Palisades Fire expands to the east, threatening new neighborhoods
The deadly Palisades Fire is spread to its north and east Saturday, threatening homes in the Mandeville Canyon area near Brentwood.
LOS ANGELES – For the fifth consecutive day, walls of flames, whipped by relentless winds, continue to devour Los Angeles neighborhoods, leaving 11 confirmed dead and a trail of devastation in their path.
The apocalyptic wildfires ravaging Southern California remained extremely volatile into the weekend as authorities remained focused on containing the blazes and combing through the debris of at least 12,000 destroyed structures, including hundreds of homes.
A home burning in the Mandeville Canyon area of Brentwood is doused by water from a firefighting plane on Jan. 11, 2025. (FOX 11)
Fresh evacuations were ordered along the eastern flank of the massive Palisades Fire late Friday night in Mandeville Canyon to the Interstate 405 freeway as a reverse in the wind direction pushed the fire to the north and east. The fire has burned about 1,000 new acres on this eastern flank.
Aerial video from FOX 11 Los Angeles shows one home burning in the Mandeville Canyon area of Brentwood and several more threatened by approaching flames.
"We’ve seen an increase in the fire behavior," Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told FOX Weather. "This started moving east (Friday) night between 7-8 p.m… We have a couple different fronts — now we’re looking at Brentwood coming into Bel Air, and we have like on Mulholland toward the valley side of Encino."
Palisades Fire grows Friday night, triggers new evacuations
Capt. Adam Van Gerpen with Los Angeles Fire joins FOX Weather to give the latest on the Palisades Fire which triggered new evacuations near I-405 Friday night.
While winds were calmer on Saturday, new Fire Weather Watches were issued into Sunday as stronger Santa Ana winds were expected to return.
LOS ANGELES AREA BACK UNDER FIRE WEATHER WATCH AS STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS RETURN
'He kissed his family goodbye': FOX Weather meteorologist becomes overwhelmed while telling fire survivor's story
FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres became overwhelmed with emotion while recounting the story of a California wildfire survivor she talked to in the Altadena area.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the National Guard on Thursday to support law enforcement efforts in the region. This brings the total number of on-the-ground personnel working with local and federal agencies to 8,000.
"Thanks to the incredible work of our first responders and emergency personnel, we’re throwing everything at our disposal – including our National Guard servicemembers – to protect communities in the days to come," Newsom said. "And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated."
HOW TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Eaton Fire advances more than 1 mile into Altadena, California
Wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles County, with over 35,000 acres scorched. Tragically, the LA County Medical Examiner has confirmed at least 10 fire-related deaths. Of the five active fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires are the most extensive. FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres reports live from Altadena, California, where the Eaton Fire has advanced more than a mile into the town.
The Palisades and Eaton fires, the two largest of the five currently burning, caused the majority of the deaths and destruction. According to fire officials, the Palisades Fire consumed more than 21,000 acres, and the Eaton Fire was estimated to have destroyed about 14,000 acres – both with little containment, though percentages crept higher Saturday.
Malibu devastated by urban firestorm wreaking havoc on Southern California
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is on the scene in Malibu, California, where another devastating urban firestorm has wreaked havoc.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said the identification of those dead may take several weeks as staff are not able to respond to all death locations due to the fire conditions and safety concerns.
"Please also keep in mind, traditional means of identification such as fingerprinting and visual identification may not be available and will add more time for naming these decedents," the department said.
The FBI said in a statement that it stands ready to assist if requested but is not involved in the investigation or the recovery of the missing. Los Angeles County reports 13 missing so far.
CALIFORNIA MAN TRIES TO SAVE HIS HOME FROM WILDFIRES
Two ladies cry while viewing their brother's burned home during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 9, 2025.
(JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
A bicyclist stands amongst Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Firefighters mop up hot spots near the major communications towers on Mount Wilson, as the Eaton Fire continues to burn on January 9, 2025 near Altadena, California.
(David McNew/Getty Images)
Flames and smoke from the Palisades Fire surround a home (C) in the community of Topanga, California, on January 9, 2025.
(DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
Firefighters continue battling Palisades fire as flames rage across Los Angeles, California, United States on January 09, 2025. (Photo by Official Flickr Account of CAL FIRE / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: A house in on fire as residents try to escape the site in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could further escalate the blaze.
(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
First photo of the Sunrise Fire in the Hollywood Hills area
(AlertCA)
Embers fly toward Komarovsk, sending her back into her vehicle.
(Annestacia Komarovsk via Storyful)
One of the burning structures Komarovsk sees during her evacuation.
(Annestacia Komarovsk via Storyful)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - A play area shoulders at the Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - The fire ravaged Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - The fire ravaged Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - January 08: Peter Duke takes a picture of Palisades Charter Elementary School during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA.
(Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register )
A building burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8, 2025. Rampaging wildfires around Los Angeles have killed at least two people, officials said January 8 as terrifying blazes leveled whole streets, torching cars and houses in minutes. More than 1,000 buildings have burned in multiple wildfires that have erupted around America's second biggest city, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes.
(ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire has grown to more than 2900-acres and is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California.
(Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - January 08: Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway near Will Rodgers State Beach during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA.
(Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: Pacific Palisades residents seen walking through a shopping plaza after escaping the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could further escalate the blaze.
(Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)
MALIBU, CA - January 08: A Tesla is melted into the street above Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California.
(David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
MALIBU, CA - January 08: Beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California.
(David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News)
Fierce Santa Ana winds grounded aerial firefighting resources during the initial hours, making it too dangerous for aircraft to drop retardant on the flames. This, coupled with drought-parched conditions, created the devastating firestorm that has overwhelmed firefighting efforts.
