California Los Angeles Wildfires Highlights: Heavy winds ratchet up pressure as 6 mn people under critical fire threat

The southern California wildfires remain hard to control amid the current high winds, but firefighters are making progress and the fires haven’t spread very much over the past couple of days.

Altogether the wildfires in the Los Angeles area have burned roughly 164 square kilometers and damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

The Eaton Fire that devastated Altadena and the surrounding area was 45 per cent contained as of Wednesday morning.

Cal Fire said firefighters have also made some progress battling the larger Palisades fire.

That fire is now about 19 per cent contained. The smaller Hurst Fire is now 97 per cent contained after burning 2.6 square kilometres.

The newest fire known as the Auto Fire is 47 per cent contained. Firefighters need better weather to fight California’s flames.

About 40,000 people have applied for assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has already disbursed more than $8 million for immediate needs like water, food, baby formula and gas.

The initial money goes directly into bank accounts, regional FEMA administrator Robert J Fenton, Jr. said Tuesday, denying misinformation about vouchers.

President Joe Biden did say that the federal government would pay 100% of the firefighting and recovery costs in the first 180 days.

But that doesn’t mean FEMA will cover 100% of individual families’ costs — the maximum amount FEMA can provide is $43,600, Fenton said.

Representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, the state and several charities gathered to explain the process at a disaster recovery centre at UCLA Research Park West and Pasadena City College Community Education Centre.

FEMA offers up to $770 to help cover the evacuees’ immediate needs, but its larger grants generally aren’t available until after insurance companies pay out.

Someone who receives a maximum grant from FEMA might be eligible for another $10,000 grant from the state.

For other needs beyond what insurance and FEMA cover, the Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans: Businesses can borrow up to $2 million, while homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 for rebuilding and another $100,000 for personal property.

As if they aren’t already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.

The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size.

The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn’t mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they’re possible given the extreme conditions.

When the Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles last Tuesday, Hollywood’s awards season was in full swing.

The Golden Globes had transpired less than 48 hours earlier and a series of splashy awards banquets followed in the days after.

But the enormity of the destruction in Southern California has quickly snuffed out all festiveness in the movie industry’s high season of celebration.

At one point, the flames even encroached on the hillside above the Dolby Theatre, the home of the Academy Awards.

The fires have struck at the very heart of a movie industry still trying to stabilise itself after years of pandemic, labor turmoil and technological upheaval.

Not for the first time this decade, the Oscars are facing the question of: Should the show go on? And if it does, what do they mean now?

The Oscars remain as scheduled, but it’s certain that they will be transformed due to the wildfires, and that most of the red-carpet pomp that typically stretches between now and then will be curtailed if not altogether canceled.

With so many left without a home by the fires, there’s scant appetite for the usual self-congratulatory parades of the season.

As wildfires burn, GoFundMe becomes a repository of harrowing stories

As California’s massive wildfires burn, a barrage of GoFundMe campaigns for victims have become an outlet for onlookers transfixed by the blazes and eager to do something to help.

Those appeals for help — plastered with photos of saffron flames or the charcoal aftermath or, most of all, the faces of the people at the center of the plea — are personalizing a tragedy too big to comprehend.

“I feel connected in a strange way to all these people that I don’t know,” says Rachel Davies, a 27-year-old writer in New York, who went through hundreds of GoFundMe’s wildfire campaigns and felt drawn in to stories of strangers, donating to fundraisers for landscapers, housekeepers and a cook.

Davies was moved by the little details of victims’ stories — like the fact that someone lost their home just as they were bringing a baby home from the hospital — and compiled and circulated a list of GoFundMe sites, thinking others would feel the same and be spurred to donate.

“Those stories,” Davies says, “will stick with me.”?

-AP

If you are just joining us, here's where things stands as regards the California wildfires

A yellow fire hydrant stands in the ruins of a devastated home, as the Eaton Fire continues, in Altadena, California. (Reuters Photo)

The Los Angeles Public Health department has sent out a Windblown Dust and Ash advisory.

