California fires latest: 16 dead, 16 missing; strong winds returning
One of several wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area continued to spread this weekend, expanding evacuation orders and destroying a home as cameras rolled and people watched live.
The Palisades Fire is one of several massive blazes still burning throughout Los Angeles County, including the Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena area, the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills area and the Hurst Fire near Sylmar.
RELATED: California fires live video: Watch Los Angeles webcams
At least 16 people have died in the fires ,but officials said they expected that figure to rise as teams with cadaver dogs conduct systematic grid searches in leveled neighborhoods.
Authorities have established a center where people can report the missing. Sixteen people were reported missing so far.
California wildfires death toll rises as winds intensify
The California wildfires death toll has risen to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical examiner's office. LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow is joined by Mark Lambert, Assistant Professor & Director of the West Virgina University Fire Service Extension/State Fire Academy, to discuss the latest.
More than 12,000 structures have burned. The wildfires could end up being the costliest in U.S. history, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather.
RELATED: Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran creates GoFundMe for Pacific Palisades mobile home park
In a briefing posted online Saturday evening, Michael Traum of the California Office of Emergency Services said 150,000 people in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders, with more than 700 people taking refuge in nine shelters.
A view of wildfires in Mandeville Canyon, Los Angeles, United States on January 11, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
RELATED: California fires threaten oil and gas supplies
More Santa Ana winds arrive
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph. The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson.
"You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there," Thompson said at a community meeting Saturday night.
There were fears that winds could move the Palisades Fire toward the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles, which could prompt new evacuation orders.
RELATED: Sunday forecast: Strong Santa Ana winds return to SoCal
Palisades Fire
- Acreage burned: 23,654 acres.
- Containment: Still at 11%.
- Structures destroyed: At least 5,316 (includes automobiles).
- Homes destroyed: At least 426 homes.
- Deaths: Five confirmed, according to the County Medical Examiners office.
- Displaced: More than 100,000 people have been displaced.
- Cause: Remains under investigation.
READ MORE: Palisades Fire continues to burn as strong winds are expected to return
Eaton Fire
- Acreage burned: 14,117
- Containment: Still at 15%
- Structures destroyed: More than 7,000 (includes automobiles).
- Deaths: 11 deaths confirmed, according to the County Medical Examiners office.
- Displaced: More than 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders.
- Cause: Remains under investigation.
READ MORE: Eaton fire live updates: 11 dead as fire still burns in Altadena area
Kenneth Fire
- Acreage burned: 1,052 acres
- Containment: 100%, as of Sunday morning
- Structures damaged: None
- According to LAPD, this fire is being investigated as arson.
READ MORE: Kenneth Fire that sparked in West Hills is now fully contained
Feds take lead in determining cause
California fires: Super Scoopers strike
John Gradek, Coordinator of McGill University's Aviation Management Program, joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about the Canadian 'Super Scooper' fighting the California wildfires. The planes refill by descending to the waters of lakes and skimming the water's surface to load their tanks. They release the tanks to douse a fire burning and repeat the entire process until they must refuel the plane.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will take the lead in investigating the exact cause of the fires.
The exact cause of each fire is still under investigation, but they were fueled by extreme drought conditions, combined with the supersized Santa Ana winds that whipped flames and embers at 100 mph – much faster than usual.
Southern California Electric, a major utility provider in the area, reported a downed power line in the area of the Hurst Fire around the same time the fire sparked.