California fires live updates: At least 10 fire-related deaths, medical examiner says

PHOTO: A firefighter walks past a burning structure as the Palisades Fire continues to burn in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on Jan. 8, 2025.

Live

Mark J. Terrill/AP

ABC News Live

At least 10 people are believed to be dead -- with the LA County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as a series of devastating fires grow uncontained across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the Los Angeles area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 19,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and remains zero percent contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and zero percent contained. More than 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as the infernos spread.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.

Jan 10, 2025 5:26 AM

10 dead in LA fires: Medical examiner

There have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in Los Angeles, according to the county's Department of Medical Examiner.

The identification is expected to take several weeks "as the Department of Medical Examiner is not able to respond to all death locations due to the fire conditions and safety concerns," a statement read late Thursday evening.

"The Department of Medical Examiner understands how important it is to identify those lost in the wildfires and is working diligently, while following safety protocols, to provide the information to the next of kin as soon as reasonably possible," the statement continued.

Jan 10, 2025 3:57 AM

Firefighters stop forward progress of Kenneth Fire

Firefighters in Ventura County have stopped the forward progress of a rapidly burning wildfire that originally broke out Thursday afternoon in the West Hills area of Los Angeles.

The blaze is holding at 960 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. All evacuation orders for LA County have been reduced to warnings and evacuation warnings in Ventura County have been lifted, the fire department said.

About 400 firefighters will remain at the scene of the fire overnight to work on knocking down hot spots.

There have been no reports of any structures damaged or destroyed from the Kenneth Fire. The fire is still described as 0% contained.

Jan 10, 2025 2:51 AM

Death toll remains at 5

At least five people have died in the Los Angeles fires, the LA County Sheriff's Office clarified Thursday night.

There have been at least three victims in the Eaton Fire and two in the Palisades Fire, according to police.

During a press briefing Thursday afternoon officials had incorrectly said there were five victims in the Eaton Fire and announced two victims from the Palisades Fire.

Jan 10, 2025 2:48 AM

New satellite images show extent of LA wildfire devastation

New satellite images are showing the extent of the devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles.

The images were released by Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based satellite company.

The photos show the damage to hard-hit neighborhoods, such as Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

PHOTO: Overview of beachfront homes before and after fire swept along La Costa Beach, in Malibu, Calif., in a satellite image provided by MaxarTechnologies.

@MaxarTechnologies

Overview of beachfront homes before and after fire swept along La Costa Beach, in Malibu, Calif., in a satellite image provided by MaxarTechnologies.

@MaxarTechnologies

The photos also show heavy clouds of smoke from the Palisades and Eaton Fires billowing over the landscape as seen from above.

@MaxarTechnologies

Overview of Palisades and Eaton Wildfires in a satellite image provided by MaxarTechnologies.

@MaxarTechnologies

See more before and after photos.

Jan 08, 2025 11:52 PM
Malibu 'extremely hard it' by Palisades Fire: LAFD
Malibu took an "extremely hard hit" Wednesday afternoon in the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz told ABC News Live as the fire continued to burn uncontrolled.
The Palisades Fire is moving both east and west amid high winds, which are hindering firefighting efforts, Lantz said.
"We don't have a handle on it yet," Lantz said.
Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The remains of houses along the Pacific Ocean burned by the Palisades wildfire in Malibu, California, Jan. 8, 2025.
Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The fire department has been "overrun" by calls for service, with call volume increasing almost threefold in addition to the fires, Lantz said.
"We have a lot of agencies helping us, coming in from all over California and the western U.S.," she said. "We are extremely grateful for all of that help. But we are fighting against these winds right now ... and still trying to prioritize life safety before we really have any hope of getting a handle on these flames right now."

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Key Headlines

10 dead in LA fires: Medical examiner

Firefighters stop forward progress of Kenneth Fire

Death toll remains at 5

New satellite images show extent of LA wildfire devastation

Malibu 'extremely hard it' by Palisades Fire: LAFD

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