Key points

Stay inside: Keep windows, doors shut; use AC or air purifier

Wear a mask: An N95 or P100 mask to protect lungs from ash

Secure your stuff: Tie down or bring in loose items like chairs, trash cans so they don't blow away

Protect your eyes: Wear goggles if you go outside

Watch for updates: Listen to local news for alerts

Stay ready: Have a plan and supplies in case conditions get worse

Source: LA Public Health

California Governor Karen Bass shared an emergency contact on X to help find and retrieve pets in evacuation areas.

Bass wrote

California Governor Gavin Newsom said that conditioning aid is "simply un-American" after House Speaker Mike Johnson said additional aid for the US state battling multiple deadly wildfires should come with certain conditions.

The Republican Party has been pushing for strings-attached aid for the Democratic-ruled state.

Johnson had reasoned that state and local leaders were "derelict in their duties" as a reason for his support of conditional aid, The Guardian reported.

The Ventura County Fire Department reported that the Auto Fire, which broke out on Monday night, is now 47% contained. After conducting an aerial survey, officials updated the affected area to 61 acres, up from the previously estimated 55.7 acres. They confirmed that the fire had not spread beyond its earlier boundaries, with firefighting efforts aided on Tuesday by increased humidity and westerly winds.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cautioned residents that the emergency is not yet over but encouraged them to start considering recovery and rebuilding efforts. “While we’re going through what I hope is the final hours of this emergency, it’s also time to begin to talk about our recovery,” she said, as reported by The Guardian.

The Hollywood Awards season has come to halt in a rare circumstances due to the raging wildfire in Los Angeles which has claimed the lives of 25 people until now.

The industry is navigating the ongoing crisis but the major awards which were scheduled to take place this month and lined up in the coming month have been temporarily suspended.

Here are some key awards season dates:

In an update to the death toll, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner informed that 25 people have now died from the tragic wildfire spreading through Los Angeles.

An 84-year-old Altadena man, Zhi Feng Zhao, has been identified as the latest victim to the Eaton fire. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported his place of death as his residence, CNN reported.

Decades ago, the writer Octavia Butler had imagined a Los Angeles ravaged by fires.

The Altadena cemetery where the science fiction and Afrofuturism author is buried did catch fire last week but suffered “minimal damage,” according to a statement on the cemetery’s web site.

The grave of Butler, who died in 2006 at 58, is marked by a footstone etched with a quote from “Parable of the Sower,” among her most famous novels.

Since the fires began last week, the novel and other Butler works have been cited for anticipating a world — and, particularly, a Los Angeles — wracked by climate change, racism and economic disparity. “Parable of the Sower” was written in 1993 and set in a post-apocalyptic LA.

(AP)

The Los Angeles Police Department announced on Tuesday that it has arrested 14 people in connection with the Pacific Palisades wildfire, Police Commander Steve Embrich said in a press briefing.

The noteworthy arrests of arson suspects were made on Sunday and Monday outside of the fire zone, Steve further added. The charges against the arrested persons include failing to meet curfews and impersonating a firefighter and police officer, vandalism among others.

"Looting is not just a crime against property; it also takes away any sense of security from evacuated residents and it will not be tolerated," Steve said, reported CNN.

The officials from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration, the state and several charities are there to meet and aid people from the raging wildfire.

According to AP, Robert J. Fenton, Jr., regional administrator for FEMA Region 9 said "When we talk about recovery, it’s really a whole community effort."

The two new disaster recovery centres will be located in Pasadena and Los Angeles. Residents have been asked and encouraged to apply online to avail the benefits of the aid before reaching the recover centres.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has cautioned the residents that the emergency due to the raging wildfires is not over yet and wants them to start thinking about the recovery and rebuilding process if possible.

"While we are going through what I hope is the final hours of this disaster, we need to start thinking about our recovery," Mayor Bass said.

Bass took a step in that direction this week and informed people that 1,200 housing units will be made available quickly. She added that these housing units were available before the fire itself.

About 88,000 residents in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders on Tuesday, with an additional 84,800 under evacuation warnings due to ongoing wildfires.

Current Fire Status:

- Palisades Fire: Over 23,700 acres burned; 17% contained.

- Eaton Fire: 14,117 acres burned; 35% contained.

- Hurst Fire: Nearly fully contained at 97% after burning 799 acres.

- Auto Fire: Fully contained; no evacuation orders remain in effect.

Southern California residents are bracing for new wildfire warnings and potential power outages as strong winds, capable of reaching near hurricane strength, sweep through the region. The winds are expected to peak Tuesday morning, ease briefly, and then strengthen again later in the day.

