New wildfires erupt in California as flames continue to rage across Los Angeles

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A Wednesday night update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) showed a slight increase in containment for the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires burning in Los Angeles County.

CAL Fire showed that the Palisades Fire, the largest of the two at 23,713 acres burned, is at 21% containment after its ignition in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood more than a week ago.

The Eaton Fire in the Altadena/Pasadena area, which is the deadliest of the two, is at 45% containment, as of Wednesday at 8 p.m. local time.

Both fires broke out on Jan. 7.

Governor Gavin Newsom thanked President Biden via X for assisting him quickly to secure additional funding amid the wildfires.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked President Biden via X for assisting him quickly to secure additional funding amid the wildfires.

The funding, according to Newsom, is to help LA communities rebuild faster and stronger.

The money will be aimed at repairing infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public facilities and parks.

Members of the California Highway Patrol and National Guard man a checkpoint outside of an area damaged by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he is deploying a "surge" of California Highway Patrol officers to Los Angeles County to further assist law enforcement already patrolling the area.

The officers will head to evacuated zones to join efforts to prevent looting and unauthorized entry in wildfire-damaged areas. They will also be available to provide additional support during calls for assistance.

Newsom said law enforcement is patrolling the evacuated zones in two-person units on various shifts at all hours of the day.

The newly deployed CHP officers join more than 800 already working in the area.

Order by Los Angeles County Health Officer

In a move to protect public health and safety the Los Angeles County Health Officer issued an order prohibiting clean up and removal of fire debris.

The order is for critical fire areas in areas of the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Creek, Hurst and Lidia where fire damaged and burned properties are the worst.

The order is pending a hazardous materials inspection by government officials and is specifically for cleanup. It does not restrict removal of personal property for residential sites.

A nearly 90-year-old grandmother of four in Altadena, California garnered millions of social media views after her granddaughter shared her words of wisdom after she lost everything following the devastating California wildfires.

For Ruth Judkins, who turns 90-years-old next month, the devastation from the Southern California wildfires has been a time to recalibrate and simplify her life. 

"Know what's important in your life, and hopefully you have the strength, the energy, the faith to go on and rebuild your life," Judkins told Fox News Digital. "You may want to change it. You may want to simplify at whatever age you're at." 

"But the important thing is to know what's important and live by what you believe," she said.

Her simple words of wisdom have struck a chord on social media, where her granddaughter's Instagram video has racked up over 3 million views and thousands of comments.

Judkins' longtime home in Altadena was one of the many thousands devastated in the horrific wildfires. 

"My street has 12 single-family houses. Six of them remain. Six burned," she said.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten.

Beach front homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Weather conditions in and around Los Angeles are expected to get better in the form of a “much-needed break” from the increased fire danger, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.

However, “Next week is a concern,” the NWS said.

"While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected," the NWS posted on X. 

Firefighters were bracing for strong winds on Wednesday, which has hampered their ability to combat the wildfires across Los Angeles County.

The highest chance of a red flag warning being issued because of Santa Ana winds will come on Monday and Tuesday, the weather service said.

Ben Affleck was seen having an animated conversation with police officers from inside his car on Tuesday, just two days after the FBI came by his Brentwood residence.

The officers were talking to Affleck about his neighbor who had hired private security who were allegedly not allowing people to get back in their homes, including Affleck, a source told Fox News Digital, adding that he was telling the police that private security can’t do that. 

The source added that police are in his area because he is just outside the mandatory evacuation zones for the Palisades Fire. Affleck, who spoke to officers in a police cruiser from his car, was seen leaning out of his driver’s side window and gesturing at several points during the conversation before eventually driving away. 

FBI agents were also seen outside his property on Sunday, but Affleck isn’t in any trouble, the agency said. 

The FBI was "assisting with grid search for an unauthorized drone" in the area, which is near the Palisades Fire evacuation zone, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

"Members of the FBI's Ground Intercept task force are conducting activity in the area of the Palisades fire. Agents and our local partners may be visible throughout the area, including at residences, for this reason," FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller previously explained.

A source told Fox News Digital that Affleck was not home when the agents arrived. They reportedly left after some time on the premises. 

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson and Larry Fink.

A burned car is seen among debris in the wreckage of a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. AP Photo/Ethan Swope

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed an executive order to allow federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

The order allows the crews to remove explosive and highly toxic materials after receiving safety clearance from emergency officials.

“Cleanup crews are moving into neighborhoods devastated by this firestorm," Newsom said in a statement. "California is working swiftly to ensure survivors from these devastating firestorms can begin their road to recovery. We appreciate the fast-acting work of teams on the ground to begin this first phase of recovery – all while first responders are continuing to battle ongoing flames in the area.”

