Death Toll Rises to 10, Over 10,000 Structures Destroyed in California Wildfires

Firefighters battled Thursday to control a series of major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed ten people, burned at least 10,000 structures from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes.

Ferocious winds that drove the flames and led to chaotic evacuations calmed somewhat, though forecasters warned the high fire weather risk would continue into Friday.

Firefighters struggled against blazes that have hopscotched across the sprawling region, including massive ones in Pacific Palisades and Altadena that were still burning Thursday evening.

The suspect was detained by members of the community in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills, Dinsel told NewsNation, before police arrived.

"It's being investigated as a crime," he said.

Of the 10 deaths so far, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley confirmed two were in the Palisades Fire. County officials said the Eaton Fire had killed five.

“My mom is in good hands, but her house is gone,” Kerr said Thursday night before the Warriors played the Detroit Pistons. “I’ve been on the phone with my siblings quite a bit.”

“They didn’t make it out,” said Mitchell’s daughter, Hajime White.

She said that authorities told the family Mitchell was found by the side of his son’s bed in Altadena. The Washington Post reported that the family believes Mitchell was trying to save his son, who was in his early 20s.

“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” White said.

White, a doula in Warren, Arkansas, and Justin’s step-sister, said her father had called her Wednesday morning to tell her they were going to have to evacuate.

“Then he said, ‘I’ve got to go—the fire’s in the yard,’” she recalled Thursday.

Another son, also in his 20s, lived with the pair but was in the hospital, White said.

“It’s very hard,” White said. “It’s like a ton of bricks just fell on me.”

There have been five deaths from the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, according to Carlos Herrera, a public information officer with the LA County Fire Department.

Classes will not resume until the conditions improve, he said.

Santa Ana winds will be moderate to strong Thursday night, keeping the fire weather threat in the area focused on Los Angeles and Ventura County into Friday morning.

Her decision follows a similar one made by President Joe Biden, who was due to travel this week to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but instead stayed in Washington.

Harjit Sajjan says Canada is ready to deploy 250 firefighters, aircraft equipment, and other resources as early as Thursday night.

Sajjan’s pledge comes as the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said Thursday that the U.S. National Interagency Fire Centre asked for two of its CL-415 Skimmer Airtankers to join the fight against the fires.

Alberta is preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support. Premier Danielle Smith said on social media that the province was working with the agency and the federal government to assess California’s needs.

The curfews will only affect areas that are heavily impacted by the fires, Luna said, adding that authorities were looking primarily at the mandatory evacuation zones.

The new funding will cover 100 percent of the cost for 180 days for hazardous materials removal, temporary shelters, first responder salaries and measures to protect life, he said.

“We’re sticking with this,” Biden said. “We expect there may be a temporary break in the winds, but in some areas, the winds are likely to continue well into next week.”

As Biden turned the floor over to Vice President Kamala Harris, he noted she was “directly affected.” Harris is a former California senator, and her home there was in the evacuation zone, but it wasn’t clear if it was damaged. She described the scene as “apocalyptic.”

Los Angeles city officials say thousands more structures burned in the Palisades Pacific community.

“As you know, where I live is on fire right now,” Curtis said. “This is literally where I live, everything — the market I shop in, the schools my kids go to, friends, many, many, many, many, many friends have lost their homes now.”

Computer models are also beginning to show another “strong and damaging Santa Ana wind event” forming next Tuesday night into Wednesday.

“We stand ready to surge capability in as quickly as possible,” Austin said during a press conference in Germany. “I’ve done some things to cause our troops to get in a three-point stance to make sure that ... if the whistle blows we are ready to move in and provide assistance.”

He said the department has “a lot more capability” that can be requested, and officials are working with FEMA and California’s leaders to determine any next steps.

“If you see a wire down, please call 911 and we will send crews immediately to make the area safe,” said Janisse Quiñones, CEO and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Crews are focusing on utility restoration, Pestrella said, but sewer, water and power infrastructure has all been “significantly damaged.”

Before repair work can begin, massive amounts of debris—including fallen tree limbs and hazardous materials from burned structures—must be removed, he said.

Ash and other materials have contaminated some water supplies, so boil orders have been issued in areas including Palisades, said Janisse Quiñones, the CEO of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Officials were working to deliver water to residents who have partial damage or have remained behind, Pestrella said.

“It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.”

“The people that are working under very difficult conditions are doing their best to do what they do,” Luna said. Some of the areas impacted by wildfires “look like a bomb was dropped in them.”

It’s too soon to conduct major searches of burned areas, and it’s not clear what authorities will find when they do search, Luna said. Special K-9 search teams and other tools will be brought in when possible.

The best way to help emergency responders is to stay informed, be prepared to evacuate and follow all evacuation orders, said Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

Marrone made the comments during a press conference on Thursday morning.

“We have several reported injuries and over 1,000 structures damaged and destroyed,” Marrone said. “The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it continues to be under active investigation.”

Winds are suspected to subside “somewhat” on Thursday but the danger remains, said Los Angeles city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

“We are still under red flag warning with extreme fire behavior possibilities,” Crowley said.

Wind speeds are up to 60 miles per hour, and are expected to continue throughout the day, she said.

Southern California Edison wrote on its website that several community resource centers have been set up around the region and work crews have been deployed within impacted communities. The resource centers allow customers to charge mobile devices and medical equipment and get information.

“This morning, I was briefed on the latest impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires. And later today, following President Carter’s service, I will convene my team for another briefing, and deliver remarks to the nation regarding our response,” Biden announced Thursday morning in a social media post.

After a little more than half an hour in traffic, the flames closed in. The tops of palm trees burned like giant sparklers in the incessant wind.

With vehicles at a standstill, police ordered people to get out and flee on foot. Samson and his father-in-law left their bags and made their way to the sidewalk. The father-in-law, who is recovering from a medical procedure, steadied himself against a utility pole as Samson retrieved his walker and recorded the ordeal on his cellphone.

“We got it, Dad, we got it,” Samson said.

They walked for about 15 minutes before another good Samaritan saw them struggling, stopped and told them to get in his vehicle.

By Wednesday afternoon, Samson did not know if the home survived. But he said they were indebted to the two strangers.

Biden had earlier approved a federal major disaster declaration for California, allowing federal funding to be made available for emergency response costs.

The president was set to depart on a three-day trip to Rome and the Vatican, where he had planned to meet with Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

During the trip, Biden was set to “discuss efforts to advance peace around the world,” with the Pope, showcase the strength of the U.S.–Italy relationship, and discuss “important challenges facing the world” with Mattarella and Meloni, according to a previous White House statement.

FEMA has a downloadable app that provides real-time alerts on mobile phones, and public safety agencies can also push alerts to television, radio and wireless devices through the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System. The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information as well as official Weather Service warnings, forecasts and other hazard information.

A swath of about 250 homes in an Altadena neighborhood dotted with the green canopies of leafy trees and aquamarine swimming pools was reduced to rubble. Only a few homes were left standing and some were still in flames in the images by Maxar Technologies.

Along a stretch of about 70 wall-to-wall homes overhanging the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, fewer than 10 appeared to be intact.