We’re about to end today’s coverage of the LA bushfires here, but there will be more to come from ABC News as we continue to cover the unfolding situation in and around the US’s second largest city.
Before that, here’s a recap of what we know:
Five blazes are burning, mostly out of control, around Los Angeles, including the Palisades and Eaton fires that have destroyed hundreds of homes each.
Ten people have died since the fires broke out earlier this week.
Intense fire-fuelling winds are expected to continue through Friday morning, local time, with a chance of giving firefighters a reprieve in the afternoon.
We’ll be back with more live coverage in the coming hours, but you can read our full report here. Stay safe.
LA wildfires shut down Las Vegas fuel supply, to return Friday
Nevada’s Clark County says a solution has been found to power the fuel line into southern Nevada after it was disrupted due to the LA fires.
The county added they expect fuel to start to flow on Friday.
Pasadena air pollutant levels 50 times WHO guideline
IQAir reports air pollutant levels in Jefferson Park, Pasadena have reached nearly 50 times the guideline level set out by the World Health Organisation.
That reading takes the area to a Code Maroon — the highest of six categories on the US Air Quality Index.
It categorises these levels as hazardous, and recommends residents run an air purifier, close their doors and windows and wear a mask outside.
Eaton fire reaches historic Mount Wilson Observatory grounds
The Eaton fire earlier reached the grounds of the Mount Wilson Observatory, the place where a century ago Edwin Hubble discovered the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way and that the universe is expanding.
The Observatory says the flare-up appears under control.
Prince Harry and Meghan urge ‘give back’ to LA’s fire-affected residents
In a statement on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex website, the royal couple urged fans to donate to those affected by the Los Angeles fires.
“In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life,” it read.
It suggested the World Central Kitchen, CALFIRE, the Animal Wellness Foundation, Baby2baby, All Power Books and the American Red Cross.
It also asked readers to “open your home” to evacuated residents.
Total burn area the size of San Francisco
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries have been burned alongside thousands of homes in the LA fires.
Firefighters made significant gains on Thursday, local time, at slowing the spread of the major fires — but containment has remained far out of reach.
Pacific Palisades aerial view(Associated Press)
“This is crazy,” Albert Azouz, a helicopter pilot who has flown these skies for almost a decade, said while observing the destruction from above.
“All these homes, gone.”
The LA fires have consumed about 11,700 hectares between them, a combined area roughly the size of San Francisco.
San Francisco(Associated Press)
Fire-affected LA residents share their stories
Amid the rubble, the water shortage, the power outages and the choking smoke, LA residents are telling their stories of escape, community and recovery.
My colleague Liana Walker put together this piece highlighting them. Read it below.
Canada sending firefighters to Los Angeles
Firefighters from half a dozen other US states and Canada are being rushed to California, in addition to US federal personnel and materiel.
“To our American neighbors: Canada’s here to help,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country has experienced its own severe wildfires.
400 firefighters battle Kenneth blaze
The Kenneth fire started late Thursday afternoon, local time, in the San Fernando Valley — just 3.2 kilometres from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire.
It moved into neighboring Ventura County but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
About 400 firefighters have remained on scene overnight to guard against the fire flaring up.
Fire crews walk as they battle the Kenneth Fire(AP)
Water dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth fire(AP)
A lone burnt tree on a hill after the Kenneth fire burnt through hills in Los Angeles(AP)
Cause of fires still unknown, but exacerbated by climate change
No cause has yet been identified for the largest LA fires burning right now.
Authorities say earlier in the week, hurricane-force winds blew embers that ignited hillsides.
Dry winds — including these fire-fuelling Santa Ana winds — have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, which has not seen more than 2.5 millimetres of rain since early May.
California’s wildfire season is beginning earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall tied to climate change, according to recent data.
Several weather monitoring agencies announced today that Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024.
Palisades, Altadena residents question government response to fires
Some Pacific Palisades residents have ventured back to areas the fire has already swept through, where brick chimneys are left looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles.
“We are alive. That’s all that matters,” private security guard Bilal Tukhi said while standing watch outside his employer’s damaged home.