Fire crews have been reinforced to manage flare-ups or new fires. A week after the wildfires began, they have destroyed thousands of homes and claimed at least 24 lives.

The National Weather Service warns of "critical to extremely critical" fire weather in Southern California through Wednesday due to Santa Ana winds. Residents under red flag warnings are advised to:

- Have two evacuation routes ready

- Keep a go-kit prepared

- Follow fire prevention tips and rules

- Stay updated on official alerts and evacuation orders

(A red flag warning is issued when dry, windy conditions create critical fire weather, signaling that wildfires are occurring or likely to occur soon.)

Over 66,000 people are without power in Southern California, with around 20,000 customers in Ventura County affected, according to PowerOutage.us. In Los Angeles County, 46,012 customers are experiencing outages as of 11:30am ET.

Wind speeds increased Tuesday, with gusts between 40 to 64 kph across coastal and valley areas and some isolated gusts up to 100 kph in the mountains, said Todd Hall, a National Weather Service forecaster.

Winds were ramping up, with the potential for more powerful gusts across the mountains into coastal and valley areas.

A red-flag warning already has been in effect, but the weather service has issued a rare warning about a “particularly dangerous situation” related to severe fire conditions.

Strong winds are predicted through Wednesday, forecasters said.

The Santa Ana winds have turned seasonal wildfires into infernos that have levelled neighbourhoods in and around Los Angeles where there has been no significant rainfall in over eight months.

Southern California’s winds typically flow onshore from the Pacific, carrying moist air onto land.

The Santa Ana winds are warm currents that move in the opposite direction. They usually occur from September through May.

Fire agencies say the suppressants are an invaluable tool as flames race through canyons and other rugged areas that are difficult for firefighters on the ground to reach.

The hot-pink mixture is generally considered safe for people, but some worry about potential effects on wildlife.

Daniel McCurry of the University of Southern California says the suppressants are typically a mix of water, ammonium phosphate fertiliser and iron oxide, which is added to make the retardant visible.

Aircraft are dropping hundreds of thousands of gallons of the suppressant ahead of the flames in a desperate effort to stop them before they destroy more neighbourhoods.

LA County Recovers, a government-run program, posted interactive maps on its website that show the damage.

The maps for the Eaton and Palisades fires allow users to click on an icon and get a description of the type of structure, such as a home or commercial building, and the type of damage, such as “major” or “destroyed.”

Addresses may be entered into a search bar to find a specific location. Users can also see photos of the damaged buildings.

Nearly three dozen people have been arrested for taking items from damaged homes and businesses, authorities said.

“We’re starting to see the criminal emerge," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a news conference Monday.

Price gouging has become an issue with hotels, short-term rentals and medical supplies.

Scammers are also soliciting donations for bogus relief efforts, authorities said.

-AP

Flames have threatened and burned through several highly populated neighbourhoods over the past week, including Pacific Palisades, Altadena and others.

Officials on Monday lowered the number of people under evacuation orders from about 150,000 to under 100,000.

However, they cautioned that more evacuations could be ordered when high winds return.

Cal Fire reported containment of the Palisades Fire at 14% and the Eaton Fire at 33% as of Monday morning.

The Kenneth Fire, which broke out near West Hills in the San Fernando Valley, was completely contained, while the Hurst Fire was 95% contained.

More than 80,000 customers, more than half in Los Angeles County, were without power across California on Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.

Sewer, water and power infrastructure across the region has been significantly damaged, officials said.

Thousands have fled and many have lost their homes, including Hollywood stars Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore, and Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

Although the fires have reduced a number of celebrity mansions and movie landmarks to ashes, they also burned through more affordable communities such as Altadena, which has served generations of Black families who might have faced discriminatory housing practices elsewhere.

The fires have also destroyed several places of worship, including a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches.

Investigators haven't determined the cause. But a person whose home was destroyed in the Eaton blaze claims in a lawsuit filed Monday that Southern California Edison’s equipment sparked it.

Gabriela Ornelas, an Edison spokesperson, said the utility is aware that a lawsuit has been filed, but has not yet reviewed it.

Lightning is the most common source of fires in the US, according to the National Fire Protection Association, but investigators quickly ruled that out.

