Tag: fires
Los Angeles Fires Were Fueled by Climate Change
Here’s How Climate Change Fueled the Los Angeles Wildfires Many factors, such as strong Santa Ana winds and urban planning decisions, played into the recent destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles area. But the evidence is clear that climate change contributed By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Smoke shrouds the sun as it rises…
Trump’s energy secretary nominee faces questions over climate posts and LA fires
By Julia Simon We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or to stay up to date. Who: Chris Wright Nominated for: Secretary of Energy You might know them from: Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a Denver-based oil and gas…
After Los Angeles Fires, Drinking Water Safety Is at Risk
Wildfires May Be Contaminating Los Angeles Water with Harmful Chemicals Fires can make drinking water, pipes and tanks unsafe. An environmental engineer explains why that’s so and what to do By Andrew J. Whelton & The Conversation US Water runs from a pipe where a home once stood, destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on January…
LA braces for stronger winds as fires continue to burn
Los Angeles residents are bracing for further destruction as weather forecasts indicate that winds helping fuel the flames might pick up again. Three fires continue to blaze. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and remained at 14% contained as of Monday evening. LA Mayor Karen Bass said “urgent preparations” are…
Destructive Los Angeles Fires Explained in Photos
Photos Show Why Los Angeles Fires Were the Worst in City’s History The ferocity and scale of the fires that tore through the Los Angeles area become clearer in photographs By Andrea Thompson & Amanda Stosz A home on Mariposa Street in Altadena, Calif., goes up in flames during the Eaton Fire on January 8.…
As dangerous winds are expected to pick up, Los Angeles braces for new fires
By Chandelis Duster This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. More strong winds are expected across Los Angeles and Ventura counties over the next few days that will create dangerous conditions as multiple blazes continue to burn across the fire-torn areas. The…
LA fires death toll rises to 24 as high winds expected
Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week, as fire crews on the ground race to make progress controlling three wildfires. Officials warned that after a weekend of relatively calm winds, the notoriously dry Santa Ana winds would pick up…
As fires in Los Angeles rage, an already-hurting Hollywood presses pause
Mandalit del Barco This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. The wildfires that have devastated huge swaths of Southern California have also disrupted the industry that makes the region famous: Hollywood. Many well-known performers have reported that the wind-whipped flames destroyed their homes. And just…
Far From the Fires, the Deadly Risks of Smoke Are Intensifying
Researchers see a growing health danger from the vast plumes of pollution spawned by wildfires like the ones devastating Los Angeles. By Hiroko Tabuchi It kills more people each year than car crashes, war or drugs do. This invisible killer is the air pollution from sources like cars and trucks or factory smokestacks. But as…
Former Child Star Killed In L.A. Fires After Mom Tried to Save Him
Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, Rory Callum Sykes—a child actor born blind and with cerebral palsy—died at age 32 after mom Shelley Sykes was unable to contact 911 and put out the fire herself. The Los Angeles wildfires continue to cause devastation across California. Former child actor Rory Callum Sykes is among the growing list…
Amid the fires, LA is warning some residents the tap water isn’t safe. Here’s why
Pien Huang The warning is stark: “Do not drink or cook with the tap water … Do not treat the tap water yourself,” typed in all caps and boldface. The alert, issued January 10 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, also advises people not to take hot baths or long showers. It’s…
Two pearls, a saw, a toy – this is what the survivors of LA fires went back for
For thousands of residents of Los Angeles, the fires took almost everything they had. At least 10 people are dead, and thousands of homes destroyed, after five days of burning. But as the embers cooled, some residents of Altadena, which was ravaged by the Eaton Fire, returned to see what remained: An artifact from their…
Lala Kent Says Daughter Sosa “Struggling to Breathe” Amid L.A. Fires
Vanderpump Rules‘ Lala Kent revealed she and daughters Ocean, 3, and 4-month-old Sosa fled the dangerous conditions in Los Angeles amid the devastating ongoing wildfires. Lala Kent‘s family has found safety in the desert amid the ongoing devastating Los Angeles fires. The Vanderpump Rules alum—who is mom to daughters Ocean, 3, and 4-month-old Sosa—revealed she…
LA fires burn area twice the size of Manhattan – worst the city has seen in recent history
