Los Angeles wildfires Ghastly remains of Malibu come into focus
Flying south through smoky skies down the famous Malibu coast, at first the burnt-out mansions are the exception — solitary wrecks, smouldering away between rows of intact, gleaming beachfront villas.
But draw closer to Pacific Palisades, the ground zero of Los Angeles’s devastating fires, and those small scorched ruins become sporadic clusters, and then endless rows of charred, crumpled homes.
From the air, the extent of the devastation wrought by the Palisades fire on these two neighbourhoods is starting to come into focus: whole streets in ruins, the remains of once-fabulous houses now nothing but ash and memories.
Access to this area of utter devastation has been largely closed to the public and even to evacuated residents since the fire began on Wednesday.
Story continues after live blog
Emergency managers apologise after false alerts spark panic
Nazahryth Bernard
Emergency managers in Los Angeles apologised after false evacuation alerts sparked panic in a city on edge over an unprecedented wildfire disaster.
Millions of mobile phones blared on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday morning with automated warnings urging people to be ready to flee.
“This is an emergency message from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area,” said the message, which was widely disseminated on Thursday, including to areas well away from the danger zones.
“Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets and supplies.”
Huge fires in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles and around Altadena have consumed 35,000 acres, razing thousands of buildings and killing 10 people.
For many Angelenos, the alert system was the first they knew of the blazes and the need to escape.
Some 153,000 people are currently under mandatory evacuation orders across the region.
A correction was sent 20 minutes later, explaining the alert had only applied to the new Kenneth Fire that was exploding to the north of the city.
Nevertheless, a similar erroneous message was sent out around 4am Friday.
Kevin McGowan, the director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, said the automated errors had caused “frustration, anger (and) fear”.
“I can’t express enough how sorry I am,” he told reporters.
McGowan said he was working with specialists to find out what had gone wrong and why so many people were sent messages that did not apply to them.
“I implore everyone to not disable the messages on your phone,” he said.
“This is extremely frustrating, painful and scary, but these alert tools have saved lives during these emergencies.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the error was “unacceptable”.
“I want to express my deep frustration with the alert system that is causing confusion and additional panic for our communities at this time of extreme crisis,” she said.
“Whatever the cause, it is unacceptable.”
Chris Sheach, assistant professor in disaster management at Paul Smith’s College, said automated warning systems are always susceptible to “kinks and bugs,” particularly as they are rarely used at scale, but still remain vital in reducing the death toll during disasters.
“Likely it was a coding error,” that caused warnings to reach unintended recipients in the wrong area codes, he told AFP.
“The benefits far outweigh the risks. If this had been the Palisades in 1975... the only way they could evacuate people was fire trucks driving street by street with a megaphone.”
Sheach said it was important for authorities to be upfront about the mistakes, so that citizens do not ignore or disable future alerts.
“Millions of these messages go out every year across the country, across the globe, to communities that are appropriate, safe, and on time,” he said.
“Because of those misses, it takes a little extra work to build the trust.”
- AFP
'Need answers' as LA fire chief blames resource cuts
Nazahryth Bernard
Authorities have said it was too early to know the cause of the blazes, but criticism has mounted of officials' preparedness and response.
California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered on Friday a "full independent review" of the city's water utilities, describing the lack of water supplies and loss of pressure at hydrants during the initial fires as "deeply troubling."
"We need answers to how that happened," he wrote in an open letter.
Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley blamed funding cuts to her department, telling Fox News affiliate KTTV: "We are still understaffed, we're still under-resourced, and we're still underfunded."
Meanwhile, emergency managers apologized Friday after false evacuation alerts were erroneously sent to millions of mobile phones, sparking panic.
"I can't express enough how sorry I am," said Kevin McGowan, the director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.
And aviation authorities were investigating who had piloted an illegal drone that struck a water-dropping aircraft, punching a fist-sized hole in the plane and taking it out of action.
- AFP
Winds calm around LA in rare reprieve for firefighters
Nazahryth Bernard
Winds have calmed around Los Angeles, providing a fleeting window of opportunity for firefighters battling five major blazes, as official recriminations began over responsibility for the disaster.