Specifically, debris removal teams will be tasked with cleaning up household hazardous waste, including pesticides, propane tanks, and batteries in both conventional and electric vehicles.

That will clear the way for the removal of remaining structural debris.

A Super SCooper plane drops water on the Palisades fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Super Scooper planes have been a much-needed tool to fight the wildfires in Southern California but are in short supply.

The Los Angeles Fire Department typically leases two of the planes annually, but authorities have requested more to combat the wildfires that continue to burn throughout the county, NBC 4 reported. Globally, there are only around 160 in operation.

Surprisingly, each one is made by a single Canadian manufacturer, according to the report.

“It is a rugged, reliable and very tough aircraft,” said Neil Sweeney, vice president of corporate affairs at Calgary-based De Havilland Aircraft, told the news outlet.

Super Scoopers get their name from their ability to scoop up to 6,000 liters from bodies of water and drop them in just seconds on wildfires burning nearby, Sweeney said. They can also fly uninterrupted for hours.

Demand for the aircraft has increased in recent years as wildfires have become more common and difficult to contain.

Ricki Lake warned fans that anyone asking for donations on her behalf is a scam. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for End Well Foundation)

Ricki Lake has a warning for fans as she and others are working to rebuild their lives after the devastating LA fires.

In a video shared on her Instagram, the "Hairspray" star said things were "surreal" at the moment, especially after she learned "that there was a post, [posing] as me, asking for money."

"I am not asking for any money for myself," Lake clarified. "I don’t even know what happened, but it seemed that maybe the post was gone."

She added she plans to make donations to "a number of organizations" and hopes to set up a fund-match system for anyone looking to contribute, but was clear she was not seeking any money from the public for herself.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Stanton.

A new fire broke out Wednesday as firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Los Angeles County, authorities said.

The Little Mountain Fire sparked at around 2:44 p.m. on Little Mountain Drive and West Edgehill Road in nearby San Bernardino County, Fox Los Angeles reported.

By 3:15, the blaze had grown to 34 acres, according to Cal Fire. The vegetation fire was also spreading at a rapid rate of speed, San Bernardino County Fire said.

Minutes later, authorities said forward progress had been stopped. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged,

Actor Dennis Quaid poses during a photocall for the film 'The Substance' at the 77th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Actor Dennis Quaid is among a growing list calling for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to resign over her handling of the wildfires that have engulfed parts of the region.

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Quaid said he knows at least 100 people who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire. The actor evacuated his own home in Brentwood, which was spared, Fox Los Angeles reported.

He put the blame on Bass, who was out of the country when the fires broke out last week, for not having the city better prepared despite warnings of strong winds in the days before the fires.

“Mayor Bass had five days warning about what could be record Santa Ana winds, and she chose to go to Ghana anyway,” he said. “And when she came back, there's that video that went viral of this guy getting off the plane and that reporter.”

“Yes, maybe she was ambushed or whatever, but to just say nothing in that interview? You've got to hit the ground running there,” he added.

A sign is posted in front of a State Farm insurance office on January 03, 2024 in Pinole, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

State Farm, California's largest insurer, is canceling a planned Super Bowl ad to focus on the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

“State Farm, its agents, and employees are all focused on helping customers impacted by the Southern California wildfires in the midst of this tragedy,” a company spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Our claims force is the largest in the industry and we are bringing the full scale and force of our catastrophe response teams to help customers recover – whether they are on the ground in LA or across the country."

"Our focus is firmly on providing support to the people of Los Angeles. We will not be advertising during the game as originally planned," the company said.

It wasn't clear what the planned ad entailed. State Farm routinely advertises during the Super Bowl.

The insurance giant was criticized after it announced last year that it would not renew some policies because of the wildfire risk. State Farm is California's largest insurer, with 8.7% market share, according to data from the California Department of Insurance.

Denis Leary details during "The View" what he believes are major problems with the fire departments in Los Angeles. (Screenshot/ABC/The View)

Actor Denis Leary told the co-hosts of "The View" on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Fire Department experiences budget cuts every year and said they've been understaffed for over a decade amid the ongoing wildfires in the area.

"I can tell you this about the LA department. I know this to be true with fire departments across the country," he said, noting his organization, the Leary Firefighters Foundation, which has been around since 2000. "Every year the request for money from departments around the country, big and small, big city, small town, from my foundation, we get, I can’t even tell you hundreds of requests, and we get more every year."

The Leary Firefighters foundation provides equipment, training and more to departments across the country. Leary argued that the reason for all the requests was because the fire department budgets were always the first to be cut, noting that firefighters "don’t go on strike," like other departments might.

