January 9, 2025 - Los Angeles County wildfires

Our live coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires has moved here.

Kimiko Warner-Turner speaks during an interview with CNN.

As ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles rage on, residents staying at an evacuation shelter in Pasadena are wrapping their heads around the scale of their losses.

“Just imagine if you go to the front door and behind it, it’s nothing, and you walk in and you have your car keys, but there’s no place to put it, and then there’s no place to lay your head, and you don’t have a blanket, a towel,” Kimiko Warner-Turner told CNN.

For Warner-Turner, the thought of rebuilding a new life is just too overwhelming.

Another evacuee at the shelter, Raya Reynaga, told CNN that as the fire crept up to her historic home, she resisted leaving for a while, fearing what she would lose if she didn’t.

“I tried to save my house because that’s all I have. Everything I’ve ever worked on for my entire life was there,” she said, in tears.

Reynaga, who is a trained first responder, said she had to be physically removed from her property after four to five hours.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends a news conference in Turlock, California, on January 6.

The California National Guard will be used to help law enforcement after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a request for assistance from Los Angeles County.

Authorities in the area have been warning of looters and scammers “who are targeting vulnerable victims” and have confirmed arrests have been made.

Hundreds of members of the National Guard will be sent to boost capacity of local law enforcement and stationed at traffic control points to ensure safety, according to a statement from Newsom’s office.

The deployment will bring the number of personnel, including firefighters, on the ground to 8,000, the statement said.

Newsom also thanked first responders and emergency personnel for their hard work and described the deployment as part of the state’s move to “throwing everything at our disposal” to protect communities.

At a news conference Thursday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the county would impose a curfew on impacted areas that are under mandated evacuation. It is in place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. until officials lift the order, the county said in a statement.

“Once we get everything done, we may enact it tomorrow night,” he told reporters.

The Hurst fire burns in the hills above Sylmar, CA on January 8.

The Hurst Fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, is now more than one-third contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – an improvement from 10% contained earlier Thursday night.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office urged residents to “stay safe and be alert.”

According to Cal Fire’s website, here is where major fires stand as of Thursday night:

Palisades Fire: at least 19,978 acres and 6% contained

Eaton Fire: at least 13,690 acres and 0% contained

Hurst Fire: at least 771 acres and 37% contained

Kenneth Fire: at least 1,000 acres and 35% contained

Lidia Fire: at least 394 acres and 75% contained

Containment numbers should go up as weather conditions improve, according to Capt. Adam VanGerpen, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

This post has been updated with the latest figures.

Traci Park speaks in Los Angeles, on September 30, 2024.

Traci Park, councilmember for Los Angeles’ District 11, which includes the Pacific Palisades, said the ongoing blazes have been “horrifying, terrifying and traumatic,” and that the people who are affected are not just her constituents but also her friends.

“This is a community that is no stranger to fires,” Park told CNN, adding that people in the district are very familiar with what she described as faulty protocols required of them in an emergency situation like this.

“It is indicative of chronic underinvestment in critical infrastructure as well as in public safety.”

Park told CNN that the number of fire stations and firefighters in the city of Lost Angeles has remained the same for 50 to 60 years –– despite a need for at least 62 new fire stations to serve the average daily demand.

“During last year’s budget, I fought to retain those positions, and I was successful in doing so. But it’s only a drop in the bucket,” she said. Park said the calls for service had tripled.

“The strains and the underinvestment in our public safety in Los Angeles is absolutely untenable, and so I think that our residents and constituents are right to be angry. I am glad to hear Mayor Bass’ commitment to accountability,” she said.

An aerial firefighting aircraft collided with a drone flying in restricted airspace over the Palisades Fire on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Super Scooper plane Quebec 1 “sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service. There were no reported injuries,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said.

The collision caused the temporary grounding of all aircraft responding to the Palisades Fire, The War Zone reported, citing Cal Fire. It was one of the two planes deployed with the ability to scoop up more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water to drop on active fires, The War Zone said.

