Last updated: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 11:29AM GMT
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least 25 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.
Here are all the current wildfires burning in Southern California at a glance.
Palisades Fire
23,713 acres
18% containment
9 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
61 acres
47% contained
Kenneth Fire in West Hills
1,052 acres
100% contained
4:53 AM GMT
Death toll from LA wildfires climbs to 25
The death toll from the wildfires in Los Angeles County has climbed to 25 people, according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner.
The medical examiner issued a correction just hours after it had announced a 25th victim. In its update, the office explained that what it had counted as an additional death from the Eaton Fire was determined to be non-human remains.
Shortly after, the medical examiner reported an additional death from the Palisades Fire, bringing the total back to 25.
The medical examiner says 16 deaths are linked to the Eaton Fire and nine are linked to the Palisades Fire.
ABC News contributed to this report.
12:08 AM GMT
FEMA opens 2 recovery centers to help fire victims get grants
FEMA opened two Disaster Recovery Centers on Tuesday to help people who experienced "damage to their primary home, personal property loss or have disaster-caused emergency needs related to the wildfires." FEMA said people will get help with applying for assistance, speak to representatives, get updates on their FEMA application and learn about the appeals process.
The centers are located at:
UCLA Research Park West: 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 | Hours of operation - Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pasadena City College Community Education Center: 3035 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106 | Hours of operation - Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"We've already had 40,000 people register, I think 8,000 people already received that $770. We put $8 million out already," Region 9 FEMA Administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said.
What to know about pink flame retardants used to slow CA fires
Fire agencies say the suppressants - most often used to fight forest fires - are an invaluable tool. But what is in them and are they safe?
FILE - A vehicle is covered in fire retardant while crews battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Here's what to know:
Why are they being used in Los Angeles?
The fires are burning quickly through canyons and other rugged areas that are difficult for firefighters on the ground to reach, Cal Fire said.
While fire suppressants can be very effective, they do have limitations, the agency said: Strong winds can make it too dangerous to fly at the low altitudes needed for drops and can dissipate the retardant before it hits the ground.
Besides Cal Fire, multiple agencies have dropped fire retardant and water, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Los Angeles and Ventura county fire departments, the city and the National Guard.
How do they work?
Aerial fire suppressants are generally a mixture of water, ammonium phosphate - essentially fertilizer - and iron oxide, which is added to make the retardant visible, said Daniel McCurry, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Southern California.
The Forest Service, which has used 13 aircraft to dump suppressants on the Los Angeles fires, says they help starve a fire of oxygen and slow the rate of burn by cooling and coating vegetation and other surfaces.
FILE - Fire retardant is dropped by an air tanker on the Palisades Fire in the outskirts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 10, 2025.
Perimeter, the company that supplies fire retardant to the Forest Service and other agencies, says the phosphate changes the way cellulose in plants decomposes and makes them non-flammable.
Altadena family who lost home reports price gauging with Airbnb
An Altadena family that lost their home in the Eaton Fire are among the many wildfire victims who say they have been victimized by illegal price gouging.
The Skidmore family quickly found refuge at an AirBNB in Pasadena this week after they were displaced by the Eaton Fire. They lost everything.
"My kids are great kids and they've grown up in that house and that was their place and they've lost their place," Warren Skidmore said. "They've lost their little havens they've made for themselves,"
While trying to find more permanent, long-term housing, they noticed the price of their temporary home Airbnb went up 43.2% for the following week. That would be illegal price gouging.
Under California law, during an emergency, businesses are only allowed to increase prices by up to 10 percent.
