LA wildfire, day 11: What’s the latest, and what does the investigation reveal? , climate crisis news

Although the dangerous weather conditions that fueled Los Angeles’ devastating fires have subsided, forecasters have warned that another round of Santa Ana winds is expected early next week.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner said Thursday evening that the death toll had risen to 27. Officials have warned that the number could rise further as search and rescue efforts continue.

According to local media reports, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received more than 150 tips as to what may have started the Palisades fire.

Here’s what we know:

What’s the latest on the ground?

Death toll and missing persons

• At least 27 people have died in the fire, while 31 others are still missing. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, and officials said it will take months to clean them up.
• Ten deaths were related to the Palisades fire, and 17 deaths were related to the Eaton fire.
• About 82,400 people are still under evacuation orders, with another 90,400 warned of evacuation.

active fire

• Palisades Fire: It has burned about 9,596 hectares (23,713 acres) of land in and around Pacific Palisades and is 27 percent charred.

No increase has been recorded in the last 72 hours.

• Eaton Fire: The fire has burned more than 5,713 hectares (14,117 acres) of land and is now 55 percent contained, an increase of 10 percent from yesterday.

The City of Pasadena has declared a local public health emergency in response to the ongoing impact of the Eaton Fire.

“Ash and debris pose a significant potential present and future threat to health, safety, and the environment,” the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) said in a press release. “The PPHD is declaring a local health emergency to ensure that residents take appropriate measures to protect themselves from toxic ash and debris.”

• auto fire: It started in Ventura County and is now contained 85 percent. Firefighters stopped its further progress, limiting the burned area to 25 hectares (61 acres).

More than 5,000 firefighters are battling the blaze, according to Cal Fire, including reinforcements from Israel and crews from Canada and Mexico on Thursday.

The recent fire was brought under control

• Hearst Fire: The fire that burned 324 hectares (800 acres) of land in the San Fernando Valley is now completely contained.
• Small mountain fire: San Bernardino police officials investigating the Little Mountain Fire, which burned 14 hectares (34 acres), reported the arrest of a man on two felony charges, including reckless burning. According to local media reports, the fire has been completely controlled.

What to expect on Friday?

Weather conditions are improving in the Los Angeles area, aiding firefighting efforts against the ongoing wildfires.

The National Weather Service indicated that strong Santa Ana winds, which significantly contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, are expected to subside by the weekend. This change is expected to bring increased moisture from the Pacific Ocean, creating more favorable conditions for containment.

Firefighters are using this window of calm weather to reinforce containment lines around larger fires. However, officials have warned that although progress is being made, the situation remains dynamic, and residents should remain alert to any changes.

Looking ahead, meteorologists are warning of a possible return of strong winds early next week, which could exacerbate fire conditions.

“There’s certainly a very high chance that severe fire conditions will develop sometime next week,” Palisades Fire meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a news conference Wednesday evening.

The good news: We’re looking forward to much-needed relief from fire season concerns with this week’s closure. Bad news: Next week is one of worry. Confident that we will not see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire season conditions are expected. #cawx #PalisadesFire #etonfire pic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp

– NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) 15 January 2025

What do we know about the investigation into what caused the fire?

Utility equipment under scrutiny

Southern California Edison (SCE), Los Angeles’ electric utility, is under investigation for its possible role in igniting the Eaton Fire.

At least four lawsuits have been filed alleging that SCE equipment may have caused the fire. The petitioners include Jeremy Gursey, whose Altadena home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, according to CNN. They filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, holding SCE responsible.

Gursey cited photos taken by Altadena residents Jennifer Errico and Marcus Errico as evidence. He photographed a small fire beneath transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.

However, Marcus Errico said he was not sure SCE was responsible for the fire.

“I saw a flash on the hill right above our house,” Errico told CNN. “And as I got closer, I could see right in front of us on the hill in Eaton Canyon, there were a series of transformer towers with power lines stretching up into the mountains. And at the base of one, there was a small ring of flames around the entire base,” he said.

The company has defended its decision to keep transmission lines running, saying wind speeds were just below the threshold required for a shutdown. However, safety auditors have raised concerns about SCE’s fire risk modeling, suggesting that their assessments may not adequately account for severe wind events.

fire on new year’s day

Some Pacific Palisades residents have expressed concern that the devastating Palisades fire may be linked to a smaller fire that was caused by fireworks in the same area on New Year’s Day.

According to officials, a previous fire had broken out in the same area six days earlier and was reportedly brought under control within a few hours by local firefighters.

The close timing and location of the two fires have raised questions about whether strong winds might have re-ignited smoldering debris from New Year’s Eve fireworks, possibly starting the Palisades fire.

However, earlier this week, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents. “We don’t have any information that suggests there is a connection, but that’s the advantage of bringing in outside resources to investigate every detail,” he said.

According to Cal Fire officials, about 95 percent of wildfires in California are caused by human activities, whether it’s intentional arson, downed power lines, or accidents like a backyard barbecue or fireworks celebration gone wrong.

Formation of investigation task force

In response to the complex nature of these investigations, leaders from federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined to form a joint regional fire crimes task force.

This multi-agency team will investigate the origin of the fire, as well as handle case leads, develop and share crime intelligence, and support the efficient prosecution of crimes involving the Los Angeles County wildfires.

The task force will focus on four key areas: robbery, theft, and impersonation crimes; crimes related to arson; illegal drone activity; And financial fraud aimed at disaster victims and individuals wishing to make charitable donations.