The midair collision is now under investigation by the FAA, which says the firefighting aircraft landed safely.

The FAA underscored late Thursday that it “has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones” in restricted airspace put in place over the wildfires.

It said that drones near aerial firefighting can ground air tankers, slow fire response, and cost lives.

The FAA did not specify which agency was operating the aerial firefighting aircraft. Flight tracking data showed Cal Fire air tankers and helicopters as well as those from county fire departments and government contractors operating over the LA wildfires Thursday.

An emergency vehicle drives through a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, California on January 9.

Walter and Yalda Seace’s home in Altadena, where they lived for 40 years, is among those that have been reduced to rubble by the Eaton Fire, CNN affiliate KABC reported.

“Here we are with nothing,” Walter Seace told the news outlet, grappling with the magnitude of their loss.

The couple captured the flames approaching their home on their Ring cameras Tuesday night, which overlooked their residence at the top of Altadena Drive. They still clung to a sliver of hope that they would have a home to return to. The Eaton Fire has burned 13,690 acres and is currently 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.

His wife, Yalda Seace, remains determined to rebuild their home.

“It’s overwhelming. I don’t know how we’re going to get through it. We will. It’s just going to be a long process,” she said to KABC. “We’re going to get back. It’ll be fine. Unfortunately, there are so many other people in the same situation. It’s devastating, actually.”

What remains for them is each other, a few basic belongings they managed to grab during their evacuation, and their two dogs.

“This is home. I’ve always wanted to live in Altadena,” Yalda said. “I’ll find a way.”

Eight C-130 military transport planes have been activated to support firefighting efforts across Los Angeles, US Northern Command announced on Thursday.

Planes equipped with Modular Aerial Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) along with their crews will be brought in from Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado to the Channel Islands in Southern California, joining other MAFFS-equipped aircraft in California, according to a statement from US Northern Command.

Some aircraft will be ready to assist with firefighting efforts as early as Friday, with all being ready by Sunday.

“Providing support to civil authorities is a valued part of our homeland defense mission. We’re well-practiced and in position to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Interagency Firefighting Center (NIFC), and the state of California to assist the many citizens in need,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander of US Northern Command.

MAFFS are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be loaded into C-130 cargo planes without major structural modifications converting them into air tankers, according to the US Forest Service. The system helps provide “surge” capabilities that “can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts.”

They can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, and can be refilled in less than 12 minutes, according to the Forest Service.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said it has received notification of 10 fire-related deaths as of Thursday evening.

No names were released by the medical examiner. All cases are pending identification and legal next of kin notification, the department said.

Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows that fires were largely going out across much of Altadena over the past 24 hours.

At 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the space tech firm’s satellite detected fires (seen in orange below) across much of Altadena, using shortwave infrared imaging.

A satelite image shows burning buildings in Altadena, California, on Wednesday, January 8.

By 11:00 a.m. Thursday, barely any fires were detected in Altadena, though much of the Eaton Fire continued to rage in the mountains east of Altadena.

A satellite image shows the active fireline north of Altadena, California, on Thursday, January 9.

An amputee and his son died in the wildfire in Altadena, the Washington Post reported.

Hajime White, an Arkansas resident, told the Post that she last communicated with her father, Anthony Mitchell, on Wednesday morning.

“He said, ‘Baby, I’m just letting you know the fire’s broke out, and we’re going to have to evacuate,’” White recounted. “Then he said, ‘I’ve got to go — the fire’s in the yard.’”

Mitchell, 67, a retired salesman and amputee who relied on a wheelchair, lived in Altadena with his son Justin, in his early 20s and living with cerebral palsy. Another son, Jordan, also in his 20s, was in the hospital at the time, leaving no caregivers available, according to the Post.

White received the news that neither her father nor Justin had escaped the flames. “They didn’t make it out,” she told the Post. Authorities informed the family that Mitchell was found by his son’s bed, leading his family to believe he was trying to save Justin.

