Stone and Halle Berry responded, providing sweaters, shoes, clothing, handbags, belts, pajamas and more. They've also shared information about donating to Cooper's store online. Now, people can come and take what they need from Cooper's store, +COOP, on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood.
"Actresses, very famous people, are clearing out their closets. That is what you're seeing," Cooper told CBS Los Angeles. "It is a community who will do anything to help."
Cooper said that people who lost everything have been "bursting into tears" when they see the items available to them. In addition to the clothes, they've been "getting hugs" and other moral support from those on site, she said.
"We're shopping for them and helping them get what they need," she said.
Missing persons, recovery searches to begin, sheriff says
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his department has 40 members of its specialized search and rescue teams to work jointly with the Los Angeles County Fire Urban Search and Rescue Team, the coroner's office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Office of Emergency Services to search for remains and missing persons.
Luna said teams will conduct systemic grid searches, beginning Saturday morning. Cadaver dogs will be part of the search, he said. Searchers will only be able to do this work during the daylight because it's too dangerous to do so in the dark, he said.
A Family Assistance Center has been established in Pasadena, he said. Deputies will be on-site to meet members of the public and provide them with additional resources, if necessary.
"If you believe someone is missing, go there," Luna said. "Talk to the deputies. We will assist you in any which way that we can."
Eaton, Palisades fires more contained, Los Angeles officials say
Firefighters have made progress in fighting the Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles officials said in a news briefing Saturday morning.
Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton Fire is estimated to be 14,117 acres, with over 7,000 structures damaged or destroyed. It is 15% contained, a sharp jump from Friday when it was just 3% contained, Marrone said.
Cal Fire incident manager Todd Hopkins said the Palisades Fire has now burned 21,596 acres and is 11% contained. On Friday, it was 8% contained, though firefighters have been battling the blaze as it turns towards the Brentwood and Encino neighborhoods. About 5,316 structures have been destroyed.
Hopkins highlighted that structures are a wide umbrella term that may mean homes, outbuildings, sheds, RVs, or automobiles.
James Woods said his home survived Palisades Fire: "A miracle has happened"
Actor James Woods says his Pacific Palisades home, which he had previously said burned, "is still standing" amid wildfires in the area.
"A miracle has happened," he wrote on social media. "We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing."
"In this hellish landscape 'standing' is relative, but smoke and other damage is not like the other destruction around us,'" he added. He also included a video that he said was taken from his porch, which showed smoldering ruins in the valley below his home. Later Friday, Woods said that the area "looks like the dark side of the moon."
Many other celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Diane Warren, have taken to social media to share stories of losing their own homes during the blazes.
Photos show firefighting efforts in Los Angeles
Dramatic photos from the fires in Los Angeles show firefighters on the ground and in the air working to stop the spread of the blazes.
"The destruction is just gut-wrenching"
Orly Israel documented his harrowing escape from the Palisades Fire online. His video garnered eight million views, and though the family home he had tried to save was destroyed in the flames, a recent visit back with "CBS Saturday Morning" led to the discovery of hope in the ashes.
He and his father returned to their home of nearly 20 years. David Israel said he wanted to "mourn it in person."
"I love this house. This house was really a member of the family," David said. "To see the destruction is just gutwrenching."
Hidden in the rubble, they found pottery handcrafted by Israel's mother and other sentimental items that had been in the family for decades.
"A piece of my family that went into the house is coming out of the house," Israel said. "Cracked, charred, smoky, but it's whole, and it's ours, and we could hold it and we can cherish it. And that's really amazing to me."
Company behind emergency alert tech says it's added new safeguards
The company behind Los Angeles' emergency alert technology said it has added safeguards to prevent further inaccurate wildfire evacuation alerts from being sent to residents.
The first erroneous alert was sent on Thursday. It was meant for people near the Kenneth Fire but was instead sent to all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County, sparking panic. Other erroneous alerts telling people to evacuate when they weren't in fire zones were reported later Thursday and on Friday. City officials said they were investigating the issue.
Genasys, the company that provides the alert technology to the county, said it has "not been able to replicate this error." The company also said it has "added safeguards into the software to ensure it doesn't happen again."
Click here for information on how the alerts are meant to work.
2 dozen arrested inside evacuation zones amid looting fears
Two dozen people have been arrested inside evacuation zones, Los Angeles police said, even as the National Guard has been brought in to bolster security.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Friday that a curfew was in place in all mandatory evacuation zones in an attempt to deter looters.
