California wildfires: Death toll rises to 16 as Palisades Fire expands east to Brentwood and Encino

The two largest wildfires blazing in Los Angeles, the Eaton and Palisades fires, have not been further contained over the past 24 hours.

Cal Fire is showing the Palisades Fire, which has burned across 23,654 acres, is still 11% contained, the same as Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area also remains at 15% containment. It has burned across 14,117 acres, according to Cal Fire.

But the smaller Kenneth Fire, which started Thursday evening and burned through 1,052 acres in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near the Calabasas neighborhood, is now 80% contained and the Hurst Fire, which started as a brush fire but has so far covered 799 acres, is at 76% containment.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for parts of Southern California until Wednesday by the National Weather Service.

Strong gusty northeast winds up to 45 mph are forecast for the Inland Empire, San Bernardino County mountains, Santa Ana mountains and inland Orange County, as well as isolated gusts up to 55mph on coastal slopes and canyons. 

A red flag warning kicks in when meteorologists and forecasters believe conditions could lead to extreme fire within 24 hours. “If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” according to the agency.

The most crucial periods will be Saturday night into Sunday morning and then late Monday going into early Tuesday, National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfield told reporters.

Fire Weather Watch Warnings, the stage before a Red Flag Warning, are also in place from Monday through to Wednesday in the Riverside County Mountains, The San Diego County Mountains, and the San Diego County Valleys.

As flames threatened the upscale Mandeville Canyon and Encino areas of Los Angeles, firefighters took advantage of better weather to stop flames from expanding the Palisades Fire's northern footprint today.

Cooler Pacific winds in the area earlier today blew inland from the south-southwest, giving firefighters temporary respite from warm, dry, offshore winds that move from north to south and heat up air molecules under pressure as the gusts descend mountains toward the sea.

"Winds are in our favor in that area, so it looks really good," said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Operations Chief Christian Litz.

He explained that some of the northeastern contours of the fire near Mandeville Canyon were fortified with dozer lines amid the fire's northern pause. "We watched as it was backing down," Litz said during a community meeting streamed for public viewing tonight.

The area has been the subject of concern after evacuation warnings spread across the 405 freeway into parts of Bel Air and abutting the campus of UCLA in Westwood. The fire didn't jump the freeway.

MSNBC’s Alex Witt, who grew up near where the Eaton Fire is burning and spent much of her childhood near the area scorched by the Palisades Fire, shared that her family lives somewhere between the two blazes and expressed gratitude for their safety.

Despite living and reporting in New York, Witt said she has always considered Los Angeles her home. Fighting back tears, she shared the deep anxiety and heartache of feeling helpless as her hometown burns.

Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a tax deadline reprieve for residents and businesses in fire-affected Los Angeles County, a move that pushes back the state's tax filing deadline for 2024 income to Oct. 15, 2025.

This applies to individuals and businesses with an April 15 deadline, as well as to filings and payments due Jan. 7 through Oct. 15, Newsom's office said.

The governor's move shadows an Internal Revenue Service announcement with the same extension for federal returns and payments.

"You are not alone," State Controller and Franchise Tax Board Chair Malia M. Cohen said in the governor's statement. "I am committed to ensuring that Californians have the help they need during this incredibly difficult time through disaster relief resources that are available through FTB.”

The city of Malibu has lost about 1/3 of its eastern edge to the Palisades Fire, Mayor Doug Stewart said.

"The beautiful homes that were along the area ... they're gone. For the most part, they're gone," Stewart said at a community meeting tonight.

Stewart said a number of homes along Pacific Coast Highway and the community of Big Rock are gone, and more homes from Big Rock to Carbon Mesa Road are “severely damaged or gone.”

The Palisades Fire began in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday and has burned 23,654 acres in the area, with 11% containment.

It's the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history and has wreaked havoc in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, claiming more than 5,000 structures, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department update this morning.

The devastating impact of the Eaton Fire was visible driving through the streets of Altadena, a community about 14 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

On one side of the street, piles of singed rubble represented where home after home had existed. At least one car in a driveway was charred. Only a few wrought iron fences and chimneys remained standing.

The front facade on one house was upright; everything behind it had been burned down.

Many residents are irritated that only the media, utility companies and relief agencies have been allowed in beyond National Guard roadblocks.

More than 7,000 structures are estimated to have been destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which has burned through more than 14,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The renowned recording and mixing studio Mix This!, which was part of the home of record producer, engineer and mixer Bob Clearmountain, was lost in the Palisades Fire, he said on Instagram today.

The studio was state-of-the-art, with Clearmountain, a two-time Grammy Award winner, creating some of its tools by hand, while other studio tools were adorned with the brands of top studio suppliers and stacked neatly in its caverns.