“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” White told the Post. “It’s very hard. It’s like a ton of bricks just fell on me.”

White described her father as a generous man who adored his four children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, the outlet reported. The Arkansas-based family affectionately called him FaFa, short for “far away.”

A satellite photo shows a view of the homes destroyed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The imagery was taken in false color, which is a wavelength that helps better visualize burned areas. Anything in the imagery that shows up red is vegetation that remains post-fire.

The Palisades Fire has nearly completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, new satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows.

The imagery was taken in false color, which is a wavelength that helps better visualize burned areas. Anything in the imagery that shows up red is vegetation that remains post-fire.

Almost every structure north of Sunset Boulevard in the town is burnt to the ground. The same is true for the buildings and homes around Marquez Charter School, which is also destroyed.

Jeremy Hunter's home in Altadena, California was destroyed by the Palisades fire.

A kidney transplant recipient who fled the Palisades Fire with his family and his medicines called the loss of his home “unspeakable.”

Jeremy Hunter, 53, from Altadena, California, told CNN Thursday he was unaware a fire broke out near his neighborhood on Tuesday until a former informed contractor reached out to him. Hunter’s 9-year-old son then looked out the window and could see the smoke from a distance.

Since he lived in a fire zone, Hunter knew to prepare for incidents like this, so he gathered “all the necessary stuff” to keep him and family alive including his medicines.

Hunter lived with kidney disease for 17 years before having a transplant in 2008, he told CNN.

Hunter said he and his family masked up, packed up their car, and headed to a friend’s house on the west side of Los Angeles.

Hunter's home before the blaze.

On Wednesday, Hunter found out his home was destroyed in the blaze. After visiting the charred remains, he is unsure about what’s next. Hunter assumes he and his family will eventually go back to rebuild their home, but he said the repairs could take years.

Family members have identified 83-year-old Rodney Nickerson as one of the victims of the catastrophic wildfires that erupted in California, according to CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS.

“We found his bones; his whole body was intact,” his daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, shared with the local outlet.

Nickerson was discovered by family amid the charred remnants of his home after the Eaton Fire swept through his Altadena neighborhood, KCAL/KCBS reported. Despite local evacuation orders, Nickerson chose to remain in his home, his daughter said.

Captain Erik Scott appears on CNN on Thursday, January 9.

It has been “extremely challenging” for the Los Angeles City Fire Department to battle the historic wildfires ripping through the county while already facing staffing and resource shortages, according to Captain Erik Scott.

On average, the department runs 1,500 emergency incidents and 911 calls per day, Scott told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday evening. The agency is now running nearly 4,000 during the wildfires, said Scott: “There is no stop.”

The fire captain said mutual aid is critical in battling the fires, along with getting resources from out of state.

When asked whether he’s concerned if a fire could explode in other areas in the county overnight, Scott said: “No bets are off. Los Angeles is unique – you got 470 square miles, maybe 20% of that is brush. Any of those areas that are backed up to brush are our potential targets.”

Scott then urged people to heed wireless emergency alerts on mandatory evacuation orders.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared that his childhood residence was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.

Kerr said that his parents bought the house in 1969, where he grew up.

“It’s surreal and devastating, but fortunately, almost everyone escaped,” he added. “The pictures reminded me of Lahaina from a couple years ago. And I’m so happy that there wasn’t the loss of life that people in Hawaii experienced. But it’s hard to even fathom how Pacific Palisades rebuilds and how it becomes a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.”

Kerr recalled dining at his family home two days before the game and reminisced about his lasting memories from celebrating his mother’s 90th birthday there last summer with 100 guests.

Reflecting on his connection to the area, Kerr, whose father taught at UCLA, spoke of taking countless drives down Sunset Boulevard to campus.

“It’s an idyllic place, it’s a beautiful town, sunsets every night,” he said. “The memories are rich, but seeing the current images of Sunset Boulevard and the Palisades is shocking — it looks apocalyptic and devastating,” he said.

