California wildfires: Over 6 million in Los Angeles area under ‘critical fire threat’

The blazes that began January 7 have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 25 people, with nearly 30 missing.

The conflagrations fueled by dry Santa Ana winds have scorched a total of at least 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) of land, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, stretching firefighting efforts thin, knocking out power to tens of thousands and making the water unsafe to drink in some areas.

Massive wildfires that incinerated broad swaths of Los Angeles are offering an early window into how President-elect Donald Trump plans to govern — and how Democrats eager to counter him intend to deal with the Republican.

The NBA has rescheduled two games postponed due to catastrophic wildfires in Southern California, as well as a game postponed due to a winter storm in Atlanta, reported AP.

Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as winds began picking up during a final round of dangerous fire weather forecast for the region Wednesday where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes, reported AP.

The 67th annual Grammy Awards will still take place Sunday, February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles — though the Recording Academy has refocused its aim to support relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, AP reported.

California wildfires live: A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph (56 kph) on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph (88 kph) in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said.

California wildfires live: According to latest figures, updated on Wednesday morning (local) time, the Palisades Fire is 19% contained and remains at 23,713 acres.

The corresponding figures for other fires are: 79% and 997 acres (Hurst), 47% and 61 acres (Auto) and 45% and 14,117 acres (Eaton).

California wildfires live: As of 6 am local time (Wednesday, 4:30 pm in India), Los Angeles County had over 31,000 consumers without power, while in San Bernardino County there were over 32,000 were without electricity. Over 12,600 were without power in Ventura County, according to PowerOutage.Us

California wildfires live: As California's massive wildfires burn, a barrage of GoFundMe campaigns for victims have become an outlet for onlookers transfixed by the blazes and eager to do something to help. Those appeals for help — plastered with photos of saffron flames or the charcoal aftermath or, most of all, the faces of the people at the center of the plea — are personalizing a tragedy too big to comprehend.

California wildfires live: The Palisades and Eaton Fires are expected to be the most destructive in Los Angeles County’s history, The Washington Post reports.

California wildfires live: National Basketball Association team Los Angeles Clippers, which plays its home games at the Intuit Dome, will host a “FireAid” benefit concert on January 30 to raise money for communities devastated by the wildfires

California wildfires live: The Hurst Fire is 97% contained, Auto Fire (47%), Eaton Fire (35%) and Palisades Fire (18%), according to California Fire.

California wildfires live: Officials estimate that over 6 million (60 lakh) resdents of the Los Angeles area remain under a critical fire threat, as firefighters face moderate-to-strong Santa Ana winds while they continue to try to get the flames under control.

California wildfires live: The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed a victim in the world of music. But instead of a person, it's their legacy. The original manuscripts and scores from legendary Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg were lost in the fires, the publisher of the composer's work has confirmed. Read more

California wildfires live: Pop icon Beyonce has announced a delay to her 'highly anticipated' revelation, citing the ongoing devastation caused by the wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles.

The singer expressed her concern for the families and communities affected by the disaster and took to social media to explain her decision.

California wildfires live: Mandy Moore is one of the Hollywood celebrities who have lost homes in the raging Los Angeles wildfires. Now, The Hollywood Reporter states that she and her family have found refuge in fellow actor Hilary Duff's home. Read more

California wildfires live: In an announcement postponed by the Los Angeles wildfires, President Joe Biden on Tuesday designated two sites in California as national monuments that will honour Native American tribes while shielding picturesque mountains and deserts from mining and energy development. Read more

California wildfires live: Los Angeles already had a housing affordability crisis before devastating wildfires burned entire neighborhoods to the ground. The disaster is making it worse.

Incoming calls at LA Estate Rentals, which manages and leases homes in some of the area’s costliest neighborhoods, have jumped to 500 a day, more than 10 times the number before the fires, said owner Patrick Michael.

California wildfires live: As if they aren't already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.

The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size. The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn't mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they're possible given the extreme conditions. Read more

On Tuesday, firefighters held the line against two massive wildfires that had ravaged parts of Los Angeles for the past week, even as desert winds and a parched landscape presented extremely hazardous conditions.

Some 8,500 firefighters from at least seven states and two foreign countries prevented the blazes from growing for the second day. Still, the fires have consumed an area the size of Washington, D.C.

“I want the President-elect to meet with the communities impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and understand the magnitude of the devastation. I urge him to meet with the brave firefighters and first responders on the ground and see firsthand how they've saved lives,” said Gavin Newsom on X.

California wildfires live: Firefighters made more progress on the Palisades Fire, the largest and most stubborn blaze. CalFire Operations Section Chief Christian Litz said Tuesday evening that he took a helicopter ride around the perimeter and saw no active flames, though it was far from over.

Santa Ana winds that have been persistent since the Palisades Fire erupted will continue tomorrow, causing another day of critical fire weather, but this weekend could bring cooler conditions, a National Weather Service meteorologist said today.

The winds will not be as bad as they were on Jan. 7 when the Palisades and other fires broke out, Rich Thompson, incident meteorologist for the weather service, said at a news briefing. But the winds tonight and tomorrow are “going to maintain the critical fire weather conditions across the area,” he said.

Maps hosted by Los Angeles County government are allowing residents to determine whether their homes are still standing.

The maps include information from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crews on the ground at the Palisades and Eaton fires. They're conducting damage assessments of every building possible, and their information will end up on the maps, which are updated daily, according to Cal Fire and the county.

Utility and other workers have begun restoring wrecked infrastructure and trying to make Pacific Coast Highway safe again after the Palisades Fire, but residents must still wait to return, a fire commander said.

“We will not allow people into their homes until it is safe to do so, but we want to make it safe again,” Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Kristian Litz, who is an operations sections chief on the fire, said at a community meeting.