There were no reports of lightning in the Palisades area or the terrain around the Eaton Fire, which started in eastern Los Angeles County.

The next two most common causes are fires that are intentionally set or caused by electricity lines.

Health insurer Anthem Blue Cross and media companies Netflix and Comcast NBCUniversal said they each plan to donate $10 million to bolster response and recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, singer Beyoncé has contributed $2.5 million to a newly launched LA Fire Relief Fund created by her charitable foundation, BeyGOOD. And Metallica's foundation, All Within My Hands, pledged $500,000 to the relief effort.The theater world also is joining the donation drive.

The nonprofit fundraising group Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded $500,000 in emergency grants to help with meals, shelter, medical care, clothing and emergency financial help.

President Joe Biden said Monday the federal government is covering most costs associated with the devastation for the next 180 days, but it will take tens of billions of dollars for a full recovery.

Congress “needs to step up” and provide funding, he said.

-AP

School teachers and students are staring at the loss of a part of the school year due to the California wildfire.

The Los Angeles area fires have left many without a building that had served as their school premises for years.

Removing the debris and making sure the school premises are safe for the return of students and teachers will be key, say officials, according to NBC news.

Los Angeles-based asset management firms overseeing more than $4 trillion in assets are grappling with the impact of the region's destructive wildfires on their operations, with some relocating office space and supporting staff members who have lost their homes.

The Los Angeles area is home to large industry players like Capital Group, TCW Group, and hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Ares Management.

In total, firms in Los Angeles manage more than $4 trillion of the $132 trillion in global assets managed in the United States, including a number of major players in the bond market.

The disruption comes at a time when US Treasury yields have been climbing on reinforced expectations that interest rates will stay high for longer and on fiscal concerns.

"A number of our team members have been displaced and several have lost their homes completely, my family included," said Katie Koch, president and CEO of TCW, a firm that manages $203 billion in assets, in a letter to her Los Angeles colleagues that she reposted on LinkedIn.

TCW said all of its Los Angeles-based employees are safe and accounted for.

A staircase of a burned structure during the Eaton fire is pictured, in Altadena, California. (Reuters Photo)

The California wildfire has left barren hills in its wake. (Reuters Photo)

While authorities still don’t know what sparked the deadly fires in the Los Angeles area, they do know one clear way the flames have spread: embers.

At least 24 people have died in the fires that have destroyed more than 12,000 structures since starting last Tuesday.

The flames have been fuelled by strong winds, which not only aid combustion by increasing the oxygen supply but carry embers to unburned areas.

Contrary to popular belief, experts say most homes destroyed by wildfires aren’t overcome by a racing wall of flames, but rather burn after being ignited by airborne embers.

An ember is a piece of burning debris. Once it becomes airborne, the more technical term is firebrand, said James Urban, an assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

“If it's a wildland fire, it's typically pieces of wood or other types of vegetation that are burning," he said.

"But when you have a fire that's burning through an urban area, it can be vegetation, it can be pieces of the house, it can be almost anything that burns.”

State authorities were pre-positioning firefighting crews in Los Angeles and other Southern California counties that were under elevated fire danger, officials said.

Highlighting the risks, a small but fast-moving new fire erupted in scrubland in the bed of the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.

Ground crew and several helicopters were working to contain the so-called Auto Fire, which had razed over 56 acres and was burning near a golf course but not yet threatening homes.

Los Angeles firefighters braced on Tuesday for intense winds that could fuel two monstrous wildfires that have already killed two dozen people, levelled entire neighbourhoods and scorched an area the size of Washington, DC.

Hurricane force winds of 75 mph (120 kph) were possible from early Tuesday, with 50-70 mph gusts expected through Wednesday, said David Roth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

A red flag warning was in effect late on Monday as dry, dangerous Santa Ana winds picked up speed.

More than 8,500 firefighters attacked the fires from the air and on the ground, preventing conflagrations at either end of Los Angeles from spreading overnight.

"This setup is about as bad as it gets," Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told local residents. "We are not in the clear."

A lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Monday accuses the public utility of failing to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, a court filing showed.

The complaint, filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the historic blaze that destroyed the wealthy Los Angeles community of Pacific Palisades last week, says LADWP should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry at the time the flames erupted.

