LAUSD to reopen most schools closed due to LA County wildfires

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a windblown dust advisory due to the strong Santa Ana winds gusting through Southern California.

High winds may disperse ash from the wildfires and can contain higher toxic levels, according to the South Coast AQMD.

The dust may result in Air Quality Index levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

If you are in an area impacted by windblown dust or ash the South Coast AQMD recommends:

• Limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity.
• Run your air conditioning and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use swamp coolers or whole-house fans that bring in outside air.
• Help minimize dust pollution by stabilizing loose soils and slowing down if driving on dirt roads.

Meghan Markle is focusing on helping those in need amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

While the Duchess of Sussex was set to premiere her new Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," on Jan. 15, she's decided to push the release date to March 4.

"I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch," she said in a Jan. 12 statement, via People, "as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California."

In recent days, Markle and husband Prince Harry — who reside in Montecito with their kids Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, after stepping down as senior members of the royal family — paid a visit to the Pasadena Convention Center to provide support for those impacted by the fires.

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Poland’s Iga Swiatek writes a message of solidatiry to victims of the LA fires following her victory over Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne today.

At least 24 people have died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, according to the latest update from the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. The death toll is expected to rise as investigators comb through the devastated neighborhoods.

Another round of strong Santa Ana winds are expected to blow Monday through Wednesday. Wind gusts in the typical Santa Ana wind-prone areas will generally be around 30 to 50 mph, locally higher. 

A Red Flag Warning has been extended through Wednesday due to the combination of strong winds and low humidity. A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning is embedded within the overall Red Flag from 4 a.m. Tuesday to 12 p.m. Wednesday for certain areas. 

Those areas include: 

• Western San Gabriel Mountains and I-5 corridor 
• Santa Susana Mountains 
• Ventura Co. Valleys (Simi Valley, Moorpark, South Mountain, Piru to Santa Paula) 
• Northern San Fernando Valley (118 and 210 corridor from Porter Ranch to San Fernando) 
• Western Santa Monica Mountains 

Although winds aren’t expected to be as strong as last week, they’ll be strong enough for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior. Residents should prepare ahead of time in case of new fires. 

Beyoncé's foundation, BeyGOOD, announced it would donate $2.5 million to victims of the L.A.-area fires through the creation of an "LA Fire Relief Fund."

"Los Angeles we stand with you," the foundation said in a post on social media. "The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area. The Fund will also go to churches and community centers in other impacted areas to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires."

The foundation has worked with local volunteers and churches to find homeowners and residents most in need, according to a news release about the donation.

Beyoncé founded BeyGOOD in 2013 to support disaster relief efforts and programs related to education, housing, career development and mental health. She traveled to Haiti in 2015, for example, to support those affected by the catastrophic 2010 earthquake and donated $6 million to mental health services at the start of the pandemic.

The number of deaths being investigated as related to the Eaton Fire in and around Altadena has risen to 16, the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office said in an update this evening.

The grim update means the fire could end up being the fifth deadliest in California history, according to Cal Fire. Previously, three fires were tied for that spot — the North Complex Fire in 2020, the Cedar Fire in October 2003 and the Rattlesnake Fire in July 1953, which each killed 15 people.

The total number of deaths being investigated as fire-related rose to 24, officials said tonight. In addition to the 16 from the Eaton Fire, eight have been connected to the Palisades Fire, officials said. Ten of the victims are listed as unidentified, while one person was newly identified: Charles Mortimer, 84, who died in the Palisades Fire, the medical examiner's office said.

FEMA will be at several Los Angeles County libraries Monday to help residents impacted by the Southern California wildfires.

Assistance will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following libraries:

• La Cañada Flintridge Library
• La Crescenta Library
• Live Oak Library
• San Fernando Valley
• San Gabriel Library
• Temple City Library
• West Hollywood Library

More information on FEMA and its services can be found here.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a community alert tonight warning of scammers who "are actively targeting vulnerable individuals and families, exploiting their distress."

