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Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Sting, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at FireAid concert for LA wildfire relief

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: In the Los Angeles region, calmer winds have enabled firefighters to gain better control over...

The Times of India | Jan 19, 2025, 22:39:21 IST

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22:39 (IST), Jan, 19

California officials warn against price gouging as rents soar in fire-stricken Los Angeles

Southern California's expensive housing market is going to get a lot more competitive after deadly firestorms torched more than 12,000 homes and other structures in the Los Angeles area, leaving tens of thousands of people without a place to stay.
Already there are reports of rent-gouging, prompting elected leaders to issue stern warnings against the practice and pleading with the public to report unethical property owners who hike up rents above the allotted 10% cap.

“You cannot jack up prices and take advantage of disaster victims, plain and simple,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta at a news conference Thursday.

A modern three-bedroom condo in a downtown LA high-rise, for example, that was offered at $5,500 a month in October popped back up on Zillow this week with a new asking rent of $8,500. On Saturday, the listing was removed.

18:53 (IST), Jan, 19

Powerful Santa Ana Winds Expected to Elevate Fire Risk in Southern California

Strong, damaging Santa Ana winds are expected to bring extreme wildfire danger to Southern California from Monday into Tuesday as the landscape remains dangerously starved of rain, and as firefighters continue to work to fully contain wildfires that have left at least 27 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes this month.

Although an offshore wind pattern is expected across Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday through Friday, the winds are predicted to pose the highest danger Monday night into Tuesday morning.

There is a chance the winds could be similar in strength to the fierce gusts that topped 90 mph and fueled the devastating wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.

The big difference with these winds, though, is that they are expected to affect different locations, as they will blow with a more northeast-to-east tilt than the Jan. 7 event, which had a north-to-northeast tilt, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, California.

14:55 (IST), Jan, 19

Families of wildfire victims mired in grief, questioning what more could have been done

The house was burning with her brother-in-law and nephew inside when Jackie McDaniels flagged down a firetruck and begged for help.

"Whoever is in there is no longer alive,” she recalled one of the firemen telling her before urging her to flee her Altadena neighborhood. “I pray to God that they were. But it was horrible to have to leave them there.”

Now McDaniels, like so many, is facing the gripping realities of grief and questions about what more could have been done. Experts say these survivors are victims themselves; the fires that swept through the Los Angeles area this month were fast-moving and fierce.

“It’s really just a different beast of a fire when it’s this propagating entity of just total mayhem,” said Benjamin Hatchett, a fire meteorologist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University.

But that doesn’t ease the pain or the questions for the families of the more than two dozen killed, some unable to escape, others unaware of what was coming, having survived other blazes unscathed.

09:48 (IST), Jan, 19

Los Angeles fire have torched largest urban area in California in at least 40 years

The recent Los Angeles wildfires, namely the Eaton and Palisades fires, have affected more urban territory than any other California fire since the 1980s, according to an Associated Press study. These fires, which began last week, have devastated nearly 4 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles areas, surpassing the urban impact of the 2018 Woolsey Fire by more than twofold, based on data from the University of Wisconsin's Silvis Lab in Madison, AP reported.


The increasing occurrence of wildfires in urban settings can be attributed to multiple factors. Urban expansion continues to encroach upon wilderness areas, whilst climate change intensifies global temperatures, resulting in more extreme weather conditions, particularly droughts in the western United States.

09:47 (IST), Jan, 19

Southern California braces for worse wildfires as Santa Ana winds expected to intensify

The wildfire is expected to become more worse for Southern California as strong Santa Ana winds are expected to become stronger in Monday and Tuesday.

Th devastating wildfire, which has been raging for more than a week in Southern California, has destroyed thousands of homes this month and had killed 27 people. The firefighters are struggling to fully contain wildfires as the landscape remains dangerously starved of rain, as per New York Times.

19:08 (IST), Jan, 18

Critics Choice Awards postponed again due to LA fires

The Critics Choice Awards, originally slated for January 14 in Santa Monica, has been rescheduled once again due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, reported the Hollywood Reporter.

After two prior postponements, the event will now take place on February 7, 2024, at the Barker Hangar, located just miles away from the areas hardest hit by the fires, confirmed The Hollywood Reporter.

The awards ceremony was initially set to air live on E! but was postponed to January 26 before the fires prompted another delay.

The new date was announced by the Critics Choice Association (CCA), which expressed its concern for those affected by the fires.

Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Association, issued a statement last week addressing the devastation, "This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community. All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected," as per The Hollywood Reporter.

15:44 (IST), Jan, 18

Sting, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at FireAid Benefit Concert

Sting, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the performers slated to take the stage at FireAid, a benefit concert for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief. Announced last week, FireAid was originally scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It will now take place in two venues: the Intuit Dome and the adjacent Kia Forum on January 30.

It will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music, Apple TV, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudum, Paramount+, Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps and YouTube. It will also be shown at select AMC Theatre locations in the US.

According to a press release, contributions to FireAid will "be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters ... All proceeds from the FireAid benefit concert at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum will go directly to the event's designated beneficiaries."

