California’s latest wildfires: 16 confirmed dead, at least 13 missing as dangerous winds return after weekend

anthony and justin mitchell Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin reportedly died in the Eaton Fire in Altadena. One of the children, Justin, 67, has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk. Anthony Mitchell had a limb amputated and used a wheelchair to get around.

His son, also named Anthony, told NBC News that his father probably could have run away from home on his own, but he would never have left his son Justin alone.

His father was found dead next to Justin’s bed. Justin also died in the fire.

Kelly chose not to evacuate as the Eaton Fire approached her home in Altadena. She died Thursday night when her home caught fire.

Shaw chose to remain at the scene and fight the fire at his home in Altadena. He was found dead just outside his home with a garden house in his hands.

Nickerson’s daughter told KCAL that her father told her that Nickerson was okay and that Chuso should remain at their home in Altadena. The last time she heard from him was as the Eaton Fire approached and he was spraying water around the property.

Sykes, a former Australian child star, died without being rescued from the cottage where she lived on her mother’s property in Malibu. The cottage caught fire and her mother could not be contacted until the building was engulfed in flames.

Mr Sykes has cerebral palsy and was unable to evacuate the cottage.

Fire continues to invade the Getty Center and Villas. Getty officials said there was no need to evacuate the artwork and the facility was equipped with state-of-the-art protection equipment in the event of a fire.

Still, the flames are dangerously close.

Watch Duty, a free app that displays active fires, mandatory evacuation zones, air quality index, wind direction, and provides information about wildfires, became a lifeline for LA residents this week.

More than 1 million people have downloaded the app in the past few days, and it has rocketed to the top of Apple and Google’s app stores. This company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Supported by a team of volunteer engineers and reporters.

The app is free, but we accept tax-deductible donations.

Claims that Pacific Palisades fire hydrants were broken before the Palisades fire are misleading and false, authorities said in a statement. statement Saturday to dispel misinformation.

The agency is working with the fire department, which is responsible for inspecting fire hydrants throughout the city. Water and Power said it had repaired all the fire hydrants that needed repair before the fire started. The agency’s hydrant repair list is current and updated, the statement continued.

“According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, potential direct smoke impacts from the Palisades, Eaton, and Hearst fires are contributing to unhealthy air quality in Los Angeles County,” the statement said. Announced. government agency state.

Smoke from multiple fires is expected to affect the northwest coast of Los Angeles County the most, including the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena. The advisory remains in effect until Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 10 p.m., the agency said.

On Saturday, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced they would donate $1 million to help members experiencing hardship in the Los Angeles fires.

The union has temporarily closed its Los Angeles office. Our staff is currently working remotely.

“I want to thank and salute the members of our broadcast journalism community who fight through fire, smoke, and embers every day to bring this important news to the world,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement. mentioned in.

“We hope this pledge will help alleviate suffering and help those affected rebuild their lives after this disaster. I myself have been affected by this fire and have lived through this tragedy. My thoughts go out to others who are suffering. These are especially stressful times.”

Cal Fire released new containment numbers this evening.

• Eaton Fire: Contains 15%
• Palisades Fire: 11% containment
• Kenneth Fire: 90% contained
• Concentrated fire: 76% containment

Officials are predicting low humidity and strong north-to-northeast winds. A red flag warning remains in effect for the area surrounding the Palisades Fire. Significant fire weather conditions are expected due to strong Santa Ana winds through Wednesday.

The strongest winds are likely to occur on Tuesday, with the red flag warning expected to be extended until 6pm on Wednesday.

Minimal fire growth was observed on Saturday. Fire crews will continue to work throughout the evening to control the perimeter by mitigating trees along the road to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public. The area of ​​the Eaton Fire has numerous downed trees, downed power lines, gas leaks and power outages.

The four fires, Eaton, Palisades, Kenneth, and Hearst, have combined to burn nearly 40,000 acres.

If you have questions or need clarification regarding evacuations in your area, please contact your city’s official government website.

Stay up to date with Cal Fire. Website.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents California’s 34th District, surveyed the damage from the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Saturday. He said he had spoken to firefighters working to extinguish the fire.

The fire destroyed 7,000 structures.

“The recovery phase will take many months and will require a lot of effort and support,” Gomez told X.

UCLA will extend distance learning for undergraduate and graduate courses through Friday, Jan. 17, President Julio Frenk announced in a statement Saturday.

Campus operations will continue to be modified during this period.

“Additional instruction will be provided by instructors and supervisors, but we ask for continued flexibility and understanding as we all navigate this difficult time.”Students will receive further instructions from their teachers. The statement said they will receive the following. Employees must also be able to work remotely during this period.

This development does not apply to UCLA health staff.

“Throughout all of this, I have been deeply moved by the unwavering kindness, empathy, and support shown by the Bruin community. I want to thank you for the acts of compassion that I have seen firsthand. We see what happens when we all come together,” Frank said.

“We will continue to communicate any new developments immediately. We are here for each other, and as Bruins, we will get through this together.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Berger extended the invitation on Saturday.

“We need support at all levels, both at the local county level, the state level and the federal level, and we need it now,” Berger said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. “I can’t stress enough how important that is and will continue to be.”

It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s team responded. Los Angeles Times Reported.

“The White House’s involvement paves the way for the rapid deployment of federal resources, including emergency personnel and financial assistance,” she said.

President Joe Biden spoke by phone with fellow Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long to discuss updates on the wildfires.

The president has received regular briefings from his staff about the wildfires and has pledged that the federal government will fully reimburse 100% of disaster relief costs for the next 180 days. President Trump’s inauguration is January 20th, so it’s unclear whether that will stick.