“The water supply system servicing Pacific Palisades failed miserably, leaving residents and firefighters with little to no water to fight the blaze,” Roger Behle, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys said in a statement.

The LADWP, which is the largest US municipal utility, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside of regular business hours.

-Reuters

Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters have arrived at the Los Angeles area ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

On Monday, planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were being placed near particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.

Dozens of water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted.

The winds are predicted to pick up starting early Tuesday and continue through midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

They are not expected to reach hurricane-force like last week, but they could ground firefighting aircraft, Marrone said, warning if winds reach 70 mph (112 kph), “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.

-AP

The Australian head of the world's largest volunteer firefighting force said on Tuesday a refusal by social media firms to give emergency services free access to its data was hindering responders globally, as wildfires continued to rip through Los Angeles.

Rob Rogers, Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS), said companies including Elon Musk's X and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, could save lives by giving first responders back-end access to data.

The RFS runs a network of some 74,000 volunteer firefighters and full-time staff protecting one of the world's most fire-prone regions.

The RFS commissioned Athena, a software program that uses artificial intelligence to predict where fires might spread.

The programme could be made more powerful by better integrating it with posts from social media users on wildfires as they started and spread, Rogers said.

X and Meta, however, have both been unwilling to provide back-end data to emergency services at no cost, he said.

A new fire has started in Venture County. It has spread 56 acres so far.

First used to warn of tornado outbreaks in the Midwest, meteorologists proposed expanding their use to disasters such as ice storms, floods, hurricanes, and now wildfires.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has issued two Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warnings in light of the extreme fire weather conditions likely to persist till Wednesday.

"This setup is about as bad as it gets." the federal agency's local office said, as it issued the warnings. --with AP inputs

The California Wildfires have spread across 40,588 acres, destroying over 12,300 structures.

Palisades Fire, largest of the fires, burned 23,713 acres and is only 14 per cent contained. The Eaton Fire which burned 14,117 acres has been the most destructive of the fires, responsible for destroying over 7,000 structures alone.

Eaton and Palisades are likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California's history, CNN reported spokesperson Brice Bennett of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as saying.

Governor Gavin Newsom shared on X that the Hurst Fire, which burned 799 acres near Diamond Road, is now 97 per cent contained.

On the other hand, the Eaton Fire is now 33% contained, while the Palisades Fire is 14% contained, as per The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for Kenneth, Hurst, Lidia and Sunset Fires, as reported by CNN.

The Hurst Fire is 89 per cent contained and the other three fires are 100 per cent contained.

Netflix has announced a $10 million donation to support immediate relief efforts for families and businesses affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, with the funds being split among multiple organizations, including the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and World Central Kitchen, according to a report by NBC.

The Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County has reached 33% containment, with firefighters making significant progress in establishing control lines along the eastern edge of the fire, according to the latest update from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, with a total of 14,117 acres burned and 3,235 personnel working on site.

Twelve Southern California sports teams, including the Lakers, Clippers, and Dodgers, have joined forces to donate over $8 million to support victims of the wildfires and firefighters battling the blazes, with the American Red Cross and fire relief funds among the recipients.

Twelve Southern California sports teams, including the Lakers, Clippers, and Dodgers, have joined forces to donate over $8 million to support victims of the wildfires and firefighters battling the blazes, with the American Red Cross and fire relief funds among the recipients.

A mural by Sergei Statsenko, who also goes by the artist name Steeke, thanks firefighters in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles as wildfires burn. (AP Photo)

Charred exterior of a Chevron gas station after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo)

A lot is full of burned out vehicles after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo)

The Los Angeles Rams paid tribute to the first responders and those impacted by the wildfires with a poignant 27-9 wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, with quarterback Matthew Stafford saying, "This is for the people of Los Angeles, struggling right now... We're just happy we came out and played like this tonight to give us something to be happy about," as reported by CNN.

Major entertainment studios, including Disney, Comcast, Netflix, Amazon, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery, have collectively donated between $30 million and $90 million to support immediate fire relief and rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles County, which has been ravaged by ongoing wildfires, as reported by CNN.

Edwin Castro, the Altadena resident who won a record-setting $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in 2023, has lost one of his newly acquired homes, a $3.85 million ocean-view mansion in Malibu, to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times, as cited by CNN.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is facing a lawsuit for allegedly failing to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, which killed at least eight people and destroyed thousands of structures, according to a court filing, as reported by Reuters.