In Altadena, Pete Villani stayed back to fight the massive firestorm, saving his home and five others from the flames. Since then, he said he and a neighbor have chased off two groups attempting to break into the surviving homes.
"What kind of person, what kind of human being, would take advantage of somebody like that?" Villani said.
Jonathan Eshom evacuated his home as the Eaton fire raced towards it. The fire stayed out - but it appears someone tried to break in, he said, pointing to a broken window and what looked like efforts to pry another open.
"It's horrifying. I don't even want to imagine it," Eshom said.
New evacuation orders issued in Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire is continuing to burn east in Los Angeles. The fire's movements Friday night prompted more evacuation orders and warnings in Brentwood and Encino.
In a status report released just after 1 a.m. local time, Cal Fire said the fire continued to "burn actively," with critical fire weather conditions possible on Saturday night.
Cal Fire says there is "no truth" to clean-up crew message online
Cal Fire said there is "no truth" to a social media post circulating on Facebook that suggests people can come to California and work as part of a clean-up crew.
The department said there is "no need to call and inquire" about the post, which it also described as inaccurate. Los Angeles officials have previously directed people looking to help the city recover to a government website of verified aid organizations.
CBS News has also compiled a list of ways to help.
Palisades Fire forces new evacuation orders in Brentwood, Encino
A new set of evacuation orders were issued Friday night for the Palisades Fire, indications that the blaze is pushing further east.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the order applies to an area roughly bordered by the 405 Freeway to the east, Sunset Boulevard to the south, Mandeville Canyon to the west and Encino Reservoir to the north.
The area includes portions of Brentwood and Bel-Air — affluent neighborhoods on L.A.'s Westside — and Encino, which is located in the San Fernando Valley.
The Palisades Fire has burned more than 32 square miles since it erupted Tuesday morning and is only 8% contained.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle visit evacuation center in Pasadena
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visited the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday, where evacuees of the Eaton Fire are sheltering.
The couple comforted volunteers and handed out food to the roughly 1,200 evacuees.
Celebrity chefs José Andrés of World Central Kitchen and Roy Choi were also on hand serving meals.
California insurance commissioner issues moratorium on dropping homeowners coverage
The California insurance commissioner issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on nonrenewals and cancellations of homeowners coverage for Southern California residents affected by the fires.
At a news conference Friday, Commissioner Ricardo Lara said his primary concern is to make sure residents who are affected by the fires get the full insurance benefits they are entitled to.
The moratorium applies to the ZIP codes around the Palisades and Eaton fires as well as adjacent areas.
At least a dozen schools destroyed in wildfires
At least 12 schools have been destroyed by the wildfires, displacing more than 5,600 students.
In Altadena alone, almost 2,000 students have nowhere to go to school. They include 7-year-old Lucy Van Voorhis, who can't wrap her mind around losing her school, Odyssey Charter School, to the Eaton Fire.
"I'm just really sad at that, because I love that school," she told CBS News. "… I loved my friends there. I loved my teacher. I loved the playground in PE, all those monkey bars that we could play on, and the basketball court that we had."
She says evacuating her family's home felt like a bad dream.
"I was really scared," she said. "I mean, it was in the middle of the night when it was happening. So I'm still a little bit scared of the dark."
Hudson Yu, 10, and his brother Atticus, 7, who attend the Pasadena Waldorf School, also evacuated their home.
"We were sitting at our dining room table, and we could see the glow of the fire over our courtyard wall," Hudson said.
Hours later, their father, a firefighter, saw their home of seven years engulfed in flames.
"We are trying not to show them some of the images because it is so heartbreaking," their mother, Kim Yu, said.
She added, "School is a big part of it because that is really where, it is their foundation of a family's daily life, and now we do not have that."
New evacuation warning issued for Palisades Fire
The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a new evacuation warning Friday for the Palisades Fire.
California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said the new warning affects parts of Encino, Tarzana and Woodland Hills in Los Angeles.
"We encourage everyone - especially those in hillside communities - to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate," Gabriel said on social media.
Timeline shows warnings escalated quickly as L.A. fire danger grew
In the weeks ahead, officials and residents will examine whether local authorities' warnings and early responses for the wildfires adequately prepared Los Angeles for the escalating crisis.
CBS News examined public statements and warnings to trace how authorities sounded the alarm as conditions worsened.
