New round of evacuation orders lifted as LA mayor names chief recovery officer

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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least 27 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue burning in Southern California.

The Palisades Fire, burning in the Pacific Palisades, and the Eaton Fire, burning in Altadena, have forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

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Jan 17, 2025, 5:42 PM

Wildfires burning in SoCal: Numbers at a glance

Here are all the current wildfires burning in Southern California at a glance.

Palisades Fire

  • 23,713 acres
  • 31% containment
  • 10 deaths
  • 5,316 structures burned

Eaton Fire in San Gabriel Valley

  • 14,117 acres
  • 65% contained
  • Approximately 7,081 structures believed to be damaged or destroyed (structures includes vehicles)
  • 17 deaths
  • 5 firefighter injuries

Hurst Fire in Sylmar

  • 799 acres
  • 100% contained

Auto Fire

  • 61 acres
  • 85% contained

Kenneth Fire in West Hills

  • 1,052 acres
  • 100% contained

Jan 16, 2025, 2:15 PM GMT

Palisades Fire burns 5,000 acres, burns 1,000 structures

The Pacific Palisades fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and has destroyed an estimated 1,000 structures, officials said during a news conference Wednesday.

The fire remains 0% contained.

Jan 16, 2025, 2:15 PM GMT

VP Harris' Brentwood neighborhood evacuated due to Palisades fire

Vice President Kamala Harris' neighborhood in the Brentwood community in the Pacific Palisades was put under an evacuation order Wednesday morning due to the Palisades fire, according to a press secretary from Harris' office.

No one was home at the time.

"She and the Second Gentleman are praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel," press secretary Ernie Apreza said in a post on X.

Harris and President Joe Biden are closely monitoring the wildfires and are in touch with state and local officials, Apreza added.

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Jan 16, 2025, 2:15 PM GMT

AIR7 provides 1st aerial view of wildfires

AIR7 was able to launch Wednesday morning, giving us the first aerial view of multiple wildfires burning across Los Angeles.

AIR7 provides first aerial image of wildfires burning in Los Angeles.
AIR7 provides first aerial image of wildfires burning in Los Angeles.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m., AIR7 was over the Eaton Fire near Altadena and showed several two-story homes burning in a residential neighborhood while others smoldered.

Watch the live aerial images in the video player above.

Jan 16, 2025, 2:15 PM GMT

Wildfires force road closures in Los Angeles County

Wildfires burning across Southern California amid a powerful windstorm are forcing roads and major freeways to close.

Near the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades, a part of the Pacific Coast Highway is closed.

Due to the Eaton fire in Altadena, a portion of Altadena Drive is closed.

In Sylmar, due to the Hurst fire, a portion of westbound I-210 is closed.

See the full list of road closures here.