At least 11 people have died as flames ripped through neighbourhoods and razed thousands of homes this week in a disaster that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene."
As the scale of the damage to America's second-biggest city came into focus - one new estimate suggested the bill could hit US$150 billion - Angelenos grappled with the heart-rending ruin.
"I lost everything. My house burned down and I lost everything," Hester Callul, who reached a shelter after fleeing her Altadena home, told AFP.
With fears of looting and crime growing, California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the National Guard to bolster law enforcement.
A nighttime curfew has been imposed in evacuated areas, and dozens of arrests made.
"This curfew will be strictly enforced," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. "We are not screwing around with this."The five separate fires have so far burned more than 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares), California's fire agency reported.
"It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded," said Biden, as he received a briefing on the fires at the White House.
A lull in winds enabled much-needed progress in tackling the fires.The biggest of the blazes has burnt down more than 20,000 acres of the upscale Pacific Palisades and Malibu neighbourhoods, where firefighters said they were starting to get the fire under control.
By Friday 8% of its perimeter was contained - meaning it can't spread any further in that direction.
Braveheart actor Mel Gibson was the latest celebrity to reveal his Malibu home had burnt down, telling NewsNation the loss was "devastating."
The Eaton fire in the Altadena area was 3% checked, with almost 14,000 acres scorched and key infrastructure - including communication towers - threatened.
Fire chief Jason Schillinger said Friday that "significant progress" had been made in quelling the blaze.
A third fire that exploded Thursday afternoon near Calabasas and the wealthy Hidden Hills enclave, home to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, was 35% surrounded.
But emergency chiefs warned the situation is "still very dangerous" and the reprieve from intense gusts that spread embers will not last.
"The winds have died down today, but... are going to increase again in the coming days," said Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- AFP
Nazahryth Bernard
Nazahryth Bernard
Braveheart star Mel Gibson's home burnt down: 'Devastating'
Nazahryth Bernard
Braveheart actor Mel Gibson was the latest celebrity to reveal his Malibu home had burnt down, telling NewsNation the loss was "devastating."
“It’s emotional,” Gibson said. “I had my stuff there. I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff because it’s all in cinders.”
The actor said he was in Austin, Texas, appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast when he learned of the fire.
Gibson said he was “ill at ease” while speaking with Rogan because he’d heard his neighbourhood was in flames.
“I thought, ‘Eh, I wonder if my place is still there,'” Gibson said. “When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.”
Biden takes swipe at Trump over fire misinformation
Nazahryth Bernard
US President Joe Biden also took a veiled swipe at incoming president Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation over the flames that has then been amplified on social media, AFP reports.
"You're going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it," Biden said of the fires.
Wildfires occur naturally, but scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather and changing the dynamics of the blazes.
Two wet years in southern California have given way to a very dry one, leaving ample fuel on the ground primed to burn.
The fires could be the costliest ever recorded, with AccuWeather estimating total damage and loss between $135 billion and $150 billion.
11 confirmed dead in LA fires
Nazahryth Bernard
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed the latest death toll, rising from the previously listed 11.
Fox News reported: "Five of the deaths appear to be from the Palisades Fire and six deaths from the Eaton Fire, according to the office’s records.
"Authorities have not determined the cause of the any of the multiple fires and have been unable to give a full death toll as both fires are still burning."
Map of Los Angeles fires
Nazahryth Bernard
Hollywood star Jennifer Garner heartbroken by fire, helping locals
Nazahryth Bernard
Hollywood star Jennifer Garner has spoken of her heartbreak at the level of devastation in some of LA County's most famous locations.
Garner is working on some initiatives aimed at helping locals.
"We're all gonna have to co-create what this is going to be from here, and we're going to have to be God's hands, in trying to serve each other and serve our community," she told NBC News.
"There's so much good to look for and to donate to. We can feel the love from the rest of the country and we're grateful."
'Life can change in an instant': Paris Hilton shattered over destroyed home
Nazahryth Bernard
Paris Hilton shared footage of what is left of her mansion on Instagram after the devastating fires left her home ravaged.