In a post shared on social media, police warned of several types of scams: false job solicitation scams, including job offers circulating on social media that "claim to be from the government or reputable agencies"; people who are posing as city, county or federal employees who ask for payment or services; and phone and text messages scams in which callers ask for donations for fire recovery or claim to be able to help those affected by the fires recover their losses.

Police shared contact information for organizations that can help verify the authenticity of badges, credentials and other information, such as the LAPD, the California Contractors State License Board, FEMA and the Better Business Bureau, among others.

"Always trust your instincts," the LAPD warning said. "If something feels off, take a step back and verify before proceeding."

In a post on X, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a new system for residents to report price gouging during a state of emergency.

Residents are asked to report illegally hiked rents and prices to MyLA311.

California Penal Code section 396 prohibits excessive and unjustified increases in the prices of essential consumer goods and services, construction services, hotel lodging, and residential rental properties during and shortly after a declared state of emergency or local emergency.

A state of emergency was declared on Jan. 7 by Governor Gavin Newsom as response to the wildfires in Southern California.

We’re launching a new, simple intake system to report price gouging — call @MyLA311 to report illegally hiked rents and prices.

We have no tolerance for it.

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 13, 2025

The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation received a $5 million donation from Tina and Rick Caruso, making it the largest individual donation in the foundation's history.

The Caruso Family Foundation's contribution is meant to support the ongoing efforts of the LAFD as they continue to fight the destructive fires burning across Southern California.

“The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is exceedingly grateful to Tina and Rick Caruso for their incredible donation,” said Liz Lin, president of the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. “Their generosity will not only provide Chief Crowley and the Los Angeles Fire Department with critical resources for combating this unprecedented crisis but will have a lasting impact on the work that our firefighters do every day to keep us all safe.”

All Santa Monica schools, except Roosevelt Elementary, will be open on Monday, Jan. 13, SMMUSD Superintendent Antonio Shelton announced Sunday.

While the schools will be open, they will be operating on an "inclement weather schedule."

Malibu schools will remain closed through Wednesday, Jan. 15 due to safety concerns of the Palisades Fire.

"For families in the evacuation warning area serving Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Samohi, along with any family who makes the personal decision to keep their children home tomorrow, we will excuse these absences," wrote Shelton.

Southern California is facing critical fire weather through Wednesday while three active wildfires continue to burn across Los Angeles County.

A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) red flag warning was issued for Ventura and Los Angeles County. These areas can expect 40 to 70 mph wind gusts.

🚩 Critical Fire Weather Alert 🚩
Southern California is facing critical fire weather through Wednesday.
Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California - from Ventura to San Diego - creating a significant risk of rapid fire… pic.twitter.com/ASwY1o0E0o

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) January 12, 2025

The death toll connected with Los Angeles County’s two largest wildfires has increased to 24, the county Medical Examiner’s Office believes.

County officials’ records state eight deaths occurred in the Palisades Fire in West Los Angeles while 16 occurred in the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

As of Sunday evening, the Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres while the Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres.

The LAUSD plans to provide an update at 5 p.m. on school closures. Live video will be provided above.

We’re grateful for our crews who sanitized our schools over the weekend. We have hundreds of air purifiers, and filters ready for schools, if needed. Please watch today for school updates. Check https://t.co/PBeBVMpCUj, our social media, and your phone calls for the latest info. pic.twitter.com/AakMIsvCQ1

— Region South (@LAschoolsSouth) January 12, 2025

The Lakers will host a donation drive at upcoming home games, starting Monday, to support wildfire relief.

The team is encouraging fans to bring "new, in-the-package, items" to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. All contributions will help people affected by the wildfires. Collection bins will be outside Crypto.com Arena at the Figueroa, Kobe Bryant and Star Plaza entrances.

The Lakers UCLA Health Training Center (2275 E Mariposa Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245) also will serve as a drive-thru donation center Tuesday, Jan. 14, through Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.

Beginning with Monday's game, the Lakers will host a donation drive to support the Los Angeles Community and wildfire relief efforts.https://t.co/pYvHfJt0GL

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 12, 2025

FEMA will have officials at eight county libraries near the LA County wildfires areas to help residents. They will be available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday at the following locations.

