Burnt school worksheets are seen on the ground outside of an elementary school destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Altadena, Calif.
| Photo Credit: AP

After weeks of windy and dry weather, rain has fallen in parched Southern California and is expected to aid firefighters who are mopping up multiple wildfires. But potentially heavy downpours on charred hillsides could bring new troubles such as toxic ash runoff.

Los Angeles County crews spent much of the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds Jan. 7.

Also Read | Wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area and kill 5 as thousands flee homes

Most of the region was forecast to get around an inch (about 2.5 centimeters) of precipitation over several days, but “the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario” of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills, the National Weather Service said on social media.

“So the problem would be if one of those showers happens to park itself over a burn area,” weather service meteorologist Carol Smith said. “That could be enough to create debris flows.”

Rainfall that began late Saturday was expected to increase Sunday and possibly last into early Tuesday, forecasters said. Flood watches were issued for some burn areas, while snow was likely in the mountains.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order last week to expedite cleanup efforts and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. LA County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood-control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.

Fire crews filled sandbags for communities, while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.

Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. It contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Residents were urged to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been especially high since 2018, when the town of Montecito, up the coast from LA, was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge blaze. Hundreds of homes were damaged and 23 people died.

While the impending wet weather ended weeks of dangerous gusts and reduced humidity, several wildfires were still burning Saturday across Southern California. Those included the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 81% on Saturday and the Eaton Fire was 95% contained.

In northern Los Angeles County, firefighters made significant progress against the Hughes Fire, which prompted evacuations for tens of thousands of people when it erupted on Wednesday in mountains near Lake Castaic.

In San Diego County, there was still little containment of the Border 2 Fire as it burned through a remote area of the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The rain was expected to snap a near-record streak of dry weather for Southern California. Much of the region has received less than 5% of the average rainfall for this point in the water year, which began Oct. 1, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Most of Southern California is currently in “extreme drought” or “severe drought,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Washington, United States:

As fire-wrecked Los Angeles braces for a visit by President Donald Trump, many are worrying the mercurial Republican will yank the federal support the city needs to get back on its feet.

Trump is due in the shell-shocked city for a few hours on Friday afternoon, where he will be able to see for himself the devastation wrought by the deadly fires — damage whose repair will cost billions of dollars.

Former president Joe Biden was quick to pledge whatever was needed to deal with the disaster in the waning days of his administration.

But almost as soon as the fires erupted, Trump began sticking the boot in, lashing out at California Governor Gavin Newsom, and resurrecting an earlier hobbyhorse about water supplies.

“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” Trump said this week, emphasizing his false belief that there is a valve in northern California that can be turned to release billions of gallons (liters) of water in the rain-starved state.

Funding needed

Threats to withhold federal funds are worrisome to some of those who lost everything in the fires.

“I just can’t fathom that the government is going to let so many people (suffer)… that they’re not going to help them,” Sebastian Harrison told AFP.

This 59-year-old former actor lost his Malibu home in the blaze. He was not insured, unable to afford premiums that topped $40,000 a year.

Without government money, getting his life back on track might prove almost impossible, he fears.

In Altadena, a modest city further inland, as in the upscale Pacific Palisades, thousands of ruined buildings need to be cleared.

Federal cash granted by Biden for 180 days is intended to cover this.

But local authorities fret the White House’s new inhabitant might not honor that check.

“Everybody’s rushing to make sure the funds get here before Trump gets in office,” a local official told AFP last week, on condition of anonymity.

But, the person said, the demography of the disaster — which affected some very wealthy people as well as those of more modest means — gives hope that Trump won’t be able to abandon the region.

“Trump may think of Altadena as a bunch of low-life Democrats, but Pacific Palisades is a different story,” the source said.

“That’s the first zip code where he and other Republicans go to when they want to raise money in Los Angeles.”

“Principle of unity”

Pacific Palisades and the parts of Malibu it abuts are considerably less left-leaning than other parts of Los Angeles.

While the area has its share of Hollywood liberals, it also has property developers, businesspeople and other Republicans.

Among those who lost their homes was Mel Gibson, who Trump has just appointed to an ill-defined role as ambassador to Hollywood.

The new president’s visit to Los Angeles looks set to include a meeting with the state’s governor — whom Trump delights in calling Gavin “Newscum.”

