California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 29

The additional fatality was attributed to the Palisades Fire, officials said.

At least 29 people have died as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across Southern California.

Thousands of firefighters have been battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, remain active. One of the latest, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area, has prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.

ABC News has kicked off "SoCal Strong" (#SoCalStrong), highlighting the impacted communities and offering fundraising opportunities for victims of the fires. The coverage will continue across multiple ABC News programs and platforms.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 24, 2025, 2:20 pm

Tracking ongoing California wildfires

The Palisades Fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures. It's covered more than 23,000 acres and is at 87% containment.

The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and is at 95% containment.

Jan 16, 2025, 3:30 AM EST

Palisades Fire investigators have more than 150 leads

Officials giving an update on the Palisades Fire on Wednesday said they have generated more than 150 leads as they probe the cause and progress of the blaze.

Jose Medina, acting special agent in charge of the ATF Los Angeles Field Division, said investigators are scouring video from state owned cameras that were in place in the area, from residents in the area and from social media posts.

An aerial view shows the devastation from the Palisades Fire on beachfront homes on Jan. 15, 2025 in Malibu, California.
Jae C. Hong/AP

Investigators have conducted interviews with individuals that initiated the 911 calls and the first responders to the Jan. 7 blaze, as well as the fire that was started in the area and put out on Jan. 1, he said.

Medina appealed to any hikers who were on nearby trails around Skull Rock on the morning of Jan. 7 to contact investigators. "We are talking to individuals about not just what they saw, but what they smelled and they heard," he said.

"Even if you were in the area and saw or smelled nothing that too could be valuable information," Medina said.

Asked if rekindling of the Jan. 1 fire appeared the most likely cause, Medina said investigators "are not leading towards anything right now. We're taking everything in evaluating all the evidence we received, but it's too early on in the investigation to make any determination."

-ABC News' Lissette Rodriguez

Jan 15, 2025, 3:21 PM EST

Red flag warnings in effect, conditions will improve

Red flag warnings remain in effect as high winds and low humidity, which could fuel wildfires, threaten the Los Angeles area.

Firefighters work the scene as an apartment building burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Winds are forecast to peak at 40 to 55 mph in the mountains with isolated gusts up to 70 mph. The coast and valleys will see 35 to 50 mph gusts.

These winds will wind down by Wednesday evening. The winds will be much calmer Thursday and Friday.

Jan 15, 2025, 3:10 PM EST

Crews search for human remains

Urban search and rescue workers are using rakes to move debris as they search for human remains along the Pacific Coast Highway where homes were destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

Urban Search and Rescue responders are searching for human remains in the burned out beach front homes from the Palisades Fire.
ABC News

-ABC News’ Alex Stone

Jan 15, 2025, 11:29 AM EST

LA County under air quality alert

A new air quality alert has been issued for Los Angeles County until 7 p.m. local time "due to harmful particle pollution levels from windblown dust and ash."

This pollution can embed deep into the lungs and cause health problems including heart disease symptoms, asthma attacks and an increased risk for respiratory infections.

Smokes and flames overwhelm a commercial area during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Health experts and public officials have urged those impacted by the fires to protect themselves from air pollution carried by these winds by staying indoors, wearing protective equipment when needed and taking steps to purify air in the home.

Click here to learn how to protect yourself.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

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