California wildfires live updates: Death toll rises to 24, officials prepare for a ‘particularly dangerous situation’

California wildfires live updates: The unprecedented fires in Los Angeles, California, have killed 24 people so far; mandatory evacuation orders lifted in several areas; strong dry winds are forecast to return

California wildfires live updates: Los Angeles county officials on Sunday said the death toll from wildfires had risen to 24. Many are believed to be missing, and over 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in six simultaneous wildfires that spread across the County starting Tuesday. Dangerous dry winds returned on Sunday to whip up furious gusts of infernos that have scorched communities to rubble and left thousands homeless. The dry winds, which originate from the inland deserts, fanned flames and blew embers up to 2 miles (3 km) ahead of the front lines.

Some aerial firefighters scooped water out of the Pacific Ocean and dropped water and retardant. At the same time, land crews with hand tools and hoses held the line of the Palisades Fire as it encroached on the upscale Brentwood section and other populated areas of Los Angeles.

California wildfires | Key points

• President-elect Donald Trump has accused California officials of incompetence. “They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was launching a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild the ravaged city. “We already have a team looking at reimagining L.A. 2.0,” he said.
• The National Weather Service has warned of worsening weather conditions ahead. Santa Ana winds are predicted to pick up and last through Tuesday morning. They can bring sustained winds up to 30 mph, and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
• Over 1,53,000 residents and 57,000 structures are under evacuation orders, and another 1,66,000 residents have been warned of potential evacuation.
• About 50,000 customers without power, “down from over half a million just a couple days ago.”
• The death toll is expected to mount when fire rescue fighters can enter and search ravaged structures.

At least 24 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple fires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue to rage across Southern California, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Thousands of firefighters are battling several sprawling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched nearly 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 11% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 14,100 acres and is 27% contained. The Hurst Fire near Sylmar has burned 799 acres and is 89% contained.

About 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.

Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 24

There have been at least 24 fire-related deaths in the Palisades and Eaton Fires, according to the latest tally from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

The number of fatalities is expected to rise as officials continue to battle the dual fires.

According to the medical examiner, there have been 16 confirmed deaths linked to the Eaton Fire and eight fatalities due to the Palisades Fire.

Los Angeles Unified School District reopening some schools Monday

Los Angeles Unified School District announced some schools are reopening Monday, depending on the location of the institution and the weather conditions.

LAUSD said school principals will contact communities directly.

ABC News confirmed that some community members received calls on Sunday about schools reopening.

The district has over 1,500 schools serving roughly 600,000 students in grades K–12. Schools across the district have been closed due to fires since Thursday.

Red flag alert will stay in effect through Wednesday

The National Weather Service on Sunday issued another red flag warning for fire danger in Southern California.

This is the fourth time in three months the NWS has issued the high-level alert, with the last one occurring last week when winds went up to 100 mph and the fires in Los Angeles County began.

California wildfires live updates: ‘Neighbours helping neighbours’, says Canadian MP Harjit Sajjan

“Our American friends have asked for help to fight the wildfires in California and Team Canada is responding. The federal government is coordinating efforts with the provinces to deploy resources,” said Canadian MP Harjit Sajjan.

“Sixty firefighters from Alberta and B.C. will be deployed as soon as tomorrow and we’re working to identify and prepare more resources to send over the days ahead,” he added.

California wildfires live updates: Actor James Woods house survives LA wildfire

California wildfires live updates: Actor James Woods said his house in Pacific Palisades has survived the Los Angeles wildfire that has devastated much of his neighbourhood.

“A miracle has happened,” Woods posted Friday on X. “We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing.”

Woods added: “In this hellish landscape standing’ is relative, but smoke and other damage is not like the utter destruction around us.”

California wildfires live updates: CA passes order to fasten debris removal

“I just signed an executive order to direct fast action to clear wildfire debris across Southern California and prepare for the heightened risk for mudslides in burned areas. The road ahead is going to be difficult, but we’re doing all we can to help LA rebuild and move forward,” said CA Governor Gavin Newsom.

California wildfires live updates: Mandatory evacuation orders lifted in several areas

California wildfires live updates: “Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for the #SunsetFire, #KennethFire, #HurstFire, and #LidiaFire — but residents are strongly encouraged to continue heeding evacuation warnings still covering these affected areas,” said CA Governor Gavin Newsom.

California wildfires live updates: Officials prepare for a ‘particularly dangerous situation’

California wildfires live updates: Weather conditions are set to dramatically worsen, with “extreme fire behavior and life threatening conditions” over the coming days.

Winds up to 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour mean a “particularly dangerous situation (PDS)” will be declared from early Tuesday, said National Weather Service.

These gusts could fan flames and whip up embers from existing burn zones into new areas, firefighters warned.

Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony Marrone said his department had received resources including dozens of new water trucks and firefighters from far afield and was primed to face the renewed threat.

California wildfires live updates: Extent of fires contained in Los Angeles

California wildfires live updates: The fire on the western side of town has consumed 23,713 acres (9,596 hectares) or 37 square miles (96 sq km) and stood at 11% contained. Firefighters have its perimeters under control.

The Eaton Fire scorched another 14,117 acres (5,713 hectares) or 22 square miles (57 sq. km) – was contained to 27%, up from 15% a day earlier.

North of the city, the Hurst Fire was 89% contained, and three other fires that had ravaged other parts of the county were now 100% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported. Areas within the containment lines may still be burning.

California wildfires live updates: Student annoyed by news media’s initial focus on celebrities

California wildfires live updates: Samantha Santoro (22), a first-generation college student at Cal Poly Pomona, remembered being annoyed when the initial news coverage of the wildfires focused more on celebrities. She and her sister, who attends UC Berkeley, worry how their Mexican immigrant parents and working-class neighbours who lost their homes in Altadena will move forward.

“We don’t have like, ‘Oh, I’ll just go to my second home and stay there,'” Santoro said.

California wildfires live updates: Release of Meghan Markle’s Netflix show postponed due to Los Angeles wildfires

California wildfires live updates: The release of a new Netflix series produced by the Duchess of Sussex will be postponed due to the devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires, the streaming platform has announced.

Eight-part series Love, Meghan, which will see the actress share cooking, gardening and hosting tips, will premiere on March 4 instead of January 15. “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement to Tudum, the official companion site to Netflix.

With Thanks and Reference to :https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/california-wildfires-live-updates-la-fires-2025-palisades-los-angeles-weather-santa-ana-winds-101736640088332.html and https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/california-fires-live-updates-santa-ana-winds-rage/?id=117541907