California's wildfires entered their fifth straight day on Saturday, with the number of confirmed dead rising to 11. Los Angeles County The Medical Examiner said Friday.
However, that number is expected to rise, as the dogs pass through designated areas to assess damage in a larger area than San Francisco.
The situation remains stable as the Palisades Fire is only 8% contained and the Eaton Fire is only 3% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. More than 12,300 homes and buildings were destroyed by flames Friday night in Mandeville Canyon and the Interstate 405 highway after the Palisades Fire broke out, FOX Weather reported.
Firefighters work near a burning building in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. (Jason Ryan/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
POWER GRID FAILURES APPEAR TIMES BEFORE LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES START: EXPERT
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna compared the disaster to the explosion of an atomic bomb but promised that the community will find a way to recover.
AccuWeather, an independent company that provides weather data and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of damage and economic loss to $ 135-$ 150 billion.
So far no official reason has been given.
The company that monitors the electricity supply says the faults in Los Angeles Power grids rose in the same areas where three major fires are currently burning.
Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, he told Fox News Digital that the company reported a sharp increase in errors in the hours before the Eaton, Palisades and Hurst Fires.
“Faults are caused by tree branches catching on wires or cables blowing in the wind and causing interference. That sparks a fault, and we see all of those things,” Marshall explained, adding that he couldn't say for sure if one of those faults caused the fire.
WATCH: Los Angeles power grid faults appeared before wildfires started, expert says
There was a respite when the strong Santa Ana winds calmed down on Friday.
The winds helped spread the flames at an alarming rate. While winds calmed Saturday morning, a new Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Saturday evening and Sunday as strong Santa Ana winds return, FOX Weather reports.
Firefighters are battling the blaze, using helicopters and planes to douse the flames with water and put out power. These winds also cause accidents to the flight crew, who have to travel at low altitude in a hilly area.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has dispatched the National Guard to support law enforcement efforts in the area. This brings the total number of ground staff working with local and state agencies to 8,000.
More than 600 guardsmen are assisting local authorities, the Pentagon said Friday. Sailors and other military personnel stand by.
“Currently, more than 600 California National Guardsmen are deployed, including 14 manual workers for fuel reduction, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters for firefighting and search and rescue operations. This number is expected to increase over the next 24 hours,” Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.
In parts of Los Angeles, residents have returned to their smoldering neighborhoods even as the threat of new fires continues and the nation's second-largest city remains unsettled. For some, it was the first glimpse of the shocking reality of what was lost as the region of 13 million people grappled with the enormous challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding.
Water is dropped by helicopter on the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Bridget Berg, who was at work when she saw her Altadena home go up in flames on television, returned for the first time with her family two days later “just to make it real.”
Her children rummaged through the debris on the side of the road, finding a clay pot and a few mementos as they searched for the Japanese woodblock prints they hoped to find.
“Okay. Okay,” Berg said to himself like the others as he surveyed the destruction, remembering the deck and pool where his family watched the fireworks. “It's not like we lost our house – everybody lost theirs.”
Looting has also become a problem, too Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to warn those who rob that they will be punished.
Sheriff Luna said in a news conference Thursday that at least 20 people have been arrested on burglary charges and warned potential robbers to get out of the homes that ran away.
HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES HERE
At the same time, private security firms are struggling to keep up with rising demand as fires and burglars threaten Los Angeles' high-rises.
“We're amazed,” said Herman Weisberg, chief executive of SAGE Intelligence, which works with Hollywood stars and other high-profile individuals. “I can't take the young men there, and housing them has become difficult.”
A curfew began Friday at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, in all mandatory evacuation areas from the Palisades and Eaton wildfire areas.
People watch smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)
Disaster​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ takes which includes the families of everyone from waiters to movie stars. The flames struck schools, churches, synagogues, libraries, restaurants, bars, restaurants, banks, and local places like Will Rogers' Western Ranch House and Queen Anne-style building in Altadena that dates back to 1887 and was ordered to be a wealthy cartographer. Andrew McNally.
Leadership, at the city and state level, has come in for strong criticism.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is outraged by the lack of compliance call the fire department last month raised doubts about budget cuts to the department's response to wildfires.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday said the city has failed its citizens. He also criticized the lack of water.
He said: “When the fire engine reaches the water boat, we expect there will be water.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visit the city's Pacific Palisades business district on January 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
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Newsom was confronted by a resident Thursday who wanted to know why the fire hydrants were empty. On Friday, he called independent research in the loss of pressure of some pumps used to fight wildfires.
He also ordered government officials to find out why the 117-million-gallon dam is not working, and some pumps have gone dry, calling it “very worrying.”
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said city leadership has failed her department by not providing enough money to fight the fires.
FOX Corporation has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross' California Wildfire relief efforts to support communities affected by the Wildfires are burning across southern California.
A donation will help the center provide safe accommodation, hot meals, emotional support and resources to aid recovery in the area.
A house burns as strong winds drive the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025, in Pasadena, California. (David McNew/Getty Images)
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FOX Corporation, continues to be a partner of the Annual Disaster Giving Program and encourages viewers to participate with them in helping families affected by the wildfires and in need. fast support. Every donation the benefit enables the Red Cross to respond and help residents recover from this disaster.
The Walt Disney Company, based in Burbank, California, pledged $15 million for wildfire relief after thousands lost their homes and at least 11 people died in the fire.
Fox News' Chris Pandolfo, Rachel Wolf, Ashley Papa and Michael Ruiz, along with Fox Weather and The Associated Press contributed to this report.