"So, one thing I know to be true about, and you’ll hear about this more in the next — as the fires die down, it’s very true in L.A. They — the wildfires get worse every year, they get their budget cut further every year. They have been understaffed for over a decade, right? They have — they had to lay off department mechanics who fixed the broken-down fire trucks," Leary added.

Read more about what Dennis Leary said on “The View.”

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Hanna Panreck.

In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, actor and entrepreneur Danny Trejo, 79, shared his story of hitting "rock bottom" before his 55-year sobriety journey. (Getty Images)

Actor Danny Trejo called out Kim Kardashian over comments she made recently about the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

Fox 11 in Los Angeles reported that Trejo spoke with TIMZ and said it was not appropriate for the Kardashian to say anything about the struggles of incarcerated firefighters.

“Right now, as far as inmates getting paid — pros, cons, whatever — it’s like, right now, Kim, worry about the people that lost everything," Trejo said. "You’ve still got everything!"

In a message last week, Kardashian posted on Instagram about pushing for more pay for incarcerated firefighters who were deployed to fight the wildfires in California.

"The incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1/hour to risk their lives, and this pay has been the same since 1984," she said in the post. "It has never been raised with inflation. It’s never been raised when fires got worse and many died.

"This year there was an agreement to raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to $5/hour, but it got shot down last minute," Kardashian continued, before urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to raise the pay rate for incarcerated firefighters.

Last year, voters in the state rejected Proposition 6, which would have banned involuntary labor in prisons, including bringing on inmates to fight wildfires when there are not enough firefighters.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says incarcerated firefighters can earn up to $10.24 per day, and during active emergencies, can get an additional $1 per hour.

Solar lights remain on outside a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Nearly 100 fire-related arrests have been made - including two additional arson arrests - since the start of the wildfires in Los Angeles County last week.

Many of the charges involved include burglary, looting, vandalism, and curfew violations in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. At least two incidents are related to illegal drone activity.

On Wednesday, authorities announced felony arson charges against two men for allegedly starting fires in Los Angeles County in unrelated cases.

Federal and local law enforcement agencies have banned together to target crimes related to the wildfires in Southern California, officials said Wednesday.

In an effort to combat looting, scams and other crimes, authorities have formed the Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force, which comprises the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office; the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Members of the Task Force will meet to discuss case leads, develop and share crime intelligence, and facilitate the efficient prosecution of crimes related to the Los Angeles County wildfires, authorities said.

“We will not permit victims to be re-victimized,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “Our community has suffered tremendously, and we are here to support them."

Local authorities have made dozens of arrests related to looting, burglaries, illegal drone activity and curfew violations in evacuation zones since the fires began last week.

Two men have been charged with felony arson in Los Angeles in unrelated cases as authorities combat firebugs, looters and multiple raging blazes in Southern California.

The incidents happened in different parts of Los Angeles County over the weekend, according to the district attorney's office.

Jaime Mota, 37, was held on $350,000 bail for allegedly lighting a stack of wooden pallets on fire behind a shipping yard in the City of Industry Saturday afternoon. The flames spread to a tractor-trailer and some surrounding bushes, according to authorities. He could get seven years in prison if convicted.

In Irwindale, 27-year-old Ruben Michael Montes is being held on $400,000 bail for allegedly lighting a fire under the Interstate 605 overpass at Rivergrade Road. He was already on probation at the time of the incident and faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

"We owe it to the victims of these fires, as well as the brave first responders risking their lives, to ensure justice is served," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "Let this be a message to anyone contemplating similar acts — you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

This is an excerpt from an article by Michael Ruiz.

The Intuit Dome is illuminated on opening night in Inglewood, California, August 15, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

A FireAid Relief concert will be held in Southern California later this month to benefit those impacted by the wildfires.

LiveNation announced that the concert will be held on Jan. 30 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

A list of performers and ticket information have not been announced.

Hunter Biden after he was found guilty on all counts by a Delaware jury last year. (AP)

A trove of nearly 200 pieces of art by Hunter Biden has been destroyed amid the wildfires in Southern California.

A source close to the Biden family told the New York Post that the art had been in storage near the Pacific Palisades home of Biden's attorney, Kevin Morris. The source said the artwork was worth millions of dollars.

Morris lives in a five-bedroom, six-bathroom home, which is among the few houses still intact, the Post reported.

Biden is reportedly a self-taught artist who learned while doing stints in recovery for drug addiction.

A firefighter sprays water on a garage burning in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nic Coury, File)

Winds began picking up in Southern California on Wednesday as firefighters continue to battle several wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes so far.