Hilton shared confronting video of the damage and ash left in the wake of the brutal fire, with her former mansion now reduced to broken-down infrastructure.
The heiress said the “heartbreak is truly indescribable”, that she’s still in shock, and her heart has shattered “into a million pieces” over her home burning down.
“This house wasn’t just a place to live. It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family,” she said.
California Governor announces review of LA County's water supply
Nazahryth Bernard
California Governor Gavin Newsom of California has just announced a full independent review of Los Angeles County's water supply, system and issues flagged in the past few days would be conducted.
He wrote in a letter to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power bosses that claims of called reports of water pressure loss and lack of supply at a crucial reservoir were “deeply troubling", the New York Times reported.
Newsom has said Newsom the fact some fire hydrants lost water supply “likely impaired” the hopes of stopping the fire spread and mitigating damage. “We need answers to how that happened.”
California Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña has also spoken of the challenges faced in figuring out what the fire would do next.“One of the issues we’re having right now is we can’t tell where the fire is going to be in 30 minutes," he told USA Today.
LA fire effort 'would be prepared' for return of strong winds
Nazahryth Bernard
Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony C. Marrone has told a media briefing that the fire effort “would be prepared” for the forecasted return of strong winds through areas where the fires are currently impacting, or nearby them.
Inmates recruited to fight the LA fires
Ebba Strand
Inmates from within the LA prison system are the latest people recruited to fight the LA blazes. Prison officials said that 939 prisoners were now helping the effort.
The New York Times has reported they will earn the inmate maximum pay of $10.24 a day, plus $1 an hour for the emergency status of their work.
The inmates are part of a volunteer fire-fighting scheme offered to eligible prisoners.
'We lost so much': Football Ferns captain's family home in LA destroyed
Ebba Strand
"We lost so much but have everything we need", writes Football Ferns captain Ali Riley on her Instagram after her family home in Los Angeles was destroyed in the wildfire.
Her parents evacuated "with two full cars and have been offered so many places to stay", Riley writes.
"They have home insurance and are luckier than so many who are left with nothing.
"We are looking forward to joining the relief efforts and rebuilding our great city together."
She ends the post by thanking the firefighters and first responders "still out there fighting for our friends and neighbours".
Strong winds forecast to return
Ebba Strand
While a reduction in windspeed over the past day has helped the effort in tackling the Los Angeles fires, it may be short-lived. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles says stronger winds are forecast to return to the areas badly impacted by the devastating blazes on Sunday (NZT).
New fire breaks out
Ebba Strand
American media are reporting that a further blaze has now broken out, called the Archer fire. The blaze is close to the Hurst fire and has led to evacuation orders for residents in the Granada Hills.
Anthony Hopkins: 'Struggle to heal'
Ebba Strand
More than 600 National Guardsmen assisting
Ebba Strand
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh says more than 600 California National Guardsmen have joined the fire response.
“Currently, over 600 California National Guardsmen are activated, including 14 hand crews for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters for firefighting and search and rescue operations. This number is expected to increase over the next 24 hours,” Singh said.
Singh said 500 Marines out of Camp Pendleton, California, were also prepared to join the mission. And eight C-130 aircraft with fire-fighting systems would also be put into action.
California Governor warns of misinformation
Ebba Strand
California Governor Gavin Newsom has hit out at misinformation he says has been spread in the wake of the deadly and devastating fires.
"There were hurricane-force winds of mis and disinformation, lies. People want to divide this country and we’re going to have to address that as well,” Newsom said.
Ebba Strand
Palisades wildfire 'headed in the right direction' as wind drops
Ebba Strand
California's fire battalion chief Brent Pascua has told CNN that the devastating Palisades wildfire is "headed in the right direction" as winds drop.
"We still have fire weather, with the low humidity, the gusty winds, but this is what we're used to fighting," he said.
"What we saw in the first couple of days of this fire was like something I had never seen. It was 60-70 mph and we were just chasing our tail, trying to get people out of the way so we wouldn't lose any lives."
He added the winds meant the fire was "like a blowtorch igniting the things next to it".
"Even if we had hose lines out, water, endless supplies, we would have still seen a lot of devastation here."