How to deal with "survivor's guilt" amid wildfires, according to an expert
The wildfires are leaving many of those unaffected feeling a sense of "survivor's guilt."
On "CBS Mornings Plus" Friday, Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist and author of "Practical Optimism," said it's normal to feel both grief and gratitude in these types of situations.
"You can have grief for the people around you — doesn't have to be that you personally experienced it. We know that people who witness wildfires and were not impacted beyond just the witnessing still have symptoms later on," she said. "We really are a society that is social and for the most part, caring and empathic."
Los Angeles County coroner's office investigating 11 wildfire-related deaths
The Los Angeles County coroner's office is investigating 11 deaths related to the wildfires, officials said Friday.
Six of the deaths are from the Eaton Fire, and five are from the Palisades Fire, the agency, officially known as the Department of Medical Examiner, said in a statement.
The agency identified one of the people who died as 66-year-old Victor Shaw. None of the other people had been officially identified.
Vet shelters dozens of animals during wildfires
Dr. Annie Harvilicz runs two animal facilities in the L.A. area, and at one point had taken in more than 40 animals after the wildfires started.
Harvilicz said she is receiving hundreds of emails each day from people who have or are evacuating. She wants people to know they can evacuate with their pets.
"I basically took this abandoned veterinary hospital and opened it up thinking that I was going to be inundated with animals," she said in an interview with "CBS Mornings." "Really, what's going on is, people are contacting me, thinking they're going to have to put their animal with us, but I tell them, 'No go ahead and go to the hotel you're going to or the Airbnb or the shelter because they're all accepting animals now."
The majority of the animals that ended up staying at her facilities were from families who had multiple pets.
CBS News reporters help rescue 3 dogs from Palisades Fire
CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti and producer Christian Duran helped a family rescue their three dogs from the Palisades Fire.
The dogs' owner posted on social media that she and her husband were traveling for work when the disaster struck and their dogsitter wasn't able to get back to the house fast enough as evacuation orders were issued.
"For nine hours, we were in despair, regret, and fear, trying everything we could possibly think of," she wrote. Then, they were able to get in contact with Vigliotti and Duran, who were able to enter the house and rescue all three of her dogs on Wednesday, "when most of Palisades had already turned into an inferno," she wrote.
"It was nothing short of a miracle," she wrote.
Palisades and Eaton fires among Los Angeles County's largest
As the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn homes and businesses, they're also making their way up Los Angeles County's list of its largest fires.
As of Friday, the Palisades Fire sat at No. 5 with over 20,000 acres burned — nearly seven times the size of Los Angeles International Airport. The Eaton Fire ranked at No. 8 after it scorched more than 13,000 acres.
Early estimates show that the total damage and economic loss due to the Los Angeles wildfires could be between $135 billion and $150 billion.
Read more about five of the worst fires in California history here.
Kierra Frazier and Taylor Johnston contributed reporting.
NFL donates $5 million to support wildfire victims
The NFL said it will donate $5 million to communities devastated by the wildfires.
The NFL Foundation and ownership groups from Los Angeles' teams – the Chargers and the Rams – as well as the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans contributed to the fund, the league said in a statement.
The Rams said its $1 million portion of the donation will go to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
The Chargers on Wednesday said it was providing $200,000 to the American Red Cross; the fire department foundation; Team Rubicon, an international nonprofit organization; and pet rescue organizations.
"We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "The NFL family is committed to working with the Los Angeles Charges and Los Angeles Rams to support their local communities in their time of need."
Archer Fire evacuations downgraded
The Archer Fire's forward progress has been stopped at 31.5 acres, the Los Angeles Fire Department said Friday. Evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation warnings. Previous evacuation warnings have been lifted, the department said.
Photos show devastation caused by Eaton Fire
Photos show more of the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which has devastated much of the Los Angeles area's Altadena community.
One image shows destroyed cars at an auto dealership.
Another shows a ruined auditorium, with the frames of chairs still standing but much of the rest of the structure turned to ash.
In a third picture, a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stands in front of a street of burned buildings.
Archer Fire, new brush fire, sparks evacuation order
The Los Angeles Fire Department issued new evacuation orders and warnings after a new brush fire sparked Friday.
The blaze, called the Archer Fire, is in the Granada Hills neighborhood, the department said, near Los Angeles' Bee Canyon Park. It started near 17278 W. Sesnon Blvd. and no homes are exposed, according to CBS News Los Angeles.