"This is what's left of Mix This!" Clearmountain, 71, said on Instagram, in comments accompanying a photo of his burned-down home. "I want to thank everyone who have sent all the incredible notes of love and support we've gotten since this terrible thing happened."

The death toll from the multiple wind-driven fires in Los Angeles County has risen to 16, according to a new accounting of fatalities from the county's Department of Medical Examiner.

Eleven of the fatalities are related to the Eaton Fire in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest in and near Pasadena and Altadena, according to the department’s accounting. The remaining five are connected to the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, it said.

Eight of the victims were unidentified; a name for one victim was withheld pending notification of loved ones. One person, Victor Shaw, 66, was identified as a victim of the Eaton Fire.

The number of deaths comes from cases reported by law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating fatalities connected to the fires, the department said in a statement. The department noted that it cannot confirm human remains until it processes them at its facility.

All undergraduate and graduate classes at UCLA will be remote through Friday.

In a statement, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk also instructed faculty to work remotely if they are able to do so.

Frenk said in a video address that zones adjacent to the UCLA campus are currently under evacuation warnings. He asked students to be ready should they need to evacuate.

"We are making all decisions with your safety as our top priority," Frenk said. "We're following developments in real-time, and we are ready for any changes that come our way.

L.A. County Public Health officials today extended a smoke advisory for residents until at least tomorrow night as multiple fires burn and put smoke and particles into the atmosphere.

Smoke advisories have been issued each day since the fires began on Tuesday. They note the harmful and irritating affects of fire-impacted air.

"The primary health concern is the small particles, which can cause burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illness (i.e., bronchitis)," the department said in a statement today.

The department said children, the elderly, those with respiratory or heart conditions and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable and could experience severe effects like coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain. Those experiencing severe symptoms should call 911, the department said.

The department advised people to stay indoors or limiting time outdoors on days when the smell of smoke is in the air or when smoke is visible.

Smoke from the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Wildfires has been contributing to unhealthy air in the county, the health department said, citing the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's biggest union, contribute $1 million toward its fire relief fund to aid unit members "experiencing hardship" as a result of the fires in L.A. The union represents about 160,000 actors and media professionals.

"The destruction caused by these blazes, the loss of life and homes, has been gut-wrenching to experience, and of course our hearts go out to all affected," SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.

"But we knew we could do more; we hope this pledge helps relieve suffering and assists those impacted in putting their lives back together after this calamity," Drescher added.

She also noted that she has been personally affected by the fires but did not offer details.

In the face of immense loss from the California wildfires, people are coming together to help one another. Meet the food vendors and restaurateurs who started a movement to help feed evacuated residents and fire crews.

There is growing anger and questions over the response to the wildfires. Frustration is also mounting as people wait hours to get back to their neighborhoods to see if their homes were spared.

Thousands of people in California are rushing to find a place to sleep after mass evacuations and homes were destroyed.

"As lifelong Californians, we know wildfires, this isn't uncommon. But to see devastation at this scale it's just heartbreaking," said Nicole Maul with the American Red Cross.

Khadijjah Lucarelli and her three children are now staying at one of the shelters after losing their home in the Pacific Palisades.

"Everyone here around us is family, like a blanket of warmth, and it keeps me going," she said.

President-elect Trump has every intention to visit Southern California, but a date has not yet been set, Trump transition senior advisor Jason Miller said.

Miller was asked on Fox News whether a decision had been made for the incoming commander in chief to visit the site of the wildfires.

"We know it's a top priority, but I don't want to get ahead of the president and his scheduling team at this moment," Miller said.

Both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger invited Trump to survey the area earlier today.

The number of unauthorized drone incidents over the Los Angeles County fire zones are now “well into the double digits” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, told NBC News Saturday.

The most serious of those incidents was a civilian drone that ripped a hole in a Super Scooper plane Thursday morning as the water-dropping aircraft was flying over the Palisades Fire zone. The incident temporarily ground other firefighting aircraft and put the specialized plane, provided by Canada, out of commission until Monday, at the earliest. 

Investigators have recovered pieces of the drone, which are being examined by the FBI and partner agencies. Thus far, there have been no arrests or charges in any of the cases as the investigations continue.

Davis would not detail the location and number of counter drone personnel or the mitigation equipment they employ. 

Law enforcement officials have said that drone operators who run afoul of the rules typically fall into one of three categories the “clueless, criminal and careless.”

​Drones are illegal to fly in areas where there the Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a temporary flight restriction over fire zones. Drone operators can be cited, but a strike could lead to federal charges. 