BEFORE AND AFTER IMAGES SHOW THE EXTENT OF WILDFIRE DAMAGE AROUND LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna compared the disaster to an atomic bomb blast but pledged the community would find a way to recover.
The economic toll of these fires is staggering. Initial estimates place the damage costs at about $52 billion, making the disaster one of the costliest events in U.S. history.
Charred remains of homes seen in Pacific Palisades after deadly California wildfires
FOX Weather's Robert Ray recorded this video of the aftermath of the Palisades Fire that ripped through parts of the Los Angeles metro area.
The Los Angeles Unified School District confirmed that at least two elementary schools and a high school were damaged or destroyed by the flames. All schools and offices will be closed through the rest of the week, and they said they will continue assessing the situation over the next few days to determine whether online learning can continue next week.
Kenneth Fire: New fire develops
A mandatory evacuation order was issued Thursday afternoon for residents in the Van Owen, City Border and Burbank areas as a rapidly spreading wildfire, dubbed the Kenneth Fire, raged through the region.
The blaze, which has consumed nearly 1,000 acres, has not yet resulted in any structural damage to homes or businesses. However, the situation remains critical as firefighters from other major fire zones have been diverted to assist in containment efforts. The fire was estimated at 50% containment on Friday night.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the fire is being investigated as arson and a man was briefly detained in connection to the blaze.
Historic California wildfires blamed for at least 10 deaths
Strong Santa Ana winds are fanning the flames of ongoing wildfires in California, scorching over 35,000 acres of land around the Los Angeles Basin. Smoke from the blazes has significantly degraded air quality across the region. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is live in Malibu, California, with the latest updates on the devastating fires.
Reported water shortages, communication challenges hinder battle against Palisades Fire
The monstrous Palisades Fire ignited in the Santa Monica Mountains late Tuesday morning and exploded in a fury that has consumed more than 19,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE.
FOX News Senior National Correspondent William La Jeunesse reported from the heart of the Palisades on Thursday, highlighting the critical issue of water shortages, with reports of depleted water tanks hindering firefighting efforts. While the Department of Water and Power (DWP) denies these claims, residents have been advised to boil tap water due to potential contamination.
"L.A. County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone told reporters at a news conference Wednesday. "There are not enough firefighters in L.A. County to address four separate fires of this magnitude."
Devastation seen in Malibu after deadly California wildfires
FOX Weather's Robert Ray recorded this video in Malibu, California, after wildfires swept through the area.
WATCH: LOS ANGELES HOME COLLAPSES LIVE ON FOX WEATHER AS WILDFIRES RAGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Communication challenges have further complicated the situation. Power outages and disrupted cell service have left many residents isolated and unable to contact loved ones.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has pledged to provide Starlink satellite internet service to affected areas, offering a lifeline for communication. DWP said it had restored power to more than 150,000 of its 1.5 million electric customers since the start of the firestorm.
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
A destructive wind event, possibly the strongest to hit the LA Basin in 14 years, is fueling catastrophic fires across Southern California.
(Robert Ray)
Firefighters continue battling Palisades fire as flames rage across Los Angeles, California, United States on January 09, 2025. (Photo by Official Flickr Account of CAL FIRE / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: A house in on fire as residents try to escape the site in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could further escalate the blaze. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
Image showing the remnants of a neighborhood north of Los Angeles
(Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)
First photo of the Sunrise Fire in the Hollywood Hills area
(AlertCA)
Embers fly toward Komarovsk, sending her back into her vehicle.
(Annestacia Komarovsk via Storyful)
One of the burning structures Komarovsk sees during her evacuation.
(Annestacia Komarovsk via Storyful)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - A play area shoulders at the Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - The fire ravaged Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - JANUARY 8, 2025 - - The fire ravaged Palisades Elementary Charter School in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - January 08: Peter Duke takes a picture of Palisades Charter Elementary School during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA.
(Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register )
A building burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8, 2025. Rampaging wildfires around Los Angeles have killed at least two people, officials said January 8 as terrifying blazes leveled whole streets, torching cars and houses in minutes. More than 1,000 buildings have burned in multiple wildfires that have erupted around America's second biggest city, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire has grown to more than 2900-acres and is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California.
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - January 08: Homes burn above Pacific Coast Highway near Will Rodgers State Beach during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: Pacific Palisades residents seen walking through a shopping plaza after escaping the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could further escalate the blaze. (Photo by Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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MALIBU, CA - January 08: A Tesla is melted into the street above Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
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MALIBU, CA - January 08: Beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
(David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News)
Renewed wildfire threat, gusty winds remain in forecast
The Santa Ana winds are expected to taper off late Sunday, but forecasters are keeping a wary eye on the forecast for the middle of next week.
Another area of cold, dense air brings high pressure in the Great Basin while another strong area of low-pressure swings off the Southern California shore, signaling perhaps yet another potentially strong and damaging Santa Ana wind event starting Tuesday night and lingering through Wednesday.
"This would be concerning with likely no rain expected and the Tuesday night-Wednesday time period being the fourth offshore event in the stretch," NWS Los Angeles forecasters wrote.
They added that conditions could become exacerbated by the lack of significant rain since last spring and the previous damage from wildfires.
"Residents are urged to stay tuned to the latest information and remain vigilant in steps to protect your life and property," the NWS said.
Relaxed winds allow firefighters to preform aggressive attack
The Palisades Fire claimed an additional home on Saturday but firefighters were able to save dozens of other structures around Mandeville Canyon.