There is no love lost between the two men, but Newsom has taken a more conciliatory approach in recent weeks.

“Historically, federal disaster aid has been provided without conditions, recognizing that political calculations or regional divides should not encumber relief efforts,” he wrote in a letter last week to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“This principle of unity is at the heart of our nation’s resilience.”

But if the federal government cannot be cajoled into stumping up the funds needed for recovery and reconstruction, California says it is prepared to use the courts.

The state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said he found it “disheartening” that Trump and his allies were seeking to politicize tragedy.

“We have every expectation that federal action will be taken to support California and the hardworking Californians whose lives and livelihoods are at risk,” he told AFP.

“We have been preparing for the Trump administration for months, and we will not hesitate to act if we believe the president is violating the law.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Washington DC:

The recent wildfires have left Los Angeles — the second-largest city in the United States and home to the country’s rich and famous — in rubble. Images taken from the air show block after block of greyish-brown ash, with just skeletal remains of homes, restaurants and shops left behind in the once-thriving neighbourhood. 

The two fires that broke out on January 7 have burned an area nearly the size of Washington, DC, according to the California Fire Department. The blaze, one of the most destructive natural disasters in Southern California, has killed at least 28 people and damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 structures. 

(Source: Reuters)

While the appalling destruction in upscale Pacific Palisades and Malibu in the west has made most of the headlines, Altadena in the east has suffered even more.

Images of fire-damaged areas, taken from a helicopter, show some stone chimneys and trees standing defiantly tall in Altadena, the city that bore the brunt of the Easton Fire.

(Source: Reuters)

Several backyard swimming pools, burnt-out cars and twisted metal from homes were also visible from the sky.

(Source: Reuters)

To the west, the Palisades Fire created a scar in the hillside where the upscale enclave offered postcard-perfect views of the Pacific Ocean.

(Source: AFP)

Driven by an extreme autumn drought and fierce Santa Ana winds, the fires turned the dry hills of Los Angeles into kindling, fuelling a relentless inferno that has raged for more than a week. As of Wednesday, the Eaton Fire was 91 per cent contained and the Palisades Fire was 68 per cent contained, according to a report by Reuters.

But as firefighters were bust containing the previous two infernos, plumes of smoke rose from a new fire north of Los Angeles in Hughes. The new rapidly spread to 9,400 acres (38 square km), forcing mandatory evacuation orders for more than 31,000 people on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire, but it occurred during red flag fire conditions — when meteorologists say strong winds and low humidity create conditions ripe for rapid fire spread.

A firefighter and his wife were overcome with emotion after he found his wedding ring amid the rubble of their home, now destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires.

Pasadena Fire Engineer Chien Yu, accompanied by CNN’s Erin Burnett, was searching through the rubble when one of his colleagues discovered a silver ring and handed it to him. Upon realising it was his wedding ring, which had been misplaced in the chaos, he showed it to his wife. Overcome with emotion, the couple hugged and cried outside their destroyed home, where they had lived for nearly eight years.

“That’s it-oh my God!” Mr Yu said after fellow firefighters dug through the ruins of his home and found the ring. Asked how he expected his wife would react, Chien Yu said that she had no idea it was missing. Filled with emotion, she said, “What! Oh, my gosh!” and froze for a moment before the two hugged each other.

Speaking to CNN, Mr Yu said when he saw the fire approaching last week, he evacuated his wife and two children before buckling up for a 16-hour shift combating the fire in his neighbourhood. He had no idea his home had been demolished until he got off work that day.

The couple and their two sons have moved, but the kids are having a hard time adjusting. “It’s never going to be the same for the kids,” he said. “They’re doing the best they can, you know?” They frequently ask when they can go back to their house or return to school, which was destroyed in the fire and was located next door, said Mr Yu.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton Fire had burned 14,117 acres of land and is 55 per cent contained as of January 16. The Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres and is 27 per cent contained.

At least 27 people have died and the death count may climb further, as per the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Over 30 people are still reported missing.

Los Angeles:

‘Wicked’ fame music producer Greg Wells is one of many celebrities who lost their homes in California wildfires.

As per Variety, he not only lost his family home but his state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos mixing room and studio also were destroyed in Pacific Palisades.