In 2021, a Hollywood man pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge that he recklessly operated a drone that crashed into and damaged the fuselage of a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter.​

The Palisades Fire exploded into the Mandeville Canyon today, David Ortiz, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, told NBC Los Angeles, noting that the area has seen a lot of activity due to strong Santa Ana winds fueling the blaze.

Ortiz said the winds have calmed enough to allow helicopters to fly over the canyon, which will allow fire crews to douse the fires from helicopters into the evening.

"As long as we can fly, we're going to look for every window of opportunity to take advantage of cooperating winds to be able to put in some work," Ortiz told NBC LA.

The Palisades Fire "is a monster with a lot of different heads, with a lot of potential for growth in a different directions," Ortiz said.

Contributing to that is the area's thick and dense vegetation, in addition to areas that haven't seen a fire in 50 years, making it easier to burn. Ortiz also noted that he has seen the Palisades up in flames without the threat of winds.

Ortiz said fire crews have been working "diligently day and night" to improve containment and that the numbers don't always demonstrate the work being done. As of Saturday, the Palisades Fire is 11% contained.

The fire department has had enough resources to hit the fires hard and prevent too much growth into additional canyons, which run all the way to the ocean from Mandeville, Ortiz said.

The next biggest concern is an area beyond the I-405 Freeway, according to Ortiz. The LAFD has a contingency plan for if that does happen, but Ortiz said they are feeling optimistic that it won't. He said crews are confident that they don't think the fire will jump, but that they are prepared if the fires expand.

"Pacific Palisades was a 1 in 100 fire that you go to in your career," Ortiz. said. "Everything that could go wrong did. I'm just thankful that more people did not die."

Firefighters from Mexico have arrived in Los Angeles to help battle the deadly blazes scorching Southern California.

The Mexican crews will join more than 14,000 personnel deployed to fight the fires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — who met with a delegation from Mexico today at Los Angeles International Airport — said in a post on X. 

In a statement, the governor said more than 70 firefighters and disaster relief workers from Mexico's defense ministry and National Forestry Commission will form handcrews to help with the firefight.

“Emergencies have no borders — we are deeply grateful to our neighbors in Mexico for their unwavering support during one of our greatest times of need," Newsom said. "Thank you to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for lending the best of the best."

It’s not the first time California has received help from its southern neighbor during fires, with Mexico regularly sending crews to help fight raging infernos in the Golden State.

“I feel very happy,” one of the Mexican firefighters said as he stood alongside his colleagues on a tarmac while readying to deploy. “It’s a pleasure to be able to help all our countrymen and also our neighboring country.”

Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which operates Getty Center in Brentwood and the Getty Villa Museum in the Pacific Palisades, said Saturday the Villa is resolute after facing a sea of flames from the Palisades Fire on Tuesday.

The Villa was threatened with destruction as the Palisades Fire, in its first day, encroached on its property and burned toward the venue that houses and showcases Greek and Roman antiquities.

The 22,660-acre fire, which was 11% contained by Saturday afternoon, has since continued to spread and move inland, prompting authorities to put the area of the Getty Center in neighboring Brentwood under an evacuation warning, which urges residents to be ready to flee.

In a statement sent to news media and posted to the Getty Center's Instagram page, Fleming said, "Our staff and galleries at the Getty Center are safe and protected."

"Gratefully," she added, "the Getty Villa remains stable, aside from a hot spots."

On Thursday the Getty Center's Instagram account included an update that said the Villa was spared from the deadly and destructive fire, despite its charred grounds. In a statement the night the fire reached the Villa, a Getty Center and Getty Villa Museum spokesperson said the museum benefitted from resolute brush clearance and hearty, double-wall construction.

Today, Fleming expressed concern for those outside the Getty properties affected by fire. "We are acutely aware of our Getty neighbors and hope for their safety—and the safety of the whole region," she said.

The state of California has seen a 120% increase in fire starts year-to-date compared to the five-year average, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, said in a post on X.

The agency added that the state has also experienced a 293,000% "surge" in total acres burned. In just the first 10 days of January, nearly 40,000 acres have been burned across the state.

CalFire noted the massive increases emphasize the importance of being prepared.

"Now more than ever, it’s critical to harden your home against wildfires and create defensible space around your property. Simple steps like clearing dry vegetation, maintaining a buffer zone, and using fire-resistant building materials can make a difference," CalFire wrote.

Wildfires have decimated more than 37,000 acres of the Los Angeles metropolitan area over the last several days, charring more than 12,000 structures, displacing over 150,000 residents and leaving at least 13 people dead.

On Tuesday, when the fires first started, the White House made federal disaster assistance available to the state of California to aid the state’s recovery efforts. The disaster has also prompted an outpouring of donations from around the world.