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said it looks as though “an atomic bomb dropped in these areas” as wildfires rage in the county.

He confirmed five deaths that he was aware of from the devastating fires, although other officials have confirmed seven across the region.

“But even as I’m telling you that, it’s leaving my lips, I’m nervous about that number,” Luna said Thursday at a news conference.

The sheriff added that he is praying the death toll doesn’t increase, “but based on the devastation that is clear” he said he “doesn’t expect good news.”

An evacuation warning that was accidentally sent out as an alert to the entire county was due to an error with the software, said Kevin McGowan, director of LA County Office of Emergency Management.

The correct zone was selected within the software – which was for the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills – but an error made it go out to the entire county, he said at a news conference Thursday.

Asked about the alert at the same news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Rob Luna said that in the stressful situation facing LA residents, this is the “last thing we want to happen.”

But he added, “Sometimes technology isn’t perfect,” and said officials will work to fix it.

This post was updated with the sheriff’s comment.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks during a news conference on Thursday, January 9.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized that her main priority is keeping residents alive as fires ravage her city.

When asked about complaints regarding her being away from the city during the devastation, she answered: “These fires are burning now. Our job is to make sure that people stay alive, that we save lives, that we save homes, that we save property.”

She went on to add that when the fires are contained, “we will look at what worked. We will look at what didn’t work.”

Bass added that she will not answer this question again.

A house is threatened as the Palisades Fire grows in the mountains in the community of Topanga, California, on January 9.

Two deaths were reported from the Palisades Fire Thursday, bringing the total death toll to at least seven people from the Los Angeles fires that are raging this week.

Five of those deaths are from the Eaton Fire and officials have expressed concern the total may grow.

Meanwhile, the federal government is increasing its funding to fully cover the cost of recovery, President Joe Biden said on Thursday.

Here’s what else to know:

New fire: The Kenneth Fire, briefly named the Kennis Fire, spread to over 790 acres on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to an incident page from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Authorities shut down a portion of Highway 101 in response. While the fire grew quickly in just a couple hours, it appears to have slowed down in growth, video from CNN affiliate KABC shows. Small pockets of fire can be seen on the borders of the fire but the charred hillside seems mostly inactive.

Eaton Fire: The fire has blazed through 13,690 acres and is continuing to grow, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Thursday news conference. Potentially 4,000-5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, which includes single family or multifamily residences, commercial occupancies, outbuildings or vehicles, he added. It has reached the top of nearby Mount Wilson, threatening television transmitters on the peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to Carlos Herrera, a public information officer for Los Angeles County.

Death toll hard to investigate: There have been “multiple deaths” in the areas of Los Angeles County affected by ongoing wildfires, according to preliminary information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday that “frankly, we don’t know yet” where the true death toll stands. Homicide investigators have not had the chance to process any of the scenes due to dangerous conditions, including spot fires, downed power lines and leaking gas.

Firefighters: Many of the firefighters battling wildfires have been working non-stop and carrying up to 100 pounds of gear since they responded to the Pacific Palisades Fire on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the California Professional Firefighters union told CNN. Many firefighters had been working for 40 to 48 hours before they were sent to the initial fire and could be on duty for 24 to 48 hours until additional crews arrive, the union said. They are facing “extremely toxic smoke from all the chemicals from burning structures and vehicles,” spokesperson DeeDee Garcia added.

Mitigation efforts: Firefighting teams are expecting more wind and dry conditions to continue to complicate efforts into next week, Don Fregulia, the operations section chief with the California Interagency Management Team 5, said Thursday. Sheriff Robert Luna announced that his department has “officially requested the support of the California National Guard” for the Palisades and Eaton fires. Fire crews flew at least seven helicopters overnight as they battled one of the largest wildfires raging the Los Angeles area, Kenichi Haskett, a section chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department assigned to the Palisades Fire, told CNN. But with winds forecast to pick back up Thursday afternoon and into the weekend, Haskett said efforts will be limited again.