Update on aircraft damaged after collision with drone
Ebba Strand
People have again been told of the potential perils of flying drones in and around the expansive fire zones.
It comes as one of the massive fire-fighting planes was grounded due to damage caused after a drone collided with it.
LA County fire chief Anthony Marrone and the impact caused a 'fist-sized hole' in the Super Scooper aircraft tackling the Palisades blaze. Repairs were being completed as quickly as possible, but the plane was likely to be out of action until Monday.
LA Mayor: 'Success is being reported'
Ebba Strand
Under fire LA City Mayor Karen Bass talked to the media overnight. Among the things she was asked were concerns over alert levels issued by city and fire officials before the blazes quickly created so much devastation and left people little time to evacuate.
She said she intended to visit the impacted areas and talk to locals.
"We're doing everything we can, and success is being reported."
Ebba Strand
Joe Biden: 'War scene'
Ebba Strand
Soon to be departing US president Joe Biden spoke after he received a full briefing on the blazes overnight (NZT).
Biden said footage of the devastation reminded him of a "war scene".
Talking to reporters, Biden said "every single thing we are doing" was being passed onto soon-to-be President Donald Trump's team.
The confirmed death toll remains at 10, but it will most certainly grow.
Biden said "it is likely it will increase, whether significantly or not, we don't know yet".
Soon to be ex-Vice President, Kamala Harris, described the scenes as "mass devastation", which will "linger for quite some time".
"There are moments where we should find optimism in the heroism of people," she adds.
Biden added that the threat of winds picking up again and spreading blazes further would remain for another seven days.
"We're gonna make sure California has every possible resource to fight this fire, and survive it," Biden said.
National Guard troops in Los Angeles
Ebba Strand
Amid reports of looting, officials have deployed National Guard troops in Los Angeles. Police say they have arrested around 20 people following looting incidents.
The latest figures
Ebba Strand
More than 150,000 people in LA County remain out of their homes following evacuation orders earlier in the week. And a further 166,000 people have been issued evacuation warnings; an awareness level stating they may need to flee their homes with little notice.
Latest figures reveal more than 10,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed by the devastating blazes.
There are fears a further 60,000 properties - both residential and business - could be consumed by flames.
The confirmed death toll remains at 10, but that will most certainly grow.
Five blazes continue to burn across LA County. But thankfully for the fire response, the strength of winds in the region has dropped. The wind change has meant the rate of the fire spread has dropped significantly.
The biggest blaze, in the Palisades, is said to be only 8% contained. It covers more than 20,000 acres and fire officials say it has the potential to be bring record levels of fire-related devastation to the region.
Story continues
The biggest among multiple blazes covering Los Angeles, the inferno has now ripped through over 8000ha of Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
A preliminary estimate of destroyed structures was “in the thousands”, city fire chief Kristin Crowley told Friday’s conference.
There have been at least two separate reports of human remains found in this fire alone, though officials have yet to confirm the fatal toll.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” said Crowley.
For AFP reporters surveying the scenes from a helicopter on Friday, it was hard to argue with that view.
On some of these highly coveted Malibu oceanfront plots, beloved by celebrities, skeletal frames of buildings indicated the lavish scale of what has been destroyed.
Other multimillion-dollar mansions have vanished entirely, seemingly swept into the Pacific Ocean by the force of the Palisades fire.
And looming above Malibu, a thin sliver of luxurious waterfront property, is Pacific Palisades itself — an affluent plateau of expensive real estate, now deserted.
Not the entire hilltop is blackened. Several grand homes stand unscathed. Some streets have been spared entirely.
But towards the southern end of the Palisades, grids of roads that were until Wednesday lined with stunning homes now resemble makeshift cemeteries.
Where row upon row of family homes once stood, all that remain are occasional chimneys, blackened tree stumps and charred timber.
At a press conference on Friday, Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman described walking through Pacific Palisades to the remains of his sister’s home as “apocalyptic”.
“Not since the 1990s when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city,” he said.
“This is crazy,” agreed Albert Azouz, a helicopter pilot who has flown these skies for almost a decade, observing the destruction from above on Friday.
“All these homes, gone.”