As the fires rage on and as Los Angeles looks ahead toward an eventual recovery, here are ways you can most effectively help the city’s recovery efforts.

Read the full story here.

Approximately 50,000 Southern Californians are without power today, down from 500,000 earlier this week, officials announced while discussing the Eaton Fire at an afternoon news conference.

L.A. County fire chief Anthony Marrone noted the "inevitable public safety power shut offs" are "crucial to preventing new fire starts, and that they help save lives."

"Yes, they're a challenge to deal with, but it's certainly better than having another fire start," Marrone said.

All evacuation orders for the Hurst Fire in the L.A. community of Sylmar and the adjacent Angeles National Forest have been lifted, the fire's unified command said Saturday afternoon.

The news followed an earlier update today stating 76% containment has been achieved on the 771-acre fire.

Unified command, which includes Angeles National Forest, L.A. County Fire Department, L.A. city fire, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection made the decision on evacuations with input from the Los Angeles Police Department, it said in a statement.

Angeles National Forest will remain closed at least through Wednesday amid extreme fire danger, it said.

In a statement, forest officials provided safety guidance on how to avoid injury and pitfalls when returning to a fire zone cleared for repopulation.

An Altadena couple who evacuated as the Eaton Fire approached their home, returned to their residence reduced to rubble.

Renata Ortega broke down in tears saying she never thought she would “live through something like this.” KNBC’s Conan Nolan reports.

At least 13 people have died as a result of the wildfires blazing through Southern California, officials said.

Two additional deaths in the Eaton Fire have been confirmed, Tania Plunkett, L.A. County Sheriff commander, said at a news conference.

Officials said yesterday that six were killed in the Eaton Fire and five in the Palisades Fire, but the numbers were expected to rise.

Another 13 people are missing in L.A. County since the fires started, said Sheriff Robert Luna, but it was unclear if they were all related to the fires.

Mother Nature will be of little help to firefighters for several more days with dry conditions and high winds expected until the middle of next week, officials said.

The most crucial periods will be tonight into Sunday morning and then late Monday going into early Tuesday, National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfield told reporters.

Sustained winds of 15 mph to 30 mph will be common with some gusts of between 30 mph and 50 mph.

“We’re just in a continued period of critical fire weather through Wednesday, with red flag warnings issued now through Wednesday in portions of L.A. and Ventura counties,”  Schoenfield said.

Today, President Biden spoke by phone separately with Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long to discuss the latest updates on the wildfires across Los Angeles.

Biden continues to be briefed by his senior staff on the efforts to suppress the wildfires across Los Angeles, how federal resources are supporting the state and local response, and how his Administration can further support impacted survivors and communities.

Alec Gellis and his girlfriend, a California couple who weeks ago escaped the Franklin Fire in Malibu, had to again evade danger by escaping from the Palisades Fire this week.

Residents in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Encino and Brentwood woke up to large plumes of smoke looming nearby, stemming from the Palisades Fire, which has been raging since Tuesday.

In one Facebook video verified by NBC News, orange-pink smoke billows from the distance and hovers in the sky. The user noted that the video was shot from a building rooftop this morning.

Luz Aguirre posted a view from her workplace in Encino that showed gray smoke in the distance against the backdrop of a blue sky. Her caption noted the video was shot from Ventura Boulevard and Hayvenhurst Avenue.

World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés, is supporting firefighters during their efforts in Pacific Palisades.

"This is as devastating as you can see, we've seen it before, fires like this," Andrés said in a video posted to X.

Andrés said the federal government needs to step in to help rebuild and support those who will be without homes and out of jobs.

"We need to make sure that when the cameras are off and we are all in the crazy daily life where we forget about events like this, we cannot forget people," he said.

Nine million people across Southern California are under fire alerts this weekend because of the combination of dry air, parched vegetation and gusty winds.

Gusts are blowing at 5-10 mph in Los Angeles and as much as 30-50 mph in the mountains.

Wind speeds will gradually increase this afternoon, forecasters said, ranging 15-30 mph in the city and over 65 mph possible at higher elevations. Wind gusts will remain elevated through Tuesday as another Santa Ana event develops.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he's increasing the number of National Guard members deployed to help with the fire response efforts.

A total of 1,680 National Guard personnel have now been deployed to assist Los Angeles first-responders and doubles the number assigned to the task, his office said in a statement.

"We are continuing to rush in resources to rapidly respond to the firestorm in Los Angeles fueled by hurricane-force winds," Newsom said.

"The men and women of the California National Guard are working day and night to help Los Angeles residents during their greatest time of need."