Resident John Carr said he defied evacuation orders and stayed to successfully protect his home, but no fire crews came to help him save those of his neighbours.
“The house was built by my mother and father in 1960 and I lived here my whole life so there’s a lot of memories here. And I think I owed it to them as well to try my best to save it.”
“If they had had some fire trucks and just put a squirt here, a squirt there and kept an eye on things, all these houses would be here now.”
In Altadena, many residents said they were concerned government resources would be channeled towards areas popular with A-Listers and insurance companies might shortchange less affluent households that don’t have the financial means to contest fire claims.
“They’re not going to give you the value of your house … if they do you really have to fight for it,” said Kay Young as she stared at the remnants of a home that had been in her family for generations.
Reporting with Reuters
Historic Will Rogers house and Topanga Ranch Motel destroyed in Palisades fire
The Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s, have been destroyed in the Palisades fire.
“California State Parks mourns the loss of these treasured natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero.
“Since yesterday afternoon, we are directing all available resources into the emergency response effort and working to secure and protect as much as we can at affected nearby state parks.
We are deeply grateful to our parks staff and all partner agencies for their swift actions. Our top priority remains the safety of the public, our employees and the responders bravely battling the fires.”
State parks previously closed both sites to the public as a precaution.
VIDEO: Altadena resident returns to razed home
Jestin Willard III, who lives in Altadena, returned to his home razed by the Eaton fire.
He said he was just happy to see his family was safe.
Watch below.
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Altadena man who lost home says he’s just happy his family safe
Palisades fire named ‘one of the most destructive natural disasters’ in LA history
City fire chief Kristin Crowley told a press conference earlier that the final property loss from the Palisades fire had not been tallied yet, but was “in the thousands”.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” she said.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman described walking through Pacific Palisades to the remains of his sister’s home as “apocalyptic”.
“Not since the 1990s when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city.”
Reporting with AFP
Key Event
What are ‘red flag’ conditions?
Officials say winds have intensified again overnight, local time, and red flag conditions are expected until Friday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
Specifically, the service must measure a relative humidity of less than 25 per cent for several hours and winds 6 metres off the ground of at least 24 kilometres per hour for several hours.
It also must measure “fuels” of 8 per cent or less for 10 hours. This refers to how much water is held by small vegetation like grass and leaves that only take about 10 hours to respond to changes in dry or wet conditions.
During these conditions, the service says do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.
Chef Jose Andres offering free food to LA fire victims
Chef Jose Andres, the Spaniard known for providing free food to disaster victims around the world, set up a food truck near the Palisades fire on the Pacific Coast Highway.
“Everybody needs support and love in these moments, wealthy or not, poor or not,” he said.
He had earlier set up at the Rose Bowl sports stadium.
Key Event
Rebuilding plans already underway
Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced criticism from Republicans over her handling over the LA fire disaster, says rebuilding plans are already underway.
“We’re already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles,” she said.
President Joe Biden — who declared a major disaster on Tuesday — has promised that the federal government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries.
“I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,” Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House.
Reporting with Reuters
Evacuation orders and warnings for LA’s five major fires
It is now 1:30am in Los Angeles.
Five major fires are still burning, with thousands of people evacuated.
Los Angeles County mistakenly sent an evacuation notice countywide to the population of 9.6 million, even though it had been meant only for the area of the Kenneth fire, officials said. A correction was quickly sent.
Here is a map of the evacuation orders and warnings for the fires in LA, current up to midnight, local time. Orders are in red, warnings in yellow.
Key Event
Weather forecast shows more wind on the way
The wind is forecast to intensify in the evening across Los Angeles, with gusts of up to 96.5kph.
“We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.
The National Weather Service extended its red flag warning for the area until 6pm on Friday, local time.
A plume of smoke from a wildfire forms over the city’s basin.(AP: Mark J. Terrill)
VIDEO: LA residents count fire losses
With thousands of houses destroyed and at least 10 dead, residents are returning to devastated neighbourhoods.
While some are angry at authorities, others say nothing could have been done in the conditions.
Watch this NewsChannel package on the Los Angeles fire losses so far.
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LA residents contemplate uncertain future as shock turns to anger