• La Canada Flintridge Library, 4545 N Oakwood Ave.
• La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd.
• Live Oak Library, 22 W. Live Oak Ave., Arcadia
• San Fernando Library, 217 N. Maclay Ave.
• San Gabriel Library, 500 S Del Mar Ave.
• Temple City Library, 5939 Golden West Ave.
• West Hollywood Library, 625 N San Vicente Blvd.
• Alhambra Civic Center Library, 101 S. First St.

Click here for more resources.

An evacuation order was downgraded to an evacuation warning Sunday for part of the Palisades Fire area.

The order was downgraded for the following area:

• Area One (LOS-Q0779)
• North of W Sunset Blvd up to and including Mount Saint Mary's University.
• From North Bundy Drive to the San Diego Freeway.

• Area Two (LOS-Q0762B)
• Northern boundary is the Encino Reservoir.
• From Vanalden Avenue East to Strawberry Field Park.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the following areas in Altadena were reopened Sunday afternoon to residents. The evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation warnings.

South of New York Drive and East of North Hill Avenue to Altadena Drive. For those using the Watch Duty App and Protect.Genasys.com the zone is listed as ALD-GARFIAS.

Relief and elation were on full display at this heartwarming reunion.

Oreo the dog disappeared as the Palisades Fire destroyed neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and along the LA County coast. There were reported sightings in the hours and days that followed, including one on Pacific Coast Highway and another in the rubble of a neighbor's home.

In an update posted Sunday, NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz captured the pure joy after Oreo was found hiding at a neighbor's house.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liz Kreutz (@lizkreutznews)

Firefighting aircraft have been dousing flames from above all week, but they aren’t used every time a large wildfire breaks out.

That’s because high winds make flying these vehicles much more difficult, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which says it has the largest civilian aviation fleet in the world at more than 60 aircraft.

In a video shared on social media, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection added that dropping fire retardant or water from the air becomes “very ineffective” once winds surpass 30 miles an hour, as it ends up more as a mist than a steady rain. In such cases, air crews must first wait for the winds to die down.

Help is available at LA County evacuation centers for anyone who did not bring a prescription medication, county officials say.

All schools in the Arcadia School District will reopen Monday, the district says. The San Gabriel Valley community is near the Eaton Fire northeast of Los Angeles.

"We hope you and your family are doing well, and we truly appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support during this very difficult time," the district said in its announcement. "As we hoped, our schools are now safe and clean, power has been restored, our network connectivity is back, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school tomorrow.

"As we return to school and hopefully some sense of normalcy, please keep in mind many of our students, staff, and families have been greatly impacted by the fires. An extra sense of care, compassion, and empathy for everyone who may be struggling and dealing with more than we know, will be greatly appreciated."

The group of fires that began Tuesday in the Los Angeles area have together burned more than 12,000 structures.

Firefighters for the first time made progress Friday afternoon on the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena, which has burned more than 7,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.

No cause has been determined for the largest fires and early estimates indicate the wildfires could be the nation's costliest ever.

A preliminary estimate by AccuWeather put the damage and economic losses so far between $135 billion and $150 billion.

In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the fires could end up being the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. “I think it will be in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope,” he said.

Windy conditions are forecasted to subside Sunday, offering firefighters a temporary upper hand in their battle against Los Angeles County’s ongoing brush fires before strong gusts return at the beginning of the week.

A slight breeze will remain in the Southland Sunday but it isn’t slated to be as dramatic as the Santa Ana winds from Tuesday that helped fan the flames that have been ripping through the county.

“We still have a little bit of wind moving through but it’s not as gusty as the other night when we had those winds really intense,” NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola said.

Despite the break in wind, a smoke advisory will remain in effect through 10 p.m. Sunday. The beginning of the workweek will mark the return of gusty conditions.

Containment of the Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena areas has grown from 15% to 27%, authorities said Sunday.

The fire has so far resulted in 11 known deaths and burned 14,117 acres, including thousands of structures.