No other details were immediately available.
Palisades, Eaton Fires among most destructive wildfires in California's recorded history
The two largest Los Angeles County wildfires, which tore through more than 34,000 acres in four days, are now among the 20 most destructive fires recorded in the state of California.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on Friday added the Eaton and Palisades fires to the state's list of most destructive wildfires, which began its record in 1932.
No other blazes in Los Angeles County appear on the state's list of 20 most destructive in California history.
Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen serve up meals amid fires
The food relief organization World Central Kitchen is among the groups providing aid in California, with chef and CEO José Andrés posting photos and videos of their efforts on the ground on social media.
Andrés said the organization has multiple set-ups feeding first responders battling the Palisades and Eaton fires. WCK is also providing food to people who have evacuated or lost their homes.
Read more here on how to help those affected by the L.A. fires.
Biden administration issues public health emergency for California fires
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a public health emergency Thursday for the Southern California wildfires.
"HHS stands ready to support the health and well-being of all Californians impacted by these devastating fires, and to help aid the emergency medical response," Becerra said on X, posting an image of him signing the declaration.
These declarations are usually done after natural disasters to offer health care providers and the medical supply chain with greater flexibility to respond to the emergency, easing requirements.
Following the devastating wildfires in Hawaii in 2023, the HHS' public health emergency declaration enabled its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response to deploy a number of resources, including responders from the NDMS Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team to support emergency response efforts.
Alexander Tin contributed reporting.
Residents urged not to disable messages after erroneous alerts
Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan said he "can't express enough how sorry" he was for incorrect alerts being sent to residents and urged people not to disable emergency messages.
"I implore everyone to not disable the messages on your phone," McGowan said. "This is extremely frustrating, painful, and scary, but these alert tools have saved lives during this emergency. Not receiving an alert can be a consequence of life and death."
Emergency evacuation alerts were sent to residents across Los Angeles County on Thursday, although they were only meant for people in the evacuation order and warning zones for the Kenneth Fire. Other erroneous alerts have been reported, with L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger saying during the briefing that she had received two false alerts.
The City of Beverly Hills said some residents may have received another evacuation alert from the L.A. County Fire Department at 4 a.m. Friday in error.
McGowan said the system is automated and that "there is no one sitting at a desk right now initiating emergency alerts." He said fixing the system is his team's top priority, and said that they are working with FEMA's Integrated Public Warning and Alert Team to "resolve this issue and find the root cause."
McGowan suggested that people who receive an alert go online and verify it at LAcounty.gov/emergency or dial 211 for assistance. In later remarks, Barger criticized that advice, pointing out that many in Los Angeles are without power.
"To tell people to go on a website when they may not have access to internet is absurd and not something I'm recommending," she said, calling the issue "unacceptable" and "frustrating" and emphasizing the need to fix it as soon as possible.
CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti pressed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on how she would restore residents' trust in the alerts.
"We want to see Los Angeles come together," she said, in part. "I want the residents of Los Angeles region to have faith in what we're doing 24 hours a day."
Official warns of scams amid fires
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman said that some wildfire survivors have already been subject to scams.
Hockman said malicious actors have created fake fundraisers, taking money from donors. He said that if a person wants to donate, they should ensure they know who they're giving money to. People can also find a verified list of organizations at Recovery.LACounty.gov, he said. CBS News has also collated a list of how to help.
He said his office is prepared for future scams around insurance and government benefits. Those who attempt scams will be arrested, prosecuted and "punished to the maximum extent possible," Hockman said.
"They are going to target the people who have been tragically affected and you cannot allow them to do it," he said.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara also said he directed his office's enforcement team to protect Los Angeles residents "from fraudsters targeting wildfire survivors."
Curfews in effect in some evacuation zones
A curfew order in place in the Palisades and Eaton Fire mandatory evacuation zones, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference Friday morning.
The curfew was in place last night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and will be in effect again Friday from 6 p.m. on. Those in the area after 6 p.m. will be subject to arrest, Luna said. The curfew will be used to secure and protect the houses people left, Luna said, and prevent burglaries and looting in the area.
Only disaster workers and credentialed media members will be allowed in these areas, Luna said. Violating the curfew will result in an arrest for a misdemeanor offense. Luna said he had given direction that anyone caught violating the curfew would be arrested and jailed.
"I am not screwing around with this, we don't want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized," Luna said.