The state has mobilized more than 12,000 personnel, including National Guard members, firefighters and highway patrol officers, to assist in the fire-extinguishing efforts.

New shelters were opened in the L.A. neighborhoods of Van Nuys and Canoga Park for those displaced by the fires.

They will also provide support and refuge to veterans who were receiving services at Department of Veterans Affairs sites affected by the fires, L.A. County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said in a news conference.

Power outrages continue to plague Southern California as firefighters battle blazes torching the region.

There were 47,998 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County in the dark as of this morning, according to the utility tracking service PowerOutage.us.

Outages were almost evenly split between the L.A. Department of Water and Power (24,870) and Southern California Edison (22,725).

Videos captured within a 40-hour period on Jan. 7 show the Palisades Fire spreading quickly through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in western Los Angeles.

Mandatory evacuation orders and warnings were extended Friday night, from Sunset Boulevard north to the Encino Reservoir and from Interstate 405 to Mandeville Canyon, the LAFD said.

An NBC Los Angeles helicopter spotted charred remains of a house in Mandeville Canyon where firefighters on Saturday desperately sought to hold a line against the Palisades Fire.

Mandeville Canyon is crucial if firefighters are to keep flames from jumping the hills separating West L.A. and Pacific Palisades from the population-dense San Fernando Valley.

As wildfires continue to ravage Southern California, victims have only begun to grapple with the costs of rebuilding.

Donations have been flooding in from across the country from California businesses to Hollywood A-listers, Fortune 500 companies and everyday Americans.

But how much does it really cost to rebuild the average home?

According to data from Angi, a home services website, it depends on several factors, including home size, the extent of damage and the type of insurance coverage a homeowner has.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger called for GoFundMe to waive a nearly 20% donation “charge” as wildfires torch Southern California. 

When a friend lost his home to flames, Barger said she went to the donation site and “was shocked to find out that to give $500 they were going to charge me $95.”

What Barger had cited was a “suggested tip” that automatically registers a 19% gratuity, which can be reset to zero. GoFundMe insisted the only mandatory charge is a 2.9% fee plus 30 cents, which would be $14.80 on a $500 donation.

“The comments made at the press conference were inaccurate,” GoFundMe said. ”GoFundMe is primarily powered by voluntary tips and relies on these completely optional contributions from donors to maintain our quality customer service, trust and safety protections, and world-class fundraising technology.”

The Palisades Fire is continuing to grow, and has burned through 22,660 acres as of this morning, according to Cal Fire.

The acreage count is up from 21,595.

The fire is spreading toward the neighborhoods of Encino and Brentwood as north and northeast winds are expected to increase, peaking in strength tonight and overnight, Cal Fire said.

"A FIRE WEATHER WATCH will begin at 6:00PM tonight and will remain in effect through 6:00PM Sunday night," the state fire agency said in an update. "Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds are likely to return Tuesday and Wednesday, creating critical fire weather conditions."

Pope Francis conveyed his "heartfelt prayers" to those affected by the wildfires, the Vatican said in a statement.

"Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction caused by the fires near Los Angeles, his holiness Pope Francis assures you and the communities affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness," the statement said.

Pope Francis "prays for the relief efforts of the emergency services personnel," it said.

The key to identifying the cause of the still-raging Palisades Fire lies on a brush-covered hilltop where the blaze broke out just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Fire investigators are still working to determine what sparked the inferno, but experts say it’s easy to rule out one common cause of wildfires: lightning. The region was free of stormy weather this week.

The area near the Temescal Ridge Trail also appears to be free of power lines or transformers, which rules out another potential cause.

That leaves the source of most wildfires: people. But was it a result of arson? Four experts interviewed by NBC News said it was a possibility, but they thought the fires were more likely not set on purpose.

Read the full story here.

Los Angles Mayor Karen Bass insisted today that she and LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley are on the same page despite the latter's recent critical comments about City Hall.

"Let me just say that, as you see here, the chief and I are lockstep in our No. 1 mission, and that mission is to get us past this emergency," Bass said in a news conference.

"We want to make sure that we save lives, we save housing, we save businesses, and if there are differences that we have, we will continue to deal with those in private."

Crowley, who has led the LAFD since 2022, said recently that budget cuts have hindered her department's efforts.

“We can no longer sustain where we are. We do not have enough firefighters,” she told CNN on Friday.

Former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who was born blind and had cerebral palsy, died Wednesday in the California wildfires after his mother said she was unable to save him from their home, which was gutted by fire.

Rory, 32, who starred on the British TV show “Kiddy Kapers,” was living in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate.