Los Angeles law enforcement officials have issued a stern warning to individuals seeking to exploit those who have lost everything in the recent wildfires, stating that they will "throw the book" at those found guilty of looting, burglary, price gouging, and internet scams, as reported by BBC.

Nine people have already been charged, with dozens more cases pending, including three individuals accused of looting goods worth over $200,000 and another group who allegedly stole an Emmy award, which has since been recovered.

California's three-strikes law means that some of those charged could face life in prison if convicted, especially if they have prior convictions. Prosecutors are also focusing on combating price gouging and internet scams targeting those affected by the wildfires, with provisions in place to prevent price rises of more than 10% on essential expenditures like rent.

A curfew is being strictly enforced in evacuation-ordered areas of Los Angeles County, with residents urged to stay indoors between 18:00 and 6:00 local time, according to Captain Williams of the LA County Sheriff's Office, as reported by the BBC.

Those who violate the curfew face a $1,000 fine and/or jail time, with 31 arrests already made for various violations, including curfew breaches.

President Biden is calling on Congress to increase funding for California's wildfire relief efforts, emphasizing that the federal government will cover most costs for the next 180 days, but additional funding will be needed to rebuild Los Angeles.

This comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that disaster aid to California should come with conditions, highlighting the ongoing debate over the government's response to the devastating wildfires. (The Guardian)

A man has been charged with arson for allegedly starting a fire in Pioneer Park in Azaco, California, and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted, according to District Attorney Hochman, who warned would-be offenders, "It's a matter of when, not if you'll be caught," as reported by the BBC.

President-elect Donald Trump is considering a visit to Los Angeles as early as next week to assess the damage from the devastating wildfires and review the state's recovery efforts, according to sources familiar with the discussions, as reported by CNN.

Trump's team has been in talks with local California officials about the potential visit, although no details have been finalized. The planning for this visit comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom invited Trump to survey the destruction, expressing his gratitude for the federal government's response to the disaster.

A homeowner in Altadena had their Emmy Award stolen, along with other personal items, after four individuals broke into their residence, but swift police action led to the recovery of most of the stolen property, according to District Attorney Hochman, as reported by BBC.

Two major US banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, are set to provide mortgage forbearance for customers affected by the wildfires, according to Reuters. Forbearance allows borrowers to temporarily pause or reduce loan payments, offering relief as they rebuild. However, unpaid loans can strain bank profit margins, potentially reducing their presence in disaster-prone markets.

While aiding recovery, Laurent Birade, a bank expert from US ratings agency Moody's said that the wildfires highlight "the urgent need for financial institutions to prioritize climate risk management."

A lawsuit filed accuses Southern California Edison of causing the deadly Eaton fire near Los Angeles, as per The Guardian. Edison acknowledged fire agencies are investigating its equipment's role in sparking a smaller LA-area fire, the Hurst Fire, on the same day. In a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission, the utility stated, “a downed conductor was discovered at a tower” near the Hurst Fire’s origin but clarified it is unclear if the damage occurred before or after the fire began. Authorities have yet to confirm official causes for either fire.

The Academy Awards has postponed the announcement of Oscar nominations to January 23, with voting extended until January 17, reported BBC. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang stated, “We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community. We want to be sensitive to the infrastructure and lodging needs of the region in these next few weeks.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed solidarity with California, offering 150 Ukrainian firefighters to assist with the devastating wildfires, reported The Guardian. In a social media post, Zelenskyy wrote, “The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives.” This comes three days after Donald Trump Jr. appeared to criticize the Los Angeles Fire Department's support for Ukraine, posting on X, “Oh look of course the LA fire department donated a bunch of their supplies to Ukraine.”

Animal advocacy organizations, including the American Humane Society, are working to rescue and care for animals affected by the wildfires in California, reported The Guardian. The American Humane Society reported transporting 80 adoptable animals to shelters in Washington and Oregon to free up space in Los Angeles area shelters for displaced animals. The organization has also established an emergency relief fund to support affected animals.