Over 153,000 residents under evacuation orders
Over 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, and another 166,000 are under evacuation warnings as of Friday morning, Los Angeles County sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference.
Palisades Fire is 8% contained, fire officials say
The Palisades Fire is now at 8% containment, according to fire officials.
KCAL's Mark Liu says this is a positive sign. The blaze has scorched over 20,000 acres, including much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and parts of Malibu.
"It looks like firefighters may be starting to get the upper hand here on the Palisades Fire as the air attack continues," Liu said, referencing efforts made by aircraft to drop water and fire retardant on the flames.
Liu said that when the fire is 10% contained, it will mark a major milestone.
"There's still a lot for firefighters to do, but the active flames at 10% containment are usually very, very small," he said.
National Guard activated for Los Angeles wildfire response
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the National Guard has been activated to aid the city's wildfire response.
National Guardsmen will "back up and free up our firefighters and police officers," Bass said. They will conduct duties including securing evacuation zones and protecting "against anyone thinking of taking advantage of this tragedy," Bass said, seeming to reference looting arrests in recent days.
L.A. County apologizes for erroneous alert
The Los Angeles County Coordinated Joint Information Center said it was "aware of the reports of erroneous messages" for evacuation orders and warnings amid the wildfires.
At least one alert told people who were not in danger zones to evacuate. The alert was only meant to be sent to people in the area of the Kenneth Fire on Thursday.
The information center apologized for the disruption in a statement Friday morning, noting that it was "working with FEMA to investigate the issue." The center said the most up-to-date evacuation orders and warnings could be found on AlertLA.org.
Red Flag Warnings remain; winds to persist next week
"High end" Red Flag Warning are in effect Friday for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the National Weather Service says. They are in effect through 6 p.m. local time as strong winds and low humidity persist in the region.
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures are expected to combine with very low humidities and strong winds to create an increased fire danger risk, the weather service says.
"Critical fire weather conditions will continue across Southern California through at least this morning," forecasters say, noting that wind gusts could reach close to 60 mph.
While wind gusts are forecast to weaken into Friday afternoon and evening, dangerous conditions will persist Friday — and the threat doesn't end there. Forecasters say "an extended period of elevated to potentially critical fire weather conditions are in the forecast for Sunday through Wednesday due to moderate to locally strong offshore winds, likely peaking on Tuesday."
At least 10,000 structures destroyed in fires
The fires in the Los Angeles area have destroyed more than 10,000 structures, according to Cal Fire.
"Structures" is a term that includes homes as well as apartment buildings, vehicles, businesses and outbuildings, the Associated Press reports.
Fire map shows Kenneth Fire that ignited in West Hills
Cal Fire's fire map shows the Kenneth Fire covering 960 acres in Los Angeles as of Friday morning.
"The Kenneth Fire is burning in West Hills in Los Angeles County and rapidly spreading," Cal Fire says.
"Fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the fire threatens nearby communities and infrastructure, prompting swift evacuation orders," it says. "The challenging terrain and persistent winds complicate suppression activities, necessitating heightened vigilance from residents and adherence to directives from local authorities."
Interactive map shows California fires
An updating map from CBS News' data team shows the fires burning in the Los Angeles area.
Readers can zoom in or out to see where the fires are. The map will be updated hourly with data from Cal Fire.
The Palisades Fire is the largest of the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Flare-up from Kenneth Fire appears to burn home
There was a flare from the Kenneth Fire early Friday morning. Firefighters previously appeared to have stopped the forward progress of the blaze, and evacuation zones were lifted, but a CBS News Los Angeles SkyCal helicopter spotted flames.
The fire is in a canyon, though CBS News Los Angeles reported that at least one home appears to have burned.
The Ventura County Fire Department had an aircraft on the scene doing water drops.
Many fire zone returnees finding heartbreak. Others? Miracles
Though the Palisades Fire continues to rage, residents are beginning to return to their fire-stricken neighborhoods.
On Thursday evening, those neighborhoods were unrecognizable, giving an eerie and apocalyptic vibe to the laidback and affluent area tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Two full days of intense fire transformed the Palisades into what looked like a war zone, with row after row of razed homes as the flames began moving farther into the mountains.
"You think of all the memories and hangouts with friends as a kid," said Augie Sylik, one of thousands of people who lost their homes in the massive inferno. "It's absolutely devastating. I'm heartbroken."
But while most residents will face losses like Sylik's others, such as Dirk Michel, returned to find his home unscathed on Thursday.
