begin quotes:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/california-wildfires-los-angeles-weather/?id=117613594
California fires live updates: Newsom signs $2.5 billion relief package for LA
The two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, remain active.
At least 28 people have died as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across Southern California.
Thousands of firefighters have been battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, remain active. One of the latest, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area, has prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.
ABC News has kicked off "SoCal Strong" (#SoCalStrong), highlighting the impacted communities and offering fundraising opportunities for victims of the fires. The coverage will continue across multiple ABC News programs and platforms.
Latest headlines:
- 12:37 PM PST
- 11:24 AM PST
- 9:21 AM PST
- 3:36 AM PST
Status of Palisades, Eaton fires
The Palisades Fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures. It's covered more than 23,000 acres and is at 72% containment.
The
Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or
damaged more than 10,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and
is at 95% containment.
Gov. Newsom signs $2.5 billion relief package for Los Angeles
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday afternoon that directs $2.5 billion in relief to help support wildfire response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
"We're all in this together," Newsom said during a press conference announcing the passing of the bill Thursday afternoon.
The governor was joined at the press conference by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate pro Tempore Mike McGuire, legislators and local leaders.
Newsom noted that California leaders "put politics aside" to deliver the relief package.
The governor said the funds will be made available immediately.
At least 10 new fires reported across Southern California
As much of Southern California remains under a red flag alert for weather-driven wildfire danger, firefighters across the region have been working to contain at least 10 new fires that broke out Thursday.
Most of the new blazes have been contained or have seen forward progress stopped.
Multiple fires that began in San Diego County have been contained, but the largest Border 2 Fire remains active with at least 20 acres burned.
San Bernadino County also saw two fires break out with the Highland Fire being stopped and the Baldy Fire burning just two acres.
Los Angeles County fire officials have made progress with the Sepulveda Fire, which is 54% contained.
Two fires in Ventura County, the Laguna Fire and the Acacia Fire, have also been contained.
California insurance commissioner orders companies to provide advance payments
As fires across Los Angeles County continue to spread and impact residents, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a bulletin to insurance companies on Thursday "to help speed the recovery process" for those affected.
Lara highlighted that companies must supply advance payments on claims submitted by policyholders who "suffered a total loss" in the wildfires, citing legislation that was passed in the state after the 2018 fires.
Without filing an itemized claim, companies must supply funds that are 30% of the policy’s dwelling limit, up to $250,000, according to the bulletin.
Additionally, insurers must provide policyholders with an advance payment of no less than four months of living expenses, according to the bulletin.
Forward progress of Laguna Fire in Ventura County halted: Official
Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the Laguna Fire that broke out Thursday in Ventura County and prompted the evacuation of California State University Channel Island, officials said.
The blaze broke out just before 9 a.m. on agricultural land close to the university in Camarillo and spread to a nearby ridge. Fire crews quickly attacked the blaze from the ground and air to prevent it from spreading beyond 50 acres, officials said.
Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, credited "aggressive firefighting" for halting the blaze that erupted amid strong winds and single-digit humidity levels across the region.
"Having all these resources available and ready to respond within minutes of this fire breaking out made a huge difference in our ability to bring this under control," Dowd told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.
College under evacuation order as new fire erupts in Ventura County
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department issued an evacuation order on Thursday for California State University Channel Island after a fire erupted on nearby agricultural land.
The Laguna Fire started about 8:51 a.m. local time in a field near the university in Camarillo, 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, according to the sheriff's department. The Ventura County Fire Department said the blaze spread to the nearby ridge.
The evacuation order included the school's University Glenn on-campus housing complex, according to the sheriff's office.
The Laguna Fire has burned about 50 acres and is 0% contained, fire officials said. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or structures being damaged.
Firefighters save the Getty museum, again
A wildfire that erupted late Wednesday night in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood was stopped by fire crews before it could reach the Getty Villa art museum, officials said.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Sepulveda Fire started just after 11 p.m. on the Sepulveda Pass near the 405 Freeway.
As flames quickly spread up a hillside in the direction of the Getty Villa, hundreds of firefighters attacked the fire from the ground and air. Evacuation warnings were issued for the surrounding neighborhoods, including some in nearby Sherman Oaks.
By 2 a.m. local time Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department declared "all forward progress stopped" on the Sepulveda Fire and lifted the evacuation warnings. As of 8:30 a.m., the fire was 60% contained after consuming 40 acres, the LAFD said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
It was the second time in 15 days that flames have threatened the Getty Villa, home to more than 125,000 priceless artifacts. On Jan. 8, embers from the Palisades Fire engulfed the hillside the Getty Villa is perched atop, but fire crews stopped the blaze from reaching the museum.
Hughes blaze expands to 10,000 acres within hours
The rapidly spreading brush fire that ignited Wednesday near Castaic Lake grew to 10,176 acres by early Thursday, according to local officials.
Firefighters battling the blaze in the brush north of Santa Clarita and Valencia had it about 14% contained on Thursday morning, according to Angeles National Forest officials.
The fire, about 45 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, erupted around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings for about 50,000 people, officials said.
As more than 4,000 firefighters responded to the scene, an air tanker and four helicopters attacked the blaze from the air, preventing it from jumping nearby Interstate 5, officials said.
The Hughes Fires is just the latest in a series of wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County, since Jan. 7. Strong Santa Ana winds, which are forecast to buffet the area through Friday, have fanned the fires, causing some to spread quickly.
Red flag fire warnings remain in place for Los Angeles County and much of Southern California.
Hughes Fire expands over 9,400 acres with 0% containment
During
a press briefing Wednesday evening, Los Angeles County Fire Chief
Anthony Marrone shared an update on the weather-driven Hughes Fire,
which has expanded over 9,400 acres with no containment.
Marrone called the situation in Santa Clarita "dynamic and difficult to contain" in the dry, windy weather conditions.
The fire chief said the light to moderate Santa Ana winds are continuing to spread the blaze, but so far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Approximately 31,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings.
A red flag fire warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties has been extended until Friday at 10 a.m., officials said.
No comments:
Post a Comment