The lineup also includes Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lil Baby, Pink, Rod Stewart, Gwen Stefani, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Gracie Abrams, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae and Earth, Wind & Fire.

14:37 (IST), Jan, 18

Slew of satellite projects aims to head off future wildfires

As Los Angeles firefighters continue to tackle lingering hotspots more than a week after deadly wildfires erupted, scientists and engineers are optimistic about leveraging satellite data to improve future responses.

With the decreasing cost of space launches, tech-driven organizations are deploying new satellites, while advanced machine learning techniques aim to analyze the vast influx of data, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of fire risks in an evolving climate.

“Satellites can detect from space areas that are dry and prone to wildfire outbreaks, actively flaming and smoldering fires, as well as burnt areas and smoke and trace gas emissions,” explained Clement Albergel, head of actionable climate information at the European Space Agency. “We can learn from all these elements.”

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14:36 (IST), Jan, 18

Firefighters continue to contain wildfires in California as winds fade

Thousands of firefighters remain on the front lines, battling two major wildfires in Southern California as winds in the region begin to subside.

Local authorities have reported that the devastating wildfires, now raging for over a week, have claimed at least 27 lives and destroyed more than 12,300 structures, according to Xinhua news agency.

The Palisades Fire, the largest currently burning in the Los Angeles area, has charred 23,713 acres (approximately 96 square kilometers). The blaze, which ignited on January 7, is now 31 percent contained, showing progress from 22 percent earlier on Thursday.

06:40 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: PGA Tour event near LA fire disaster to be moved, says official

Next month's Genesis Invitational PGA Tour event due to be staged near the carnage of the Los Angeles fire disaster at Pacific Palisades will be switched to another location, officials confirmed on Thursday.

A statement from the PGA Tour and Genesis organisers said a new venue for the February 13-16 tournament at Riviera Country Club -- which will also host the 2028 Olympics golf tournament -- would be revealed "in the coming days."

"The PGA Tour's focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles," the PGA Tour said in a statement.

"We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires.

"We have determined that The Genesis Invitational 2025 will be played at an alternate location the week of February 10-16. A venue update and additional tournament information will be provided in the coming days."

06:40 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Donald Trump vows to help ‘troubled’ Hollywood with Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone

Donald Trump wants to make Hollywood “bigger, better and stronger” and has cast Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as stars of what he is calling his “Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California.”

On Wednesday, the President-elect announced on his social media site that the three actors would be his eyes and ears to the moviemaking town.

“It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!” he wrote on Truth Social.

He also called the trio special envoys. Special ambassadors and envoys are typically chosen to respond to troubled hot spots like the Middle East, not California.

Gibson said in a statement that he got the news “at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised. Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can.”

Gibson, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, added, "Any chance the position comes with an Ambassador’s residence?”

06:40 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Los Angeles fire evacuees told no return for at least a week

Tens of thousands of people ordered to flee their homes as wildfires tore through Los Angeles were told Thursday they would not be allowed back for at least a week, with fears over electrocution, landslides and exposure to toxic materials.

Frustration is mounting among evacuees, who are angry over rules that prevent them from returning -- even to homes that survived the deadly blazes.

"There was a group chat where everyone was complaining, getting mad, saying, 'why do they keep on locking us out of our homes?'" Ronnen Miz told local broadcaster KTLA.

But with 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) burned in two ferocious fires, the situation is just too dangerous, officials said.

Electricity, gas and sewage lines are wrecked, there is toxic waste everywhere, and there is a growing threat of hazardous mudslides or landslips, officials said at a news conference.

"It's going to be a while," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

06:39 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Fires scorched campuses across Los Angeles. Many schools are seeking places to hold classes

Days after losing her home in the same fire that destroyed her Los Angeles elementary school, third-grader Gabriela Chevez-Muñoz resumed classes this week at another campus temporarily hosting children from her school. She arrived wearing a t-shirt that read “Pali” — the nickname for her Pacific Palisades neighborhood — as signs and balloons of dolphins, her school’s mascot, welcomed hundreds of displaced students.

“It feels kind of like the first day of school,” Gabriela said. She said she had been scared by the fires but that she was excited to reunite with her best friend and give her hamburger-themed friendship bracelets.

Gabriela is among thousands of students whose schooling was turned upside down by wildfires that ravaged the city, destroying several schools and leaving many others in off-limits evacuation zones.

Educators across the city are scrambling to find new locations for their students, develop ways to keep up learning, and return a sense of normalcy as the city grieves at least 27 deaths and thousands of destroyed homes from blazes that scorched 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) of land.

06:39 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Threat from toxic fire debris will prevent many LA residents from checking on damaged homes

Homeowners learned Thursday that it could be a week or more before they will be allowed to check on their fire-damaged properties while officials assess the threat of potentially toxic ash and debris left by the blazes that have blackened neighborhoods across the LA area.

More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders, and many do not know what, if anything, is left of their houses, apartments and possessions.

“The properties have