"I literally got on my knees and I sobbed. It was, it was devastating," he recalled. "And then I got around the corner and I said, 'How is this possible?'"
While happy that is home was one of five in a row still standing, Michel said it's hard to feel joy when surrounded by the devastation of his neighbors.
-- Dean Fioresi, Michele Gile, Tom Wait
Tens of thousands still without power in L.A. County
At the peak of wildfire-linked power outages, more than 200,000 homes and businesses had no electricity in areas serviced by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and SoCal Edison. Though officials say power has been restored to most customers, more than 90,000 remained in the dark as of Friday morning.
LADWP trucks could be seen working through the night on Thursday, trying to restore power to everyone impacted. They say the estimated timetable to restore power to most customers remains between 24 and 48 hours.
CBS L.A. helicopter offers aerial look at Pacific Palisades neighborhoods impacted by wildfire
A CBS Los Angeles SkyCal helicopter flew over a portion of the Pacific Palisades Thursday, giving a birds-eye view of some of the areas impacted by the Palisades Fire.
One of the station's photographers overlaid a street map to give some people the chance to see their neighborhoods for the first time since the fire erupted on Tuesday morning and grew to consume nearly 20,000 acres by Thursday evening:
Masks strongly recommended as L.A. air quality plummets
With hazardous levels of smoke lingering over Los Angeles County from the wildfires burning throughout the region, county officials are urging people to use masks.
The air quality led Los Angeles Unified School District officials to close all campuses through at least Friday.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said during a press conference Thursday that, "Fires may be far away from some communities where we have schools. However, winds are transporting particulate matter, smoke and ashes across the entire district."
A wildfire smoke advisory is in effect until at least Friday evening for swaths of Southern California because of the dangerous air being produced by the fires. It was first issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management early in the week.
Current Air Quality Index readings show most of Los Angeles County in unhealthy-to-hazardous levels as of Thursday.
Wildfire smoke typically carries high levels of PM2.5, or fine particulate matter that's especially dangerous when inhaled, and officials advise that if residents must absolutely be outside, they should consider wearing a P100 respirator or properly fit N95 mask.
A number of local businesses are offering free masks and other services to help families in need.
Here's a map of air quality in the L.A. area
At least 10 killed in Southern California wildfires, coroner's office says
The Los Angeles County coroner's office announced Thursday night that it has confirmed at least 10 deaths from the wildfires burning in Southern California.
"The Department of Medical Examiner received notification of 10 fire-related deaths as of 9 p.m. on January 9," the agency said in a statement on its website.
The update comes after Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a news briefing earlier Thursday evening that at least five people had died in the wildfires: three in the Eaton Fire and two in the Palisades Fire.
Officials did not immediately publicly identify the victims or their exact causes of death.
Firefighting aircraft collides with drone while battling Palisades Fire
A firefighting plane struck a drone Thursday while battling the Palisades Fire, officials confirmed.
The aircraft landed safely and nobody was injured, CAL Fire spokesperson Christopher Thomas told CBS News.
The Canadair CL-415, nicknamed a "Super Scooper," had two people on board, a pilot and a lookout, Thomas said.
The drone put a hole in the left wing of the plane, causing it to be indefinitely grounded, he disclosed.
Following the collision, CAL Fire grounded all firefighting aircraft in the area for 15 to 30 minutes to ensure the airspace was safe.
The FAA confirmed in a statement it was investigating the incident and reminds pilots that interfering with firefighting efforts is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $75,000.
— Jared Ochacher
Actor Milo Ventimiglia loses home in Palisades Fire
Actor Milo Ventimiglia, known for "This is Us" and "Gilmore Girls," revealed Thursday that his family's Malibu home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Ventimiglia, a 47-year-old father to be, spoke to CBS News while returning home for the first time after evacuating to survey the damage on his scorched street.
Although neighbors had already told him his home had been destroyed, seeing it in person made it real.
"You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not and then you see your neighbors houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks," Ventimiglia said.
Ventimiglia and his pregnant wife, Jarah, evacuated Tuesday and watched on security cameras as the flames from the Palisades Fire took over. The couple grabbed everything they could think of — but not everything, like the crib and other belongings in their baby's nursery.
Los Angeles fire chief announces 2 deaths in Palisades Fire
At least two people have died in the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley announced at a news conference Thursday.
Later in the same news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said five people in total had died in the wildfires, three in the Eaton Fire and two in the Palisades Fire.