California has seen deadly blazes over the years – Camp fire decimated Paradise town in 2018 and Tubbs fire burned 36,810 acres in 2017 The destruction caused by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles is the worst the city has seen in recent history. The wildfires, which began on 7 January, have torched the US’s second…
Khloe Kardashian Slams Alleged Arsonist Amid Los Angeles Fires
Khloe Kardashian shared a scathing message after police took a suspect into custody for “possible arson” near the Kenneth Fire in California’s Woodland Hills. Khloe Kardashian is reacting to upsetting news. After an unidentified person was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department for “possible arson” following the eruption of the Jan. 9…
California fires: 10 killed and 10,000 structures destroyed as blazes continue
Strong winds and low humidity continue as five fires rage across Los Angeles area, with death toll expected to rise Weather forecasters in Los Angeles expect fast, dry winds to return towards the end of the weekend, threatening to fuel wildfires that have already destroyed 10,000 structures and killed 10 people. Urgent “red flag” alerts…
More than half a million students were out of school because of LA fires this week
Jonaki Mehta More than 600,000 students in and around Los Angeles have had their schooling disrupted by the historic fires this week. School districts across the region started announcing school closures on Tuesday and Wednesday. That includes the second-largest school district in the nation, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which serves more than 500,000…
Fact-checking criticism of California officials over fires
The wildfires raging in Los Angeles have led to claims that officials there have mismanaged the city’s preparation for such events. President-elect Donald Trump has pointed the finger of blame at California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he says is responsible for LA’s struggling water supply. Others have blamed LA Mayor Karen Bass for cutting the…
Firefighters battling LA fires make some progress, but harsh winds threaten gains
By Juliana Kim , Ayana Archie This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. California firefighters have begun to see some progress against the wildfires that are raging for a fourth day. At the same time, those gains continue to be threatened as powerful, dry winds…
Paris Hilton Shares Heartbreak After Home Was Destroyed by L.A. Fires
Paris Hilton detailed the emotional return to her Malibu home after it was burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Paris Hilton is sharing insight into the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires. The heiress—who shares kids Phoenix, 2, and London, 14 months, with husband Carter Reum—reflected on the loss of…
‘I have nothing to go back to’ – BBC reporter tells of LA fires heartbreak
It’s been four days since Los Angeles became an inferno – and my home became a pile of smouldering embers. I’m now staying at a friend’s house in La Crescenta, north of the city, after evacuating my condo in the Palisades, 30 miles (48km) away from where the fires first started on Tuesday morning. I…
What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR’s breaking news alerts. Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires. Images of vivid red clouds enveloping…
Los Angeles fires burn through city as death toll expected to rise
Burned areas cover more than 30,000 acres of LA and teams search for casualties as fires continue to rage Crews were combing through the rubble in Los Angeles with cadaver dogs in search of additional victims from the still burning fire siege that has forced tens of thousands to flee and reduced entire neighborhoods to…
Los Angeles Fires Could Push California’s Insurance System to the Brink
Los Angeles Fires Could Push California’s Insurance System to the Brink Damages from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could overwhelm California’s already stressed insurer of last resort By Blanca Begert, Camille von Kaenel, Thomas Frank, Zack Colman & E&E News A cyclist pedals along Pacific Coast Highway past burning homes in Malibu,…
Friday Briefing: Racing to Control Los Angeles Fires
Plus, renovating a wrecked palazzo. By Emmett Lindner Officials hoped that a drop in wind speeds yesterday would give firefighters a window to take control of the fast-moving blazes that have raged unchecked this week. At least five people have been killed, but that figure is expected to rise. Almost 180,000 people were under evacuation…
Blake Lively Shares Message on Fires in First Post Amid Legal Battle
Blake Lively broke her social media silence to share resources amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Blake Lively is mourning the devastation. As wildfires rage around the Los Angeles area, destroying countless homes, landmarks and properties, the It Ends With Us star is speaking out on social media—marking her first post since she filed her…
What’s the latest on the LA fires, and what caused them?
