Death toll climbs to 27 from California fires as return home for thousands of evacuees uncertain
The recovery process will be long and arduous for the affected communities surrounding Los Angeles. As the fires continue to burn, the focus remains on containment, search and rescue and supporting those impacted by the devastating event.
Inside inferno: Witness struggle of CAL Fire crews battling ferocious Palisades Fire
Heartbreaking footage has emerged showcasing the widespread devastation across California. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is live from Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES – While Californians and Angelenos are experiencing a temporary reprieve from the intense wildfire danger that has plagued the region for the past nine days, the return home for thousands of evacuees remains uncertain amid the somber news of a rising death toll.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner now reports that 27 people have been confirmed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, with 31 people still missing.
Los Angeles Fire Fighters and Sacramento Fire Fighters Urban Search & Rescue team inspect a burned house from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
(Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a morning news conference Thursday that the repopulation of all evacuated areas will not occur for at least one more week.
"As fast as we can, we continue to plan for the repopulation of evacuated areas when safe," he said. "When I say one more week, that does not include the entire evacuation order area, we're doing our best as we know that this is a challenge for our residents."
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stressed that his deputies continue to hold several locations, where they are waiting for the appropriate resources to come in and recover human remains.
"If you haven't been out there, it literally looks like a bomb dropped," Luna stressed. "There are areas right now that we have to hold people away from so our people can do their job appropriately."
At least 27 people confirmed dead in Palisades, Eaton fires, coroner says
While Californians and Angelenos are experiencing a temporary reprieve from the intense wildfire danger that has plagued the region for the past nine days, the return home for thousands of evacuees remains uncertain amid the somber news of a rising death toll.
The recovery process will be long and arduous for the affected communities surrounding Los Angeles. As the fires continue to burn, the focus remains on containment, search and rescue and supporting those impacted by the devastating event.
"We are not in the clear," Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said. "We must not let our guard down as we have, right now, extreme fire behavior. And we need to make sure that the community is staying updated with the most information. Follow all evacuation warnings and orders without delay."
34 MINUTES OF TERROR: ALTADENA COUPLE RECOUNTS DESPERATE ESCAPE FROM DEADLY EATON FIRE
An aerial view of repair vehicles at sunset passing near beachfront homes that burned in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 15, 2025 in Malibu, California.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The FOX Forecast Center said winds have significantly weakened, providing firefighters with their first substantial break since the initial outbreak on Jan. 7. This crucial window of calmer conditions allows crews to make significant progress in containing the blazes and assessing the damage.
California wildfire assessments underway
Calmer weather conditions are giving authorities time to assess damage and destruction caused by major wildfires around Los Angeles County.
The current sigh of relief from high winds is expected to be short-lived. Strong Santa Ana winds return next week, potentially reigniting the fires and posing new challenges to firefighting efforts.
OVER 200 NASA JPL, CALTECH EMPLOYEES LOSE HOMES FROM LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES
Watch: Dramatic aerial footage shows LA firefight from above
Dramatic aerial footage showed firefighting efforts in the greater Los Angeles area last week as multiple wildfires burned, causing widespread destruction and forcing tens of thousands to flee. The footage, captured by Coulson Aviation, who are contracted year-round in Southern California by LA, Ventura and Orange counties, shows aerial water drops and dramatic images of flames approaching homes.
‘A very grim task’
Tens of thousands remain displaced in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, still under a state of emergency. The wildfires, which have destroyed countless homes, businesses and schools, continue to inflict devastation. As search and rescue teams sift through the rubble, the death toll is sadly expected to rise.
"It is a very grim task. And unfortunately, every day we're doing this, we're running across the remains of individual community members," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. "That is not easy work."
Mexican Urban Search and Rescue comb through the ruins of an automobile and beachfront home where victims of the Los Angeles fires are reportedly buried, in Malibu, California, on January 14, 2025.
(ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
Firefighters from across the nation and globe are engaged in the relentless battle against the flames, employing a diverse range of tactics, including aerial drops and ground crews.
Two firefighters with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1 join arms as they listen to instructions during the Palisades Fire near the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., Tuesday Jan. 14, 2025.
(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Despite the progress, the Palisades Fire, the largest of the four burning, has become the most destructive in Los Angeles history. However, containment efforts are steadily improving.
The Palisades and Eaton fires – which have burned over 5,000 and 7,000 structures, respectively – are now the two most destructive fires on record in Southern California. These numbers are still preliminary.
More than 7,000 structures have been burned for the Eaton Fire and Palisades, more than 5,000 structures. These numbers are still preliminary.
(FOX Weather)
As the inferno rages on, containment efforts face significant obstacles due to challenging terrain and erratic winds.
To mitigate the risk of further fire ignitions, preemptive power shutoffs have been implemented to prevent downed power lines from sparking new blazes.
WATCH: NEW MALIBU BEACH FOOTAGE SHOWS ROWS OF HOMES DESTROYED BY PALISADES FIRE
A blue Volkswagen van sits intact on a street amid homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California, on January 15, 2025.
(ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
Task force to investigate fire-related crimes
The leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined together to create the Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force to investigate and prosecute any fire-related crimes, including any looting, arson, illegal drone flights and fraud.
Los Angeles County officials said more than 30 people have already been arrested in the fire damaged area for various crimes.
"We will not permit victims to be re-victimized," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. "Our community has suffered tremendously, and we are here to support them … As the rebuilding process begins and donations and relief funds come in, we must ensure that those seeking to take advantage through criminal activity are held fully accountable."
LOS ANGELES COUPLE’S HOME OVERFLOWS WITH WILDFIRE DONATIONS AFTER ONLINE PLEA FOR HELP
Watch: Heroes on the front lines fight historic California wildfires
Southern California faces a historic wildfire crisis, with over 8,000 first responders, including the National Guard, battling relentless flames. These brave men and women endure exhaustion, extreme heat, choking smoke and unpredictable fire behavior as they stand on the front lines, protecting communities from this devastating disaster.
Authorities are also actively investigating the cause of the Palisades Fire, interviewing hikers who were in the area at the time of ignition. The Eaton Fire is also under scrutiny, with lawsuits filed against Southern California Edison alleging negligence in its potential role in the blaze.
SEE IT: LOS ANGELES HOMES STAND UNSCATHED LIKE MIRAGE IN SEA OF ASH FOLLOWING RAGING FIRES
Woman whose family lost homes, lives to Eaton Fire finds solace in helping others
Sheila Wilson's family is reeling after two members perished and many others lost their homes in her hometown of Altadena.
Air quality issues across the Los Angeles Basin have drastically improved since the fire outbreak. Winds have been primarily out of the northeast, keeping most of the smoke offshore, and that will likely continue for the next several days, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Air quality issues could arise if new fires form and near the ongoing fires, but much of the basin is making progress back down to "good" air quality.
The FOX Forecast Center warns that the cycle of new fire threats will persist every few days until significant rain arrives in the region. Unfortunately, no rain is expected for at least 7-10 days.