"But even as I'm telling you that, it's leaving my lips, I'm nervous about that number," Luna said. "And the obvious question, 'Do you think that's going to grow?' I am praying it doesn't. But based on the devastation that is clear — it looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas — I don't expect good news. And we're not looking forward to those numbers."
NFL moves Vikings-Rams playoff game to Arizona due to wildfires
The NFL has announced that Monday night's scheduled wild-card playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings has been moved from Inglewood, California, to Arizona due to the wildfires.
The game, which was slated to be hosted by the Rams at SoFi Stadium, will instead be played in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The league announced earlier this week that it had created a contingency plan for the game to be played in Glendale if the wildfire conditions continued.
On Wednesday, the Vikings shared a message of support for their opponents on social media, saying, "We're thinking of our Rams friends, their community and the first responders during this time."
Sister of Eaton Fire victim says he was found with "a garden hose in his hand"
The wind-fueled Eaton Fire has rained destruction on the northeast Los Angeles County cities of Pasadena and Altadena and killed at least three people.
Among the victims was 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who stayed behind in an effort to save his Altadena home.
"When they found him he had a garden hose in his hand," his sister Shari Shaw told CBS News. "… He wasn't in the best of health, but I know that he probably fought with all his will."
Another was 82-year-old Rodney Nickerson, who died in his bed. His daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, said he wanted to stay.
"He said Altadena has been through some stuff, and I'm going to be all right," Kimiko said.
It was an emotional return for many who returned home to find only rubble, such as Nira Chow.
"I've lost everything, pictures, memories," Chow said. "… Ten years ago when my husband passed, we bought this house so we could start again, and now, it's almost like déjà vu."
How a meteorologist is working to keep front-line firefighters safe
As firefighters battle the Palisades Fire, an army of people have their backs at a command center that was built in less than 24 hours. From lodging to laundry and logistics, this small makeshift city is supporting a massive firefighting machine.
The incident command post has dozens of support vehicles, hundreds of personnel and multiple local, state and federal agencies, all camped out to fight the massive fire.
In the middle of it all is Rich Thompson, an incident meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Thompson is specially trained to provide crucial support to the front lines of wildfires.
"That's all I'm here for," Thompson told CBS News. "I'm here for nothing else, other than to keep these people safe."
Thompson deciphers weather changes in the fire zone, making elaborate forecasts that determine where firefighters go to fight the flames while also staying safe.
"People are making some pretty significant decisions, both in terms of evacuations, in terms of resources, based on what I'm forecasting," Thompson said.
Evacuation alert mistakenly sent across Los Angeles County
A wireless emergency evacuation alert was sent to residents across Los Angeles County on Thursday. However, it was only meant for people in the area of the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills.
Kenneth Fire sparks in Los Angeles near homes
The Kenneth Fire sparked in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire is burning toward the south, relatively close to homes.
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued in the area, the LAFD said. Several evacuation warnings have also been issued for areas that border the fire, according to Cal Fire.
More strong winds ahead for Southern California
Forecasters extended a red flag warning until 6 p.m. Friday for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as firefighters fight to control blazes that were fanned by hurricane-force winds.
The National Weather Service predicted gusty offshore winds Thursday night, though the winds are expected to be 40-55 mph with isolated gusts up to 70 mph, lower than the 80-100 mph gusts at the height of the windstorm.
Areas like Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino, Riverside and Acton could experience some of the strongest winds, said KCAL News meteorologist Alex Biston.
See full coverage from Chelsea Hylton on CBS Los Angeles.
Palisades Fire likely destroyed thousands of structures, fire officials say
The Palisades Fire was estimated to have destroyed about 5,316 structures, fire officials said Thursday.
Cal Fire announced the new figure in a statement following an aerial survey that was conducted Wednesday.
The number includes residential and commercial properties as well as RVs, sheds and other minor buildings, according to Cal Fire.
Biden says feds will cover 100% of fire response costs in California
President Biden announced Thursday that, for the next six months, the federal government will pay for 100% of the disaster response costs from the wildfires.
Speaking from the White House during a briefing on the fires, the president said federal funding will cover things like removing debris, setting up temporary shelters, and paying first responders. Mr. Biden said he's surging all federal resources possible to Southern California, including 400 federal firefighters and 30 federal firefighting planes, among other assets.
"I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense," Mr. Biden said, calling the damage "catastrophic."