LA wildfire: Strong winds may lead to explosive fire growth

Nine people have been charged in connection with looting in evacuation zones around huge fires burning in Los Angeles, the area's chief prosecutor said Monday.

The charges include for one burglary that netted $200,000 and one in which an Emmy statuette was stolen, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters.

One of those charged faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted, Hochman said, adding the legal action should serve as a warning to potential wrongdoers.

"The question is not if, but when, you will be caught if you engage in these crimes," Hochman said.

"Do not commit any of these crimes in which people are trying to profit from the tragedy of the people who have suffered from these various fires."

Around 92,000 people remain displaced seven days after huge fires erupted around Los Angeles, killing at least 24 people.

Evacuation zones in which 12,000 structures lie in ruins have been declared out of bounds as police work to reassure residents that their property will be safe from looters.

But arrests continue to mount, and on Monday the first charges were announced.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of spreading "lies" about the state's response to deadly wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, escalating their online row over swirling misinformation.

President-elect Donald Trump and Musk , the Tesla and SpaceX owner poised to play a key role advising the incoming administration, have stepped up criticism of the governor's handling of the devastating blazes that have killed at least 24 people and displaced tens of thousands.

In a post on his social media platform X, Musk blamed the huge loss of homes in Los Angeles on "bad governance at a state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water."

"(Musk) exposed by firefighters for his own lies," Newsom posted late Sunday, alongside a video clip showing the tycoon asking a firefighter whether water availability was an issue.

The firefighter replied there was water in "several reservoirs," and added that battling large-scale fires required supplementing the effort with water trucks.

In a separate spat over the weekend, Newsom accused Musk of "encouraging looting by lying," after the billionaire amplified a post on X that falsely claimed the governor and his fellow Democrats had "decriminalized looting."

As deadly flames swept closer and smoke poured into their Los Angeles home, Zahrah Mihm tried to calmly wake her two young children in the middle of the night.
"We gotta go baby. We're going on a fun adventure," she told 4-year-old Ethan in her gentlest voice, scooping up her 18-month-old baby and fleeing their house in Altadena.

The neighborhood would soon be totally razed by the inferno. At least 17 died in this community alone, with more bodies being discovered.

The trauma has been severe for everyone, but is perhaps more acute among evacuated families with young children, many of whom are now desperately seeking diapers, milk formula and clothing.

And then there is the question of how to explain this colossal disaster to children who may sense their parents' panic, even if they do not fully grasp what is happening.

The expected return of gusty Santa Ana winds starting Monday night threatened to reverse some of the gains that firefighters had made in controlling the fires ravaging Los Angeles. Nearly 40,000 acres have burned, and tens of thousands of people are now scrambling to find shelter, exacerbating a housing crisis in one of the least affordable cities in the country.
Around 92,000 people remained under evacuation orders, many of whom were staying in hotels, shelters or with relatives as they awaited clearance to return home. Bidding wars have already started as people hunt for longer-term housing.

Officials issued a rare "particularly dangerous situation" alert warning of "explosive fire growth" for Tuesday until Wednesday afternoon, when gusts of up to 70 mph or higher are expected, nearly as strong as a Category 1 hurricane. That same kind of alert was issued a week ago ahead of the Eaton fire, which has burned parts of Altadena and Pasadena, and the Palisades fire on the west side of Los Angeles.

Those two fires have been brought partly under control. But they have grown into two of the most destructive wildfires in California history.

In anticipation of the new threat, fire crews and resources were being deployed to at-risk areas, officials said, and some firefighting aircraft were being relocated. While winds in the coming days may not be as strong as those last week, the length of their duration could increase the fire risk.

Search teams with dogs fanned out looking for victims in Los Angeles on Monday, as firefighters girded for hurricane-force winds that could spark new blazes.

With the disaster in America's second biggest city in its seventh day, 24 people are known to have died -- a toll expected to rise -- and more than 90,000 people remain displaced.

But the first glimmers of normal life have begun to re-emerge.

Schools shuttered since roaring winds spread flames through whole communities -- re-opened, while the beloved Los Angeles Lakers basketball team was set to play Monday night.

However, with strong Santa Ana winds returning, California officials were bracing for new problems.

Forecasters say "extremely critical fire weather conditions" were developing in the region, and would last until Wednesday, with winds already gusting to 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

"Not only will these extreme and dangerous conditions make fighting ongoing fires much more difficult, but these will make new ignitions much more likely," the National Weather Service said.

Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters arrived at the Los Angeles area on Monday ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were being placed near particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush. Dozens of water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted.

Tabitha Trosen and her boyfriend said she feels like they are “teetering” on the edge with the constant fear that their neighborhood could be the next under threat.

It’s impossible to know exactly how much damage the fires have caused at this point, but it appears they could be one of the costliest natural disasters ever in the country.

No official estimates have been released, but AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, said Sunday night that it believes the fires have now caused more than $250 billion damage. And the fires continue to burn.

By comparison, AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic losses caused by Hurricane Helene, which tore across six southeastern states last fall, at $225 billion to $250 billion. It could take several months for officials to develop any kind of official estimate of how much damage the fires caused.

Accuweather has increased its damage estimate several times since last week as more structures continue to burn.

Naomi Osaka said on Monday she was struggling to keep focused at the Australian Open with the deadly and massive wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles "three blocks" from her house.

The two-time Melbourne champion defeated France's Caroline Garcia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round and afterwards said: "I was watching the fire map and the fire is three blocks from my house. I had someone go get my daughter's birth certificate."

The 27-year-old former world number one, who has a young daughter named Shai, represents Japan but lives in Los Angeles.

After setting up a second-round meeting at Melbourne Park with Czech 20th seed Karolina Muchova, Osaka said "honestly I don't think I've been doing the greatest keeping focus".

"It is really difficult for me because, I don't know, I think it's tougher now because I find now my home is more of a home because I have memories with my daughter.

"There's so many things, keepsakes and stuff like that. Obviously you can't hoard them all when you're asking them to go to your house and just grab stuff. So it is really tough in that sense."

Beyoncé has contributed $2.5 million to a newly launched LA Fire Relief Fund created by her charitable foundation, BeyGOOD.

The announcement arrived via the BeyGOOD foundation Instagram account on Sunday. “The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires,” the caption read.

Founded in 2013, the BeyGOOD foundation concentrates on economic equity, by “supporting marginalized and under-resourced programs,” according to its mission statement.

Hollywood stars Halle Berry and Sharon Stone have come forward to support families affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The two actors donated clothes and essentials to The Coop, a Beverly Hills store collecting aid for displaced families.

Berry, inspired by her 'Catwoman' co-star Sharon Stone, took to her Instagram account to share a video asking Southern California residents to join the cause. In the video, Berry revealed she had donated her entire closet and showed a room full of items such as shoes, coats, blankets, and toys for children. The Hollywood star also praised Stone for taking the initiative and called on others to contribute.

The Oscar nominations are being pushed back almost a week from their original date amid the ongoing California wildfires. Nominations will now be announced on Jan. 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday.

“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship.”

With fires still active in the Los Angeles area, the film academy also extended the nominations voting period for its members through Friday. Originally, nominations were to be announced that morning.