For Wells, it happened just as he was preparing to resume work on “Wicked: For Good.”

Speaking with Variety, Wells said, “You know, I think life is supposed to be hard. I’m not sure it’s supposed to be quite this hard. But it could be so, so, so much worse than it is. I know a number of people have died, but the people immediately close to me and my family, we’re all healthy and safe — and kind of depressed and bewildered.”

“I had such a collection of incredible recording equipment, like a custom-made, 48-channel analog console made by Paul Wolff, who used to own API, and 17 speakers in that room, six in the ceiling, three on each wall, two on the rear wall, four huge subwoofers up front — just a magical, magical room. But I just have to remind myself, it’s really down to the people and to the ideas, and none of that stuff makes a song better. So I’m not gonna let it define me,” he added.

Recently, Paris Hilton shared on Instagram that her Malibu home was destroyed while she watched the news about the wildfires.

“To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking,” she wrote. Hilton’s mid-century beach house, purchased in 2021 for over USD 8 million, was the site where her son, Phoenix, “took his first steps.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The devastating Los Angeles wildfires are poised to become one of the costliest natural disasters in US history, with estimated losses already surpassing $135 billion. According to a preliminary estimate by private forecaster AccuWeather, the total losses could reach as high as $150 billion, making it one of the most expensive wildfires the country has ever seen, BBC has reported.

“These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern US history,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. The sheer scale of the destruction is staggering, with over 5,300 structures destroyed by the Palisades blaze and more than 5,000 structures destroyed by the Eaton Fire.

The insurance industry is bracing for a significant hit, with analysts from firms such as Morningstar and JP Morgan forecasting insured losses of over $8 billion. This could exacerbate the existing challenges faced by the industry, which has been struggling to cope with the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters. As the full extent of the damage becomes clear, insurers will be forced to reevaluate their risk assessments and pricing strategies, potentially leading to higher premiums and reduced coverage options for homeowners in high-risk areas.

As a result, many people are turning to state government-backed insurance plans, which are often more expensive and offer less protection. In California, the number of policies offered through the state’s Fair plan has more than doubled since 2020, from around 200,000 to over 450,000 in September last year. Areas hit by the fires have seen some of the highest take-up rates, according to data from the program.

The long-term effects of the wildfires will be significant, with potential damage to property values, strain on public finances, and impacts on health and tourism. Denise Rappmund, a senior analyst at Moody’s Ratings, warned that the fires would have “widespread, negative impacts for the state’s broader insurance market.” She added that “increased recovery costs will likely drive up premiums and may reduce property insurance availability.”

The 2018 Camp fire in northern California currently holds the record for the highest insured costs, at around $12.5 billion. However, the Los Angeles wildfires are likely to surpass this total, given the high property values in the affected areas. Aon, a leading insurance company, has already indicated that this disaster is likely to rank among the top five costliest wildfires in US history.

However, the US and California government estimates on the damage are yet to be announced.
 

Months before the ongoing wildfires ravaged through Southern California, American podcaster Joe Rogan had made ominous predictions about the same. In a July 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan discussed the wildfire threat with comedian Sam Morril. On the podcast, he recalled his conversation with a firefighter who predicted a catastrophic scenario for the region.

“One day, it’s going to be the right wind and fire is going to start in the right place and it’s going to burn through LA all the way to the ocean,” Rogan recounted the firefighter telling him.

In the clip, Rogan, wearing a Los Angeles Fire Department T-shirt, described how the firefighter highlighted the terrifying scale and speed at which a wildfire could spread. “These fires are so big, you’re talking about thousands of acres burning simultaneously with 40 mph (64 kmph) winds. Once it happens, it’s so spread out that there’s nothing they can do,” Rogan said.

the California fires were perfectly predicted with insane accuracy by a firefighter that spoke to Joe Rogan pic.twitter.com/zuM8gmvJRX

— ryan ???? (@scubaryan_) January 9, 2025

According to The New York Post, Joe Rogan has frequently echoed his concerns about Los Angeles’ vulnerability to wildfires during various episodes of his podcast.