A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph in the mountains before dawn on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Winds were manageable on Tuesday, which allowed responders to make gains in an effort to control the most destructive fires.

Firefighters believe lighter winds will make for better containment conditions on Friday and Saturday.

The weather service issued red-flag warnings — indicating temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected — from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast 275 miles south to the border with Mexico, the Associated Press reported.

Smoke from the Palisades Fire fills the air in Mandeville Canyon Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

An air quality alert has been issued due to harmful levels of windblown dust and ash near the areas where wildfires continue to rage in Southern California.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, issued the alert, citing harmful particle pollution levels.

This alert affects the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley, with windblown ash possible in areas southwest of recently burned zones. 

Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Japan will donate $2 million toward wildfire relief efforts in Southern California, officials said Wednesday.

“In response to the devastating damage caused by the wildfires in California, Japan has decided to provide a total of 2 million U.S. dollars of assistance through the American Red Cross, as a relief measure for the victims of the disaster,” the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles said in a statement.

“Japan will actively provide assistance for the relief of the victims and the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas,” the consulate said.

On Monday, Consul General Kenko Sone relayed his condolences to those impacted by the wildfires.

"A heartbreaking and tragic week has passed since the Palisades and Eaton Fires started on January 7th. Struggles continue. The devastation and challenges are beyond our imagination,'' Sone wrote. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires...Even under such difficult circumstances, it is encouraging to see so many organizations, volunteers, and individuals donating food, supplies and time to help with ongoing efforts. The perseverance and resilience of Angelenos is amazing and what the City of Angels represents.

"Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles is now working with Japanese and Japanese American businesses and communities to join these relief efforts. Japan is a nation that has experienced natural disasters and we are thankful for the generous support supplied by Southern California when it was needed the most. We stand with you all to support immediate needs and will do our best to collaborate with authorities, communities, and all of you to rebuild communities devastated by the fires,'' the message continued.

Los Angeles Clippers players stand during a moment of silence for victims of the ongoing California wildfires before an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

The NBA has rescheduled two games that were postponed because of the devastating wildfires in Southern California.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Jan. 9 home game against the Charlotte Hornets will take place on Feb. 19. The Hornets’ Jan. 11 game against the Los Angeles Clippers will be played on March 16, The Associated Press reported.

A new date for the Lakers’ Jan. 11 home game against the San Antonio Spurs wasn’t announced. The league also announced six other scheduling changes to accommodate those updates:

— The Clippers were originally scheduled to host the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 21 and the Washington Wizards on March 16. The Bulls game will move up one day to Jan. 20, while the Wizards game will be Jan. 23.

— The Clippers’ March 19 game against the Utah Jazz will now take place Feb. 13.

— The Lakers’ Feb. 11 home game against the Jazz will be played on Feb. 10.

— The Wizards’ Jan. 23 game at Utah will now be March 19.

— Washington’s March 18 game at Portland will move up one day to March 17. 

An on-screen hero came to his own community's rescue after stopping a suspected arsonist from lighting a fire in a Los Angeles neighborhood.

On Thursday, "Chicago Fire" actor Brian J. White was one of several residents who detained a man, later identified as an illegal immigrant from Mexico, for allegedly waving a blowtorch on private property.

White, who lives in Woodland Hills, was preparing to evacuate his neighborhood due to the nearby Kenneth Fire (now 100% contained), when he realized something was awry outside.

"We were packing up, and all of a sudden, out front of our house, I hear screaming, ‘Put it down, put it down,'" White told Deadline. "I thought somebody had a gun and my neighbor was in duress, so my daughter went and hid in the closet, and I went running upstairs to go outside and help my neighbor."

In video obtained by Fox News Digital, individuals can be heard screaming at a man that ICE sources would later tell Fox was an illegal immigrant from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva.

According to White, a resident in the neighborhood had chased Sierra-Leyva down to White's direct neighbor's home, where he stood with a blowtorch. He had allegedly been trying to burn flammable debris in White's trash can.

White, along with a third neighbor, said they "backed the guy against our neighbor’s house that he was standing in front of, asking him why he was in the neighborhood." White said the individual was acting erratically and "then became very aggressive about being asked what he was doing here." 

"He said he was looking for a place to hang out. And we’re like, ‘Well, this isn’t the place to hang out.’"

White and his neighbors intended to let the police – who had been called by the men's wives – handle the situation, but Sierra-Leyva "became more aggressive." White and his neighbors decided to make a citizen's arrest. 

"Two of our neighbors work on cars in the garages; they had zip ties in one garage and [a] little bit of rope in another garage. So we took him down, detained him, and waited for the police. Sixteen cruisers showed up within about seven minutes of us calling, and the rest is on the news."

