California fires live updates: Fires rage amid warning of 'dangerous' weather

29 minutes ago

Forecast calls for 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' for fires, Newsom warns

Gov. Gavin Newsom warned late Sunday that the week was beginning with a forecast for a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" for new wildfires, even as the firefight against the several fires still burning continued.

"Emergency responders are ready tonight. Pre-positioned firefighters and engines are spread around Southern California," he said on social media. "Stay safe. Be ready to evacuate if you get the order."

Firefighters work to clear a firebreak as the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County, burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Jan. 12, 2025.
Ringo Chiu/Reuters

The warning, which comes from the National Weather Service, says that the fire risk is high in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties amid strong winds, a lack of recent rainfall and relatively low humidities. The warning begins Monday night and runs through Wednesday morning, the service said.

It's is the fourth of its kind in three months, Newsom said. The first came ahead of the Mountain Fire in Ventura, which destroyed 243 structures. The second preceded the Franklin Fire in Malibu, which destroyed 20 structures.

And the third preceded the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which have now destroyed thousands of homes and structures, he said.

Jan 12, 2025, 8:26 PM EST

Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 24

There have been at least 24 fire-related deaths in the Palisades and Eaton Fires, according to the latest tally from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

The number of fatalities is expected to rise as officials continue to battle the dual fires.

According to the medical examiner, there have been 16 confirmed deaths linked to the Eaton Fire and eight fatalities due to the Palisades Fire.

Jan 12, 2025, 7:34 PM EST

Los Angeles Unified School District reopening some schools Monday

Los Angeles Unified School District announced some schools are reopening Monday, depending on the location of the institution and the weather conditions.

LAUSD said school principals will contact communities directly.

ABC News confirmed that some community members received calls on Sunday about schools reopening.

The district has over 1,500 schools serving roughly 600,000 students in grades K–12. Schools across the district have been closed due to fires since Thursday.