In 2018, while Rogan was still residing in Bell Canyon, Ventura County, he hosted English mentalist Derren Brown on The Joe Rogan Experience. Wildfires were already raging in the area, and Brown mentioned at the start of the interview that he was lucky to have made it despite the ongoing fires. Rogan responded by recounting the same warning from the firefighter, describing how the “right wind” could drive a fire from the city all the way to the ocean.

A year later, in 2019, Rogan brought up the topic again while speaking with journalist David Wallace-Wells. During their discussion on climate change, they touched on predictions that California’s wildfires could become “64 times worse by the end of the century.”

Rogan’s warning resurfaced as wildfires, especially the Palisades Fire in the west and the Eaton Fire in the east, continued to rage, forcing mass evacuations and destroying homes across Los Angeles County.

As reported by CNN, the wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 10 people. But authorities caution that the true extent of casualties may not be known until investigators safely enter the affected neighbourhoods. The fires have forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, with evacuation orders continuing to impact large parts of the region.

New Delhi:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sent firefighting resources to California as the state grapples with devastating wildfires. This comes despite the ongoing verbal duel between US President-elect Donald Trump and the outgoing Canadian Prime Minister.

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of making Canada the “51st American state,” while Trudeau has dismissed any such possibility.

On Thursday, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Canadian PM shared a video showing a Canadian waterbomber dousing flames in Los Angeles County ravaged by wildfires. He captioned the post, “Neighbours helping neighbors.” Interestingly, he used British and American spellings for “neighbours”, perhaps underlining the distinction between the two countries.

Neighbours helping neighbors. ????????????????pic.twitter.com/qRuEsu31T0

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 9, 2025

“Canada is mobilizing to help fight the wildfires in southern California. Canadian water bombers are already in action. 250 firefighters are ready to deploy,” Trudeau wrote in a follow-up post, adding, “To our American neighbours: Canada’s here to help.”

Canada is mobilizing to help fight the wildfires in southern California. Canadian water bombers are already in action. 250 firefighters are ready to deploy. The @CanadianForces are standing by to move personnel and equipment.

To our American neighbours: Canada’s here to help.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 9, 2025

What Trump said

In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly provoked Canada with his proposal to merge it into America as the 51st state. He has even hinted at deploying financial pressure to bring Canada under US control. Following Trudeau’s resignation a few days ago, Trump intensified his call for a United States-Canada merger.

“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

In a sharp response, Trudeau said there was “a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada would become part of the United States. “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner,” he added.

California Wildfires

The wildfire situation in Los Angeles remains dire. According to a CNN report, at least seven people have died, and over 10,000 structures have been destroyed. The fires, fuelled by fierce Santa Ana winds, continue to spread across the region, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

The most destructive blaze, the Palisades Fire, has ravaged coastal areas, while the Eaton Fire has swept through communities near the Angeles National Forest, reported CNN. While firefighters made some progress on January 9 as winds weakened, officials said that gusts were expected to pick up again.

Los Angeles, United States:

One of the five people killed in ferocious fires tearing around Los Angeles died trying to protect his home from the flames, his sister said Wednesday, describing the moment she had to leave him behind.

Victor Shaw ignored firefighters’ pleas to flee as fire began tearing through the Altadena area, Shari Shaw told local broadcaster KTLA.

The 66-year-old, who lived with his sister, told her he wanted to stay behind and fight the flames as she made the heartbreaking decision to leave their family home.

“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back,” Shari Shaw said.

“I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm that I had to save myself.

“I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”

Al Tanner said after the fire had swept through the neighborhood, he went back to the charred property where he found the body of Shaw, a friend of his, on the driveway with a garden hose still in his hand.

“It looked like he was trying to save the home that his parents had had for almost 55 years,” he told KTLA.

The broadcaster reported that Shaw’s body was still at the property, with first responders stretched thin over a wide area by challenging fire conditions.

Furious winds have spotted blazes far and wide in a hellish two days around Los Angeles that has seen firefighters out-flanked by vicious, fast-moving fires.

Thousands of acres (hectares) have burned, with around 1,500 buildings razed, and a large number of people have been hurt — many because they did not heed warnings to leave, authorities have said.

Fire authorities in the area have ordered over 100,000 people to leave their homes.

They issue frequent exhortations to get out as soon as an order is posted, and speak often of their frustration with people who stay behind.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A beach house engulfed by the flames of the Palisades fire in California. (File)