US President Joe Biden stated he is receiving frequent updates on efforts to combat the wildfires in Los Angeles, reported BBC. "Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent souls we have lost," Biden said. "Jill and I pray for them and their loved ones." Biden highlighted his directive to deploy hundreds of federal personnel, along with aerial and ground support, to assist California. He assured that his team would "respond promptly" to any additional requests for aid. He also expressed gratitude to the firefighters and first responders, saying, "To the brave firefighters and first responders working day and night to suppress these fires and save lives: our nation is grateful."

Several corporations have announced significant donations to aid those impacted by the devastating California wildfires, reported The Guardian. Disney pledged $15 million for response and rebuilding efforts. "The history of The Walt Disney Company is inextricably linked to the greater Los Angeles region," the company stated. "And the destruction from the devastating fires affecting thousands in our area is truly heartbreaking."

Paramount, in an internal memo obtained by Variety, revealed a $1 million donation along with cash grants and temporary housing for displaced employees. Walmart committed $2.5 million to support relief efforts, including donations of food, water, essential products, and grants. "Associates, customers, and members in the communities we serve are experiencing the devastating impacts of the wildfires in Southern California. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we are acting quickly to help," the company said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that investigations are underway to determine the causes of the fires within his jurisdiction, reported The Guardian. This includes examining potential arson and weather-related factors. "No cause for any of the recent fires has been confirmed so far," Luna said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the "shock, grief, and anger" that residents of Los Angeles have experienced, reported BBC. "We have to stand together," she stated. With the National Weather Service predicting winds near hurricane strength, Bass assured that preparations were in place, with firefighters across the county ready and on high alert. She stressed that protecting lives is the city's top priority, urging Angelenos to remain united.

Due to the return of high winds, parts of Los Angeles are under compulsory evacuation orders, with officials warning that fires could spread further, reported BBC. As of Sunday evening, 100,000 people in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders, while another 87,000 were facing evacuation warnings. Authorities have stated that those who were evacuated will not be allowed to return to their homes until Thursday at the earliest.

Calfire State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant called the firefighting efforts since last Tuesday "exhausting," noting that some firefighters were woken up after working two straight days to return to the frontlines, reported The Guardian. Relief efforts have been ramped up by bringing in firefighters from neighboring states, activating the National Guard, and deploying resources like Black Hawk helicopters.

Despite the ongoing wildfires, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation's second-largest school district, announced that most schools and offices will reopen on Monday morning, reported The Guardian. Over half a million students were out of school due to the fires. LAUSD has been providing two meals per student, per day since the fires began, addressing concerns for students who rely on school for meals.

In an interview with CBS, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone expressed confidence in the availability of resources to fight the ongoing wildfires, saying there are “enough resources” to handle the crisis. This statement contradicts Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, reported The Guardian, who publicly criticized the city's budget cuts on Friday, claiming they have made it harder for firefighters to effectively do their jobs. Marrone described the current fires as “unprecedented.”

A warning has been issued for air quality in Los Angeles, with strong winds expected to worsen pollution levels, reported BBC. According to the South Coast AQMD, blowing dust could lead to air quality that is "unhealthy for sensitive groups" across most of LA. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph (112 km/h) are forecast, as per BBC, which will also spread ash from burned areas.

“Windblown ash from burned structures may contain higher air toxic levels. If you see windblown ash, take precautions to reduce exposure,” the agency warns. The National Weather Service advises residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and wear a mask if they must go outside.

As of 8:45 am ET, 49,638 customers in California were without power, according to PowerOutage.us. The outages continue to affect many regions as crews work to restore service.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is asking the public not to drop off donations at fire stations, as it is affecting their operations, reported The Guardian. In a statement, the department said, "First and foremost, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and unwavering support. Your donations have made a significant difference in helping us fight these multiple fires affecting our communities." However, the department added, "While the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Fire Department are more than grateful for your support, please do not drop off donations at fire stations or shelters as it impacts the critical operations of these frontline responders."

A red flag warning has been issued for Los Angeles County, with 50 mph winds and gusts up to 70 mph expected through Wednesday, reported The Guardian. The National Weather Service warned, “there will be the potential for explosive fire growth as those winds pick back up.” Fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns stated, “Tomorrow night, it will really ramp up,” with Tuesday being the most dangerous day, as per The Guardian. Residents are urged to follow evacuation orders promptly.