Shelley Sykes said the cottage burned down Wednesday in the Palisades Fire when she “couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose” because of a lack of water.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken,” Shelley Sykes wrote Thursday in a post on X, calling him “a wonderful son.”

Read the full story here.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a news conference that it's "critical" investigators determine what ignited the Palisades and Eaton fires and to find out whether they were related in any way.

He also said his officers are making looting prevention a top priority.

"Let me be clear on this," he said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for anybody attempting to exploit this crisis."

The ATF will take the lead in investigating the cause of the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles city officials said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will head a task force made up of several other agencies, including Cal Fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, said police Chief Jim McDonnell.

McDonnell said the task force will also look into whether there is any connection between all the fires that broke out during heavy winds over the past week.

“They have tremendous resources and expertise and can bring in resources from across the country to do their investigation,” McDonnell said.

Over 3,700 fire personnel are battling the Palisades Fire, according to Cal Fire and the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 20 helicopters and 460 engines are also part of the response. The fire has burned 22,661 acres and was 11% contained this morning.

Around 400 National Guard members are also deployed across Los Angeles County, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said he was grateful to the NFL and the Rams for moving next Monday's playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, near Los Angeles.

"I'd really like to thank the NFL and Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Rams, who looked at the situation and understood that that would be a draw on more resources, both from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, the Inglewood Police Department, L.A. County Fire and other law enforcement partners," Luna said. "We're in the crisis. Those resources need to go elsewhere."

The Palisades Fire has destroyed more than 5,000 structures, according to an early-morning update from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The fire is burning at its greatest rate of speed on exposed ridgetops and drainages, the fire department said.

"Sunny skies prevailed across the incident today," the fire department said. "Tonight, weak northerly winds are expected with low humidity. With this, critical fire weather conditions are possible Saturday night with a FIRE WEATHER WATCH expected to begin at 6PM."

Evacuation orders for the fire have been issued, and other residents in the area are encouraged to avoid leaving their homes to allow firefighters to battle the blaze.

Approximately 7,000 structures have been destroyed in the Eaton Fire, authorities said at a press conference today.

So far, 13 people have been reported missing in Los Angeles County while the fires have been raging in the area, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna.

It's not clear at this time if all of the missing persons reports are related to the fires, Luna said, adding that 40 members of the Search and Rescue Task Force will be looking for the missing people and remains this morning.

"Due to safety concerns, we are unable to safely search the impacted areas during the hours of darkness, so this will only be taking place while there’s light," Luna said.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles announced that the city's 126th Golden Dragon Parade, which was due to take place on Feb. 8 to mark the Lunar New Year, would be postponed.

It was also announced that the 62nd Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant, due to be held on Jan. 19, would be postponed.

Software and cellphone tower glitches were behind erroneous alerts blasted throughout Los Angeles County in recent days, officials said today.

A problem in the software system sent an evacuation order throughout the county Thursday instead of to the correct “targeted recipients,” L.A. County Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan told reporters.

Additional alerts were sent in error Friday when cell towers "came back online after they were knocked offline," McGowan said. That led outdated alerts “cached in the system” to go out, he added.

In a video from the L.A. Times, Los Angeles Lakers Coach JJ Redick spoke about losing his home in the Palisades Fire.

"I was not prepared for what I saw," he said in the video posted to TikTok. "It is, it's complete devastation and destruction."

Redick said his house, which was a rental, is "all gone."

"Everything we owned, that was of importance to us, almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting, was in that house," he said. "And there's certain things that you can't replace, that will never be replaced."

The former NBA player said he and his wife have been emotional following the loss, adding that he hasn't "wept or wailed like that in several years."

"It's like we move out here and ... the Palisades community has really just been so good to us," an emotional Redick said. "And that's, I think that's the part for us that we're really struggling with, is just the loss of community."

In some promising news, the two largest wildfires raging in Los Angeles, the Eaton and Palisades fires, have been further contained over the past 24 hours.

Cal Fire is showing the Palisades Fire, which has burned across 21,596 acres, is 11% contained, up from 8% contained last night.

Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area, which had been burning uncontained for several days, is now at 15% containment. It has burned across 14,117 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The smaller Kenneth Fire, which started Thursday evening and burned through 1,052 acres in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near the Calabasas neighborhood, is contained at 80%.

And the Hurst Fire, which started as a brush fire but has so far covered 799 acres, is at 76% containment.

Fortunately, the Lidia Fire that tore through 395 acres between the Sierra Pelona and San Gabriel mountains is 100% contained, according to the department.

NBC’s senior business correspondent Christine Romans breaks down what the California wildfires could mean for homeowners nationwide. 

