Los Angeles Wildfires Kill 24 as Dangerous Winds Threaten to Intensify

Red Flag Warnings Extended as First Responders Grid Search for Victims

Fire officials battled multiple blazes across Los Angeles County on Monday as forecasters warned of winds reaching 70 mph by Tuesday morning. The death toll reached 24 across the Palisades and Eaton fires, with Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna expecting that number to rise. While evacuation orders dropped from 200,000 to 92,000 residents, authorities conducted systematic grid searches of more than 1,800 properties amid reports of looting in fire-affected areas. The Palisades Fire remained at 14% containment, while the Eaton Fire reached 33% containment Monday night.

5 Key Points

• The death toll stands at 24, with 8 deaths in the Palisades Fire and 16 in the Eaton Fire.
• National Weather Service issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” designation for three counties.
• Wind gusts were expected to reach 70 mph by Tuesday morning.
• 92,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, with another 89,000 under warning.
• Law enforcement made 34 arrests, including nine for looting.

Wind Conditions Create ‘Extreme of the Extreme’ Fire Scenarios

The National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office issued Red Flag Warnings Monday for Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties through Wednesday morning, marking these regions with a rare “particularly dangerous situation” designation. NWS meteorologist Walter Otto predicted coastal wind gusts would intensify from 40-50 mph speeds to 70 mph by Tuesday morning. “Conditions are expected to worsen for these locations by Tuesday morning as wind gusts near 70 mph will be possible,” Otto said, emphasizing how the combination of high winds, low relative humidity, and prolonged drought created optimal conditions for rapid fire spread. Fire officials deployed additional crews along the Southern California coast from Los Angeles to San Diego, positioning resources in areas that were particularly vulnerable to wind-driven fire expansion.

Death Toll Expected to Rise as Search Operations Continue

Los Angeles County search teams discovered additional victims Monday as they conducted systematic grid searches across fire-damaged neighborhoods, bringing the total death toll to 24. The Palisades Fire claimed eight lives, while the Eaton Fire resulted in 16 fatalities, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Monday afternoon update. Most victims remained unidentified. Sheriff Robert Luna revealed search teams had inspected more than 1,800 properties while maintaining evacuation orders for 92,000 residents. “It is a very grim task, and unfortunately, every day that we do this, we are running across the remains of individuals, community members,” Luna said at Monday’s morning briefing. The sheriff urged displaced residents to remain patient, citing ongoing dangers from unstable structures and the potential for fire reactivation in wind-prone areas.

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Law Enforcement Battles Looting Amid Evacuation Orders

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced criminal charges Monday against nine individuals caught looting in evacuated neighborhoods. At the same time, sheriff’s deputies made an additional 25 arrests for curfew violations and other fire-zone infractions. The District Attorney’s office also filed arson charges against one suspect, though Hochman clarified these charges related to a separate incident unconnected to the Palisades, Eaton, or Hurst fires. Sheriff Luna confirmed that deputies maintained patrols across all evacuated areas, mainly focusing on neighborhoods near the Palisades Fire’s containment lines, where 14% of the containment left thousands of homes still at risk. The Eaton Fire reached 33% containment Monday night, while the Hurst Fire near Sylmar approached full containment at 97%.

Fires Disrupt Entertainment Industry and Political Plans

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences postponed its January 17 Oscar nominations announcement to January 23, extending the voting deadline for academy members affected by evacuations and power outages. The organization confirmed the March 2 awards ceremony would proceed as scheduled at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team announced plans for him to tour fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles County following his January 22 inauguration, according to Reuters. The visit would mark Trump’s first presidential disaster response action as he assumes office amid one of Southern California’s most destructive fire events. Local officials continued coordinating federal assistance requests through current administration channels while preparing for the transition.