Return of strong winds to Los Angeles threatens area's fight against fires

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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least 24 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 to rage across Southern California, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

Key Headlines in the last 24 hours

Here's how the news is developing.
KABC logo
Jan 14, 2025, 10:16 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
  • 17% containment
  • 8 deaths
  • 5,316 structures burned

Eaton Fire in San Gabriel Valley

  • 14,117 acres
  • 35% contained
  • Approximately 7,081 structures believed to be damaged or destroyed (structures includes vehicles)
  • 16 deaths
  • 5 firefighter injuries

Hurst Fire in Sylmar

  • 799 acres
  • 97% contained

Auto Fire

  • 56 acres
  • 25% contained

Kenneth Fire in West Hills

  • 1,052 acres
  • 100% contained

ABCNews logo
12:49 AM GMT

Newsom proposes additional $2.5B in response to SoCal fires

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed that the state provide an additional $2.5 billion in funding for its firestorm response and recovery efforts.

Newsom signed a proclamation on Monday that expands the scope of the state legislature's current special session "to further boost response and initial recovery efforts for Los Angeles," his office said in a press release.

The governor is requesting $1 billion to go toward the emergency response, cleanup and recovery in the Los Angeles wildfires, as well as $1.5 billion in funding to prepare for the threats of firestorms and other natural disasters, according to the proclamation.

Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas said in a statement that the assembly members "are listening to their residents and will bring feedback to the discussion as we consider the Governor's proposal."

ABCNews logo
1:18 AM GMT

9 people charged with looting in Palisades, Eaton fires, DA announces

Nine people have been charged with looting in connection with the Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday.

"There have been certain people that we have given a warning to because we anticipated that this was half was going to happen, and these are the criminals," Hochman said during a press briefing. "These are the people who are seeking to exploit this tragedy for their own benefit."

Among those charged are three people accused of stealing more than $200,000 in property in a burglary last week at a house in Mandeville Canyon during an "evacuation situation," Hochman said.

A man has also been charged with arson in a fire that occurred in the city of Azusa on Friday, Hochman said.

Nine people have been charged with looting in connection with the Palisades and Eaton fires, L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman announced.
ABCNews logo
2:09 AM GMT

How the Palisades Village managed to survive the firestorm

The Palisades Village is largely unscathed amid the devastating Palisades Fire, even as buildings across the street burned to the ground.

That's because the owners of the outdoor mall hired private tankers to fend off the flames as the fire encroached, ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman reports.

These images from ABC News' Matt Gutman shows Palisades Village on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
These images from ABC News' Matt Gutman shows Palisades Village on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.

Tankers could be seen on Monday preparing for the next Santa Ana wind event forecast for this week.

KABC logo
Jan 13, 2025, 11:17 PM GMT

Palisades Fire investigation zeroes in on street in Palisades Highlands community

Federal investigators are focusing on a specific street in the Palisades Highlands area where they believe the Palisades Fire may have started.

Via La Costa Street has been closed to the media as the investigation continues.

A worker surveys the damage from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
A worker surveys the damage from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.

Fifteen investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) from around the country arrived in Los Angeles over the weekend, joining crews already on scene.

Officials say the team will conduct an origin and cause examination of the Pacific Palisades fire.