In a letter sent to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom urged Trump to visit his state and see the destruction from the wildfires in person, writing, "I invite you to come to California again — to meet with the Americans affected by these fires, see the devastation firsthand, and join me and others in thanking the heroic firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line."

Newsom's invitation comes after Trump has blamed the governor and President Joe Biden for the fires all week, spreading falsehoods about the California governor's water policy and FEMA funding.

The Credit Union of Southern California said in a statement it is offering $1.25 million in interest-free loans for those impacted by the L.A. wildfires. The organizations describes its relief loan options as the following:

• Emergency Essentials Loan: Those impacted by the fires can borrow $1,500 at 0% interest for six months with no payments for 60 days and no credit history requirement.
• Wildfire Relief Loan: Members can access up to $5,000 per household at 0% interest for 12 months with no payments for 60 days.
• Loan Deferrals: Defer payments on existing loans are available to free up funds for urgent needs like temporary housing or other critical expenses.

Dave Gunderson, the credit union's CEO, said, “We are deeply committed to supporting our neighbors during this challenging time.”

Further information can be found here.

Disney has promised $15 million in "immediate aid" in response to the L.A. wildfires, pledging to support groups offering on-the-ground support.

In a statement released Saturday, the company said the funds would go toward organizations like the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

The Southern California-based company added that additional resources would be offered to impacted employees.

Disney CEO Bob Iger paid tribute to the company’s L.A. origins.

“Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world,” he said. “We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”

A little after midnight on New Year’s Day, Francine Sohn was jolted awake by a phone call from a neighbor, who sounded hysterical. “There’s a fire on the hill,” the neighbor told her.

Sohn, 72, looked outside and saw a small brush fire perilously close to her Pacific Palisades neighborhood in western Los Angeles. She watched firefighters douse the flames, waiting to see if she should flee. But there was no need: The wind was a brisk but manageable 15 mph, and the fire was contained before dawn with no homes damaged and no one hurt.

A week later, the same thing happened: another small fire spotted in the same area. But this one turned into a monster.

NBC News spoke to nearly a dozen people who witnessed the Palisades Fire’s early stages on the morning of Jan. 7 and watched it grow and move faster than any they had ever seen, leaving a path of ruin they did not think possible — even in a place where wildfires are a part of life.

Read full story here.

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have visited Pasadena, where they met with Mayor Victor Gordo and emergency workers tackling the Eaton Fire.

Video captured by CBS showed the pair hugging residents impacted by the catastrophic wildfires. 

“This is their second visit,” Gordo told Sky News, adding that the pair helped served food to evacuees. "They took time to meet the people who are affected. They’re just very caring people.”

The royals live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles from Los Angeles.

NBC’s Angie Lassman tracks the latest forecast as Santa Ana winds are expected to ramp back up Saturday afternoon.

Video has emerged showing people standing and watching the Palisades Fire crawl over the nearby hills on Friday night, even as evacuation warnings were issued for the area.

Footage posted to Instagram and verified by NBC News shows the fire blazing across the hills in the distance as a group watches from Canyonback Road, which lies east of the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park.

“Now on top of Mountaingate country club,” Hooman Melamed, who posted the video, wrote in the caption. "Thank you, thank you thank you to @losangelesfiredepartment for everything you’re doing”

The University of California Los Angeles has urged students to stay alert and be prepared for a possible evacuation as the nearby Palisades Fire continues to burn.

“This is NOT an evacuation alert,” UCLA said in its statement, noting that an evacuation warning has been issued in a zone adjacent to UCLA due to the Palisades Fire.

"We are asking Bruins on campus to remain vigilant and be ready to evacuate, should the alert be extended to our campus," it said, referring to UCLA students by their nickname.

"We will provide additional information about evacuation instructions, if needed,” it said.

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center says it had relocated residents from the community living facility on its north campus "out of an abundance of caution."

The medical center, which is located just outside of newly expanded evacuation warning zones for the Palisades Fire, provides primary and specialty services including mental health care and cancer treatment to armed forces veterans.

''We are working closely with health care providers to facilitate a smooth transition for all affected residents," a VA representative told NBC News over the phone on Saturday.

"All necessary resources are being deployed to assure their comfort and care during this process," the rep added. "We remain committed to maintaining the highest standard of health care and resident safety."

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and L.A.’s mayor met yesterday, the LAFD said amid mounting criticism of the city’s handling of the wildfires.

“Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos,” LAFD public information officer Erik Scott said on X Friday night.

The message comes after Crowley was asked in an interview with KTTV if the city had failed the LAFD, and she responded, “yes.”

More than 55,000 people have signed a petition calling on Mayor Karen Bass to resign as of this morning, accusing her of a “failure” to respond to the fires gripping the city. 