Tens of thousands of people remain displaced.

Even in neighborhoods where the fire has been extinguished, crews are still working on dangerous gas leaks, downed power lines and other life-threatening hazards before allowing residents to return.

Though residents are eager to return to their homes, officials warn that the wreckage remains dangerous for civilians and requests for police escorts are overwhelming Los Angeles' already strained resources.

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna spoke about the frustrations of those who are at barricades trying to go back to their neighborhoods, warning that the debris left behind resemble "war zones."

"There are downed power poles, electric wires," Luna said. "There are still some smoldering fires. It is not safe."

The city's officers initially worked with citizens to provide police escorts for people to go back to recover medications and pets, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. That came to an end as "the numbers became overwhelming" for the department.

"Today, we need to suspend that practice effective immediately — we have search operations now beginning," McDonnell said. "We will have cadaver dog deployment, and that will result in crime scene preservation efforts and then the recovery of remains, working closely with the L.A. County Coroner."

The Kenneth Fire that burned through 1,052 acres of Los Angeles and Ventura counties is now 100% contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The fire started burning Thursday evening in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near Calabasas, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

As of Saturday night, the Lidia Fire, Archer Fire, Woodley Fire and Sunset Fire were 100% contained and no longer considered active, according to Cal Fire. Between them, the fires scorched 487 acres. 

Unauthorized drone incidents over the Los Angeles County fire zones are now "well into the double digits," Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI Field Office, told NBC News Saturday.

The most serious incident was a drone hitting a SuperScooper from Quebec as it dropped water over flames in the Palisades Thursday. The strike put the aircraft out of service until at least Monday, and possibly even longer.

Officials have recovered pieces of the drone and are currently examining them. No arrests have been made stemming from the incident.

Flying a drone in a fire zone designated by the FAA is illegal and can result in citations or federal charges in more serious cases, like the one on Thursday.

President-elect Trump has every intention of visiting Southern California, but a date has not yet been set, Trump transition senior advisor Jason Miller said.

Miller was asked on Fox News Saturday whether a decision had been made for the incoming commander-in-chief to visit the sites of the devastating wildfires.

"We know it's a top priority, but I don't want to get ahead of the president and his scheduling team at this moment," Miller said.

Both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger have invited Trump to survey the area.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is asking the public to put a pause on donations at their fire stations after a surge of contributions were dropped off at stations across LA County.

In a post on Facebook, LAFD said they're grateful for the initiative, but trying to manage the abundance of donations "impacts our critical operations."

"We have worked with local council districts and nonprofit organizations to accept your donations and ensure they are provided to those most in need," wrote LAFD.

About 40,000 homes and businesses are still without power in Los Angeles as the city continues to battle multiple wildfires at once, according to the most recent data from Poweroutage.us, a website that monitors outages across the country.

The most recent data shows that Southern California Edison has the largest number of customers currently without power in the county, with about 24,500. That number went up overnight into Sunday morning.

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power customers come in second, with about 16,100 customers without power.

A statement from LADWP released late Saturday pushed back on widespread claims that fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades were faulty, hindering the early stages of the fire fight.

"Any assertion that fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades were broken before the Palisades fire is misleading and false," the agency said in the statement.

According to LADWP, it "repaired every hydrant needing repairs as reported by LA Fire Department inspectors," and that its "fire hydrant repair list was current and updated, and all reported fire hydrants were fully operational in the Pacific Palisades and in L.A.’s Westside communities prior to the fire."

Still, the agency LADWP acknowledged that up to 20% of its hydrants may have experienced loss of pressure. "Water pressure in the system was lost due to unprecedented and extreme water demand to fight the wildfire without aerial support." It says that the demand made it difficult to immediately refill water tanks, but that it deployed mobile tanks immediately.

LADWP says it will conduct its own internal investigation "about water resiliency and how we can enhance our posture to respond to the impacts of climate change." 

A round of gusty northeast winds is in the forecast through Sunday for the traditional Santa Ana wind-prone areas, including the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Monica mountains. 