Out-of-control wildfires are ripping across parts of Los Angeles, leading to at least five deaths, burning down hundreds of buildings, and prompting more than 130,000 people to flee their homes in America’s second-largest city. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the biggest blazes remain totally uncontained – with weather conditions and the underlying impact of climate…
More fires erupt in Southern California and spread to the Hollywood Hills
By Ayana Archie Nearly 30,000 acres remained burning early Thursday across Los Angeles County as firefighters struggled to control a patchwork of deadly blazes that has forced mass evacuations and leveled entire communities. At least five people have died as new fires broke out late Wednesday in Los Angeles County, totaling about more than 29,000…
Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires
The announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations has been delayed by two days because of the deadly wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area. It had been scheduled for Friday 17 January, but the stars and films up for Academy Awards will now be revealed on 19 January. The voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy…
L.A. Fires: Mandy Moore “Numb” After Seeing Neighborhood Burn Down
This Is Us star Mandy Moore, who safely fled the Eaton Fire in East Los Angeles, detailed the heartbreak she feels after her neighborhood of Altadena, Calif., was set ablaze. Mandy Moore is reeling as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to rage across the city. The This Is Us star shared she is “devastated and…
Andrew Forrest fires back at ExxonMobil’s claims of ‘smear campaigns and lawfare’
Iron ore billionaire says he is ‘personally delighted’ at lawsuit as fossil fuel giant has ‘opened themselves up to cross-examination’ in a US court Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest is among a group accused of orchestrating “smear campaigns and lawfare” against the global oil and gas sector “for politics, publicity, and private gain” in a…
The NHL postpones a game and the Lakers coach evacuates his family amid LA fires
Becky Sullivan The National Hockey League postponed a game in Los Angeles, and Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl Stadium came under evacuation warning as the wildfires burning across Southern California grew Wednesday. The NHL announced it would indefinitely delay a game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames that had been set to take place…
Palisades and Eaton Fires Show Rising Dangers of Fast-Moving Fires
Palisades and Eaton Fires Show Rising Dangers of Fast-Moving Blazes In California and elsewhere, fast-moving fires are particularly damaging and expensive because they take people by surprise, making evacuations difficult By Stephanie Pappas edited by Andrea Thompson Strong winds blow embers as the Palisades Fire burns homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful…
Steve Guttenberg Joins First Responders to Battle Palisades Fires
While Los Angeles wildfires ravaged over 10,000 acres of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Police Academy actor Steve Guttenberg jumped into action to help people evacuate. Steve Guttenberg interrupted a news station’s regularly scheduled programming with an “important announcement” amid Los Angeles wildfires. As massive brush fires, exacerbated by winds up to nearly 100 mph, raged…
Critics Choice Awards Postponed Amid Devastating Fires
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Jan. 12, are being postponed as Los Angeles battles a series of wildfires. Hollywood is pressing pause as the community navigates heartbreaking wildfires. The 2025 Critics Choice Awards, originally set to air on E! Jan. 12 with host Chelsea Handler, have been postponed until Jan. 26. The…
Jamie Lee Curtis Shares Gutting Message Amid “Terrifying” L.A. Fires
After evacuating her home during the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, Jamie Lee Curtis shared a heartbreaking social media update. Jamie Lee Curtis fears for her community amid ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Raging brush fires in Southern California have forced 30,000 residents—including the Freaky Friday actress—to evacuate areas of the Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu.…
Here’s where things stand for seven major landmarks in the Los Angeles fires
By Dhanika Pineda Southern California is currently fighting multiple major wildfires, exacerbated by hurricane-strength winds that have resulted in red flag warnings and evacuation orders in multiple zones. The current fires are the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades, the Eaton fire, the Hurst fire in the Sylmar area, and the Tyler fire in Riverside…
High winds, lack of rain and climate change stoking California fires
High winds and lack of rain are the main factors driving the Southern California fires, but climate change is altering the background conditions, increasing the likelihood of these conflagrations, say experts. Researchers have shown that a warming world increases the number of “fire weather” days, when conditions are more suited to outbreaks of fire. California…