Bass has come under pressure for $17.8 million in budget cuts for the Los Angeles Fire Department. She has denied that the reduction had an impact on firefighting efforts during this week’s crisis.

“We, the undersigned residents of Los Angeles and concerned citizens, urgently call for the immediate recall of Mayor Karen Bass due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles,” reads the petition on Change.org.

As the Palisades Fire pushes east, new evacuation orders have been issued for communities near the 405 freeway.

The Getty Center, a Brentwood museum complex founded by the trust of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty that displays historic works of art including Renaissance masterpieces and Van Gough’s “Irises,’’ is among the site under an evacuation warning, which is one step below an evacuation order.

Nearby, the 405 freeway exits at Sunset Boulevard, Skirball Center Drive and the Getty Center were closed near Brentwood, according to California Highway Patrol.

The 405, the major thoroughfare connecting L.A. with the San Fernando Valley, remains open. 

Southern California residents facing losses from this week’s Los Angeles-area fires are beginning to confront their next challenge: filing insurance claims.

Though mainstream insurers garnered headlines last year for declining to write any new policies in the state amid growing fire threats, they still retain tens of thousands of pre-existing customers who may have been affected.

And while public claims adjusters — who are privately hired by consumers looking to avoid insurance companies’ adjusters — are warning that it can take years for claims to be resolved, California residents do enjoy some benefits not seen elsewhere.

Read full story here.

The National Weather Service has issued a new fire weather watch for Saturday into Sunday for a large portion of Southern California.

Strong gusty winds up to 45 mph are forecast for the Inland Empire, San Bernardino County mountains, Santa Ana mountains and inland Orange County, said the agency, warning that any wildfires that start could spread rapidly.

A fire weather watch is the stage before a red flag warning, and means that critical fire weather conditions are expected.

TikTok creators have been sharing videos of their “evacuation hauls” online — what they packed in their bags as they fled — amid wildfires tearing through Southern California.

Brentwood resident Jonathan Sands had started packing and had a car in the driveway ready to go after mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings were extended into Encino on Friday night.

But then he changed his mind.

“I’m staying,” Sands told KNBC's Mary Jenkins. “I think this fire is actually going, they’re doing a great job, the firefighters. When it flares up, there's choppers everywhere doing dumps.”

The mandatory evacuation orders, meaning people should leave, extended from Sunset Boulevard north to the Encino Reservoir and from Interstate 405 to Mandeville Canyon, the LAFD said.

“There’s not too many people left in the neighborhood,” added Sands. “They’re calling me now. I’m checking on their homes for security.”

Smoke-clogged air has prompted a health emergency declaration for L.A. County, with officials warning that smoke and particulate matter could pose immediate and long-term threats.

The use of power air blowers, including leaf blowers, has been banned because the role the devices play in stirring up ash. The county's Department of Public Health advises keeping windows closed, staying indoors if you can see or smell smoke, wearing an N95 or P100 mask if outdoors for long periods, and avoiding the use of fireplaces, candles or vacuums.

See the full warning and list of health recommendations here. 

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is still in charge of the force, the city's mayor’s office said Saturday morning.

“Yes, she is still fire chief,” an official told KNBC via email. 

The message comes after Crowley was asked in an interview with KTTV if the city had failed the LAFD and she responded, “yes.”

Crowley said the fire department was underfunded, and that if it had been properly resourced the LAFD would have been more prepared for the devastating Palisades Fire.

Actor Dennis Quaid is among those who evacuated with his family due to the Palisades Fire. As evacuation orders expanded into Encino and the Mandeville Canyon area, he said the destruction was hard to comprehend.

“Who would have thought?” Quaid told NBC Los Angeles on air after he retrieved some of his daughter’s belongings tonight. “Who would have thought? We’ve all had a really big lesson — that our experience of reality can change in a moment.”

The powerful Santa Ana winds and massive fires in the Los Angeles region are occurring in January, which in the past has been a low season for wildfires in Southern California. But the region is dry and has not gotten the rain that typically occurs, officials have said.

Albie Fuentes was overcome with emotion as he surveyed the damage to Cafe Vida, the popular eatery he worked at for 15 years before the Palisades Fire.

“So many beautiful memories,” he said, vowing to return and rebuild.

Mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings were extended overnight into Encino on the northern edge of the Palisades Fire, which is still burning after breaking out Tuesday.

The mandatory evacuation orders, meaning people should leave, extended from Sunset Boulevard north to the Encino Reservoir and from Interstate 405 to Mandeville Canyon, the LAFD said.

That area had been under an evacuation warning, meaning people should be prepared to leave.