Wind gusts are expected to range anywhere between 30 to 50 mph before gradually easing by Sunday afternoon. 

There will be, yet again, another Santa Ana winds Monday through Wednesday with gusts around 40 to 60 mph likely, especially on Tuesday. 

With the combination of gusty winds and low humidity, Red Flag Warnings have been extended until Wednesday. 

Wildfires fanned by intense winds were still raging Saturday, tearing through multiple Los Angeles-area neighborhoods.

Tens of thousands have fled their homes in Pacific Palisades, in Pasadena and Altadena and La Cañada and Santa Monica and other areas threatened by the flames, and many weren't sure when they'd be able to return — or what would be left to return to.

Click here to see ways you can help people in need.

As flames threatened the upscale Mandeville Canyon and Encino areas of Los Angeles, firefighters took advantage of better weather to stop flames from expanding the Palisades Fire's northern footprint today.

Cooler Pacific winds in the area earlier today blew inland from the south-southwest, giving firefighters temporary respite from warm, dry, offshore winds that move from north to south and heat up air molecules under pressure as the gusts descend mountains toward the sea.

"Winds are in our favor in that area, so it looks really good," said Cal Fire Operations Chief Christian Litz.

He explained that some of the northeastern contours of the fire near Mandeville Canyon were fortified with dozer lines amid the fire's northern pause. "We watched as it was backing down," Litz said during a community meeting streamed for public viewing tonight.

The area has been the subject of concern after evacuation warnings spread across the 405 freeway into parts of Bel Air and abutting the campus of UCLA in Westwood. The fire didn't jump the freeway.

The city of Malibu has lost about 1/3 of its eastern edge to the Palisades Fire, Mayor Doug Stewart said.

"The beautiful homes that were along the area ... they're gone. For the most part, they're gone," Stewart said at a community meeting Satuday night.

Stewart said a number of homes along Pacific Coast Highway and the community of Big Rock are gone, and more homes from Big Rock to Carbon Mesa Road are “severely damaged or gone.”

The Palisades Fire began in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday and has burned 23,654 acres in the area, with 11% containment as of Sunday morning.

It's the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history and has wreaked havoc in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, claiming more than 5,000 structures, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department update.

Fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns told community members that it is expected that future rain will lead to mudslides in the Palisades and Altadena burn scar areas, similar to other burn scars in Southern California after previous wildfires.

SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's biggest union, is donating $1 million to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for Fire Relief, which will aid unit members "experiencing hardship" as a result of the fires in L.A.

The union represents about 160,000 actors and media professionals.

"The destruction caused by these blazes, the loss of life and homes, has been gut-wrenching to experience, and of course our hearts go out to all affected," SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.

"But we knew we could do more; we hope this pledge helps relieve suffering and assists those impacted in putting their lives back together after this calamity," Drescher added.

She also noted that she has been personally affected by the fires but did not offer details.

A man spent the afternoon handing out cash to fire victims in Westwood.

Los Angeles County issued an updated list of areas currently affected by unsafe drinking water Saturday evening as crews continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires. 

• Kinneloa Irrigation District Do Not Use Notice
• LADWP for Zip Code 90272 Boil Water Notice
• LA County Waterworks Districts (LACWD)
  • LACWD No 21, Kagel Canyon Boil Water Notice English & Spanish
  • LACWD No 29, Malibu
    Do Not Use Notice English
    Do Not Use Notice Spanish
• Las Flores Water Company Do Not Use Notice
• Lincoln Water Company Do Not Use Notice
• Pasadena Water and Power Do Not Use Notice
• Rubio Canon Land and Water Association Do Not Use Notice

An ongoing updated list can be found here.

The City of Los Angeles opened three drop-off donation centers to help those affected by the ongoing brush fires in LA County, Mayor Karen Bass’ office announced.

Each donation site is requesting specific items from good Samaritans. See below for the drop-off locations and goods requested.

Council District 11 Office — Westchester

Location: 7166 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, CA 90045

Time: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Weekends, 12 to 4 p.m.