LA Fires Kill 16, Thousands Evacuate As Winds Threaten

Daily Report January 12,2025


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The death toll from devastating Los Angeles wildfires reached 16 by Sunday morning, as firefighting teams worked tirelessly to contain the spreading infernos.

Emergency responders are bracing for challenging conditions ahead, with forecasts predicting Santa Ana winds reaching speeds of 45 mph that could push the flames toward several iconic LA landmarks.

According to reports from AP, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office confirmed that the Palisades Fire claimed five lives, while the Eaton Fire resulted in 11 fatalities. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reported that 13 individuals remain unaccounted for.

Luna indicated that the connection between the missing persons cases and the fires has yet to be determined.

Search teams equipped with cadaver dogs are conducting methodical grid searches through destroyed neighborhoods, with authorities anticipating the casualty numbers may increase. A dedicated center has been established for reporting missing persons.

The crisis has forced 150,000 Los Angeles County residents to evacuate their homes, with over 700 individuals seeking refuge across nine emergency shelters.

Poweroutage.us, which tracks electricity disruptions, reported that nearly 35,000 Los Angeles homes and businesses are currently without power.

Growing concerns surround the potential threat to prominent institutions like the J. Paul Getty Museum and UCLA, as wind patterns could direct the fires toward these locations. Additional evacuation warnings have left more residents in a state of uncertainty.

The fires’ devastating impact is reflected in the extensive damage they’ve caused.

According to Cal Fire, the combined area consumed by the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires spans approximately 62 square miles – surpassing the size of San Francisco. The Palisades and Eaton fires alone account for 59 square miles of the affected area.

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.

The massive response effort includes crews from California and nine other states, comprising 1,354 fire engines, 84 aircraft, and over 14,000 personnel, including firefighters from Mexico.

As of Saturday night, Cal Fire reported containment levels of 11 percent for the Palisades Fire and 15 percent for the Eaton Fire.

“Weather conditions are still critical and another round of strong winds is expected starting Monday,” Traum said.

Since their outbreak on Tuesday north of downtown LA, the fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

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