A representative for White did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Per Deadline, LAPD arrested Sierra-Leyva for felony probation violation, but didn't have enough evidence for an arson charge.

This is an excerpt from an article by Caroline Thayer.

A California man whose home was the only one on his block spared by the Eaton Fire captured a stunning video showing the devastation in his neighborhood, saying "God knew what he had to do to protect me." 

Enrique Balcazar recorded the footage on Jan. 9 as he returned to see what was left of his community in Altadena. 

"This is across the street, the corner house and the two houses in front and the entire street on my right side is decimated," he said. "From what I could see, every house is burnt down on my block, except for my house."

"Why do I deserve this? I don’t know. I don’t think I deserve it. But God bless everybody else with plenty of insurance to rebuild. God knew what he had to do to protect me," Balcazar added, while getting emotional. 

The video taken by Balcazar shows him walking around his property to survey any damage. As he pans the camera around, his neighborhood appears in ruins, while crows could be heard eerily chirping in the background. 

"Everybody behind me, how is this? How could this even be true? Everybody behind me is burned down," Balcazar continues, noting how lumber he was using to build an extension of his house was consumed by the wildfire. 

"Even the lumber that we were building the extension of the house, but my house is intact. But even my lumber burned down, how does that happen if not God? The neighbors are gone," he said. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Greg Norman.

Justine Bateman is calling for Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Los Angeles officials to be removed from office.

The actress insisted Newsom be removed after sharing a video of the California governor saying he wants to work with President-elect Donald Trump on fighting the fires.

"I really want other CA voters to see the lack of sincerity, the dismissiveness, the dedication to pretentiousness, and the dereliction of care for the citizens of California," Bateman wrote on X. 

"He has always demonstrated this. In every video. You cannot trust this kind of person with any role, and especially not one upon which our wellbeing depends," she added. "Gavin Newsom needs to be removed, before something worse happens here."

She also called for LA Mayor Karen Bass to be removed, writing, "Her irresponsibility and apathy towards the people of Los Angeles is reprehensible. Leaving the country days after being notified of weather conditions that everyone who lives in LA knows are prime disaster fire conditions is unforgivable. This on top of her knowing that efforts to mitigate maximum damage had not been done at all. We cannot wait for another calamitous demonstration of her ineptitude. She must be removed."

Bateman, known for her role on "Family Ties," has been outspoken regarding her views since the LA fires began. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman vowed "swift and significant" consequences for anyone found breaking the law as fires ravage the LA area. 

Hochman also said his office is investigating claims of price gouging.

Hochman called price gouging “particularly despicable” because offenders are taking advantage of desperate people who need somewhere to stay.

Hochman said charity and insurance scams have also been reported. He encouraged people to check out any charities before donating to them and avoid sending cash or bitcoin.

Earlier, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said two additional people were arrested for arson.

McDonnell said one person admitted to starting a fire "because he liked the smell of burning leaves." 

Another person said "she enjoyed causing chaos and destruction," according to McDonnell.

Dozens of others have been arrested for looting, burglary and breaking curfew. One person was arrested Tuesday evening for impersonating a firefighter, officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

The devastation of the Palisades Fire is seen at sunset in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. AP Photo/Ethan Swope

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that deputies have searched 78% of the Eaton Fire zone, covering more than 5,500 properties.

The death toll from the Eaton Fires is unchanged at 21, though missing persons cases have decreased slightly to just over a couple dozen, Luna said. At least three other deaths have been attributed to the Palisades Fire.

The sheriff said there are still about 30 active missing persons reports. 

Additionally, evacuation orders remain in place for 82,400 people as of Wednesday morning. And another 90,400 people could face evacuation if strong winds continue to spread fires or start new ones. 

Officials caution it may not be safe for residents to return to the different areas, even where evacuation orders have been lifted.

Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said significant safety areas remain in the burned areas including downed power lines and broken gas lines.

The wind forecast was for gusts up to 35 mph on the coast and vales and 55 mph in the mountains before dawn Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. A red flag warning is in effect – indicating warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds – stretching from the Central Coast 275 miles south to the border with Mexico until 3 p.m. local time.

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

The devastation from the ongoing wildfires in Southern California is expected to break property loss records, with an estimated 12,000 structures already burned.

With thousands of victims losing their homes, homeowners insurance in the state has been a major focus since the disaster began last week. But what about those who lost their vehicles to the fires?

It all comes down to what type of policy the owner has on the vehicle.

Robert Passmore, the Department VP of Auto and Claims at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), told FOX Business in an interview that there are two kinds of coverage for damage to a vehicle.

"That is collision coverage, for when you hit something or another object or another car, and then there's comprehensive coverage, which is for pretty much everything else that can happen to your car – things like floods or a tree falling on it, or it gets hit by lightning, it burns up in a fire," he explained. "So if you have comprehensive coverage on your car, then your loss would be covered under your auto policy."

Passmore said most of the vehicles damaged in the fires that have been burning in the Los Angeles for the past week are going to be total losses, noting, "There's no repairing a car that's been in one of these fires, usually."

He said that people with comprehensive coverage whose vehicles are totaled by the fires will be paid the market value of the vehicle at the time of the loss – before it was burned.

This is an excerpt from an article by Breck Dumas.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass smiles for a photo while attending an embassy cocktail party in Ghana on January 7, 2025. Instagram/@maristagram

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was taking photos at a cocktail party in Ghana when the Palisades Fire engulfed Los Angeles on Jan. 7, according to a report.

Pictures posted on social media show Bass enjoying herself in the West African nation as part of a Biden administration delegation to the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A spokesperson for the mayor told the paper the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana hosted the event before the group departed for the U.S. on a military plane after word reached the mayor of the growing crisis in her city. Bass spent most of the party in a separate room making calls, the spokesperson told the LA Times.

Bass has been heavily criticized for leaving Los Angeles on an overseas trip while weather forecasts had warned of fire danger. She left the country on Jan. 4 as the National Weather Service intensified warnings about a coming windstorm and she returned to Los Angeles at around 11 a.m. on Jan. 8, more than 24 hours after the fires ignited, the LA Times reported. 

Trucks drive through a neighborhood destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Nearly 40,000 people have applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has now distributed more than $8 million for immediate needs including food, baby formula and gas, officials said.

Cash assistance is directly deposited into bank accounts, regional FEMA administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said Tuesday, countering false information about vouchers.

President Biden has pledged that the federal government would cover 100% of the firefighting and recovery costs accrued in the first 180 days of the LA fires. But that does not mean FEMA will not cover 100% of the costs to individual families – assistance is capped at $43,600, Fenton said.

Representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, the state and several charities gathered to explain the process at a disaster recovery center at UCLA Research Park West and Pasadena City College Community Education Center, the Associated Press reported.

FEMA offers up to $770 to help cover the evacuees’ immediate needs, but its larger grants generally aren’t available until after insurance companies pay out. Someone who receives a maximum grant from FEMA might be eligible for another $10,000 grant from the state.

The Small Business Administration also offers low-interest loans to businesses for up to $2 million, while homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 for rebuilding and another $100,000 for personal property. 

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

Long-time California resident and Fox News contributor Caitlyn Jenner predicts that there will be a "change" in thinking across the state after the way leadership handled the wildfires still affecting parts of Los Angeles County.

Jenner, who said she has lived in California since 1973, recalled the first time she saw the state's "Welcome to California, the Golden State" sign on Highway 82.

"Boy, have I seen this state decline over the years. We're not gold, we're not silver, we're not bronze. We don't even make the finals anymore," Jenner told "The Story," arguing that the state's decline is because of the politicians running it.

The former 2021 Republican recall election candidate argued that the details emerging from how officials failed to prepare for the wildfires are going to shine a "bright light" on California's "weaknesses."

"Light is good because it's a disinfectant. I mean, we have so many issues here, mostly with the politicians," said Jenner, likening the politician's responses to problems like a game of "whack-a-mole."

"You know that game when you play, when you have the mole and you have the board in front of you and the head pops up, you got a hammer, and you bang it down? And then another one comes up over here, and you bang it down," she described. 

"That's what they do. Soon as the problem comes up, then they try to do what they can do to fix it. Instead of being on the offensive a year before the fires," Jenner further explained her analogy.

Jenner criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom's response to the LA fires , highlighting how she has had properties affected by several fires over the years and that they happen "all the time."

"This is devastating stuff. And they're not on the offense," said Jenner, acknowledging the massive winds that contributed to the level of devastation from the flames.

This is an excerpt from an article by Kira Mautone.

Dolvett Quince, a personal trainer best known for appearing on "Biggest Loser" seasons 12 to 17, has been taking to social media as one of many Californians displaced from their homes as wildfires spread across Los Angeles County.

Quince told Fox News Digital that he first heard about the fires on social media and that he could see the smoke from his home only two miles from the Pacific Palisades. 

"I stayed that night. It was very difficult to breathe in my home because you could smell the ashes and there was just the smoke in the air. It was getting in my throat, through my nose, through my eyes, to my dogs the same thing, and we all decided to just have a bag packed just in case. And then we got an evacuation notice the next day. There was a warning," he said.

Quince says when he first saw the smoke as the fires began, he thought what a shame. At the time, he didn’t realize the severity of what was happening, but when he came back to his home today, it was bad.

"Lot of tree shrubs, a lot of things the wind blew over. The roads have a lot of debris still in them from the damage of the trees. I think we have a long way to get things cleaned up...it looks pretty bad," he said.

He remains, as always, optimistic – recalling that there have been so many other disasters throughout the years.

"Katrina survived; Puerto Rico survived. Right? They were able to bounce back. I think because California has so many resources, people who live here wanna see that their city is better handled, better governed. I think people will take action to ensure that we come back stronger. I'm hopeful for that," said Quince.

A Los Angeles family in the Palisades Highlands shared this week how they used their swimming pool, a generator, sprinkler, pump and a fire hose to save their house from the wildfires, which have destroyed thousands of homes. 

The system is "very budget friendly and easy to operate," Instagram user Cali_._love wrote along with a video showing them pumping water out of their pool and spraying it on vegetation around their hillside home.  

"There is no doubt in my mind that this generator, pump, pool, sprinkler and fire hose contributed to saving our family home," Cali_._love wrote. "My dad was so adamant about all the neighbors having one. He was correct as he has been so many times in his career." 

They said they drained two swimming pools — theirs and their neighbors — running their equipment for 10 hours over two days, soaking the plants and their roof "just to come back the next day to find the bottom half of the palm tree burnt along with the whole hillside.

"Without this, there would be no more house and possibly no more neighbors. Were we lucky? Extremely. Were we prepared? Yes. Were there things we would have done differently? Absolutely," they wrote. 

Seeing that their house didn’t burn down, they said they’re "adamant" that everyone who has a swimming pool should use their system. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Brie Stimson.

Approximately 29 people have been arrested in Los Angeles so far in connection to criminal activity related to the ongoing wildfires, including a burglary suspect who allegedly attempted to disguise himself as a firefighter, officials said Sunday. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 25 of those arrested were in the area of the Eaton Fire, while four others came from the Palisades Fire evacuated zone. 

"When I was out there in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter. And I asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down. I didn't realize we had him in handcuffs," Luna recalled to reporters. "We are turning him over to LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman, and he was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home. So those are issues that our front line deputies and police officers are dealing with." 

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said one person was arrested Saturday night for violating a curfew order in the city, and three others were arrested the night before in connection to an alleged burglary. 

"There were three individuals in a vehicle. They were stopped. They were where they weren't supposed to be. One had on a fire jacket and a fire hat. And he was additionally arrested for impersonating a firefighter," McDonnell said. "We have people who will go to all ends to be able to do what it is they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Danielle Wallace.

"Million Dollar Listing" stars Josh Flagg and Josh Altman are already getting to work attempting to help the victims of the Los Angeles fires navigate the real estate market after losing their homes.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Flagg addressed concerns over illegal price gouging within the rental and housing market.

"Well, the thing is, you know, I don't know the exact laws, but there are legal consequences for price gouging. For example, if the house was on the market prior to this happening, and then you just raise it five times the price during a natural disaster, that's against the law," Flagg said.

He continued, "So, what people are doing and, to not do it illegally, is… people that were not marketing their homes before are just now taking advantage because you can ask whatever you want for a house. You just can't do it, then a natural disaster happens, and then you triple the price. That's the problem."

Homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have been demolished after the Los Angeles fires. Both the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire remain active in Los Angeles County, according to Cal Fire.

Per Cal Fire, more than 12,000 homes, businesses and schools have been lost to the fires and more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes.

According to Flagg, there is not enough inventory in Los Angeles for all the people who have been displaced.

"This is why there's like, you know, open houses with a line around the block of people. There's just not enough inventory. A lot of my clients have investment properties, so you fill up the investment properties. I mean, look, at the end of the day, it's not like these people are going to be on the streets.

"Right now, this is very scary. But at the end of the day, there will be a place for everyone to go. It's just determining that now and everyone's scrambling. It's like any disaster. In the beginning, it's a nightmare and then everything just works itself out. But it's not fun while you're waiting," he continued.

This is an excerpt from an article by Janelle Ash and Larry Fink.

Tiger Woods of the United States walks to the fourth tee during the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 21, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Golf icon and Southern California native Tiger Woods is speaking out as wildfires continue to wreak havoc on the Los Angeles region.

Woods was born in Cypress, California, which is located roughly 45 miles from Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The Palisades fire is one of the largest and one of the most destructive wildfires sweeping across the area. 

Woods had been publicly silent about the tragedy, until Tuesday. He released a statement saying his heart was with those who have been impacted by the devesting wildfires.

"The devastation that is ongoing with the LA fires is such a tragedy and being from California, it hits home," Woods said in a statement shared to his social media platforms. "My heart is with those who have suffered unimaginable loss. Thank you to the incredible heroes that are the first responders helping to contain and save the community of Los Angeles."

The 15-time major winner also vowed to release more details about his personal contributions to the communities affected by the disasters.

"We plan to provide an update on our own charitable efforts to help these communities in the coming weeks. Stay strong LA!"

This is an excerpt from an article by Chantz Martin.

Electrical transmission lines after the Eaton Fire in the hills above Altadena, California, on Jan. 13, 2025. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A California utility company is facing a pile of lawsuits claiming its equipment started the Eaton Fire, one of the largest of multiple blazes sparked last week and still burning in the Los Angeles area.

Southern California Edison, owned by Edison International, was hit with four lawsuits on Monday, all of which accuse the company of igniting the fire, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Eaton Fire alone has burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 2,700 structures and left 15 people dead.

The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of homeowners, renters, business owners and others with properties destroyed by the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area.

At least 24 people have died since multiple fires began last Tuesday, and more than 90,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes. More than two dozen people are reported missing, authorities said.

This is an excerpt from an article by Breck Dumas.

Actor Michael Rapaport went off on California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a video on Tuesday, telling the Democrat "there’s no more mistakes for you, you’re done!" (Charles Sykes/Bravo)

Actor Michael Rapaport went off on California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a video on Tuesday, telling the Democrat "there’s no more mistakes for you, you’re done!"

The "Only Murders in the Building" actor said that "Gavin with the good hair Newsom" was talking about "Trump-proofing" California when he should have been focused on "fire-proofing" the state. 

"You’re talking about Trump this, Trump that. He’s not even president," the 54-year-old said in a video he posted to Instagram as the Southern California fires, which have burned thousands of homes, entered their second week. 

Rapaport has also been critical of Trump in the past, but said that Vice President Kamala Harris lost his vote in the 2024 election because of Israel. 

"Get the f--- out of here!" he said of Newsom. "‘We’ll do better next time. We need to learn from our mistakes,’" he mocked.

"You’re not running for sixth grade class president, he added," jokingly calling him "Nancy’s nephew," referring to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Them days are over." 

"What a good old boy you turned out to be, you little bulls--- artist," he added. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Brie Stimson.

One week since deadly and massive wildfires broke out in the Los Angeles area, Southern California remains under a "particularly dangerous situation" warning from the National Weather Service.

Historic wildfires have forced tens of thousands of residents to flee as their homes and businesses were destroyed. At least 24 people have been killed and dozens more are missing, officials said.

New smaller fires have ignited in Ventura County since Monday, but thanks to the heroic effort of firefighters they have been kept much smaller than the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which together burned more than 38,000 acres in Los Angeles County.

The Palisades Fire is 18% contained as of Wednesday morning, and the Eaton Fire is 35% contained, but the rate of spread for both fires is much diminished since last week.

Weather conditions are expected to improve after Wednesday, with calmer winds and higher humidity forecast. Gusts of up to 60 mph will still be possible for areas that are still burning out of control, "Fox & Friends" weather anchor Janice Dean reported. 

Governor Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., pushed back on those angry about his wildfire response, saying that local leaders aren't giving him straight answers about the crisis. (Getty | AP)

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Tuesday, protecting victims of the Los Angeles area fires from real estate speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers for their property.

Newsom’s office said in a press release that the predatory and exploitative practices not only endanger the financial well-being and security of victims, but also takes advantage of the disaster and any associated trauma the victims may be enduring.

“As families mourn, the last thing they need is greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain,” Newsom said. “I have heard first-hand from community members and victims who have received unsolicited and predatory offers from speculators offering cash far below market value — some while their homes were burning. We will not allow greedy developers to rip off these working-class communities at a time when they need more support than ever before.”

Newsom’s order protects residents in hard-hit areas of Los Angeles County from these predators, including the community of Altadena, described by his office as a working-class neighborhood in which large swathes of land were damaged or destroyed.

Opportunistic investors who make undermarket offers on properties threaten the character and vibrancy of the community, but also could displace residents who hold long ties and investments in the community.

Unsolicited and undervalued offers to buy property in specific neighborhoods hit hard are unlawful under Newsom’s order for three months after Jan. 14, 2025.

Anyone who violates the order could be charged with a misdemeanor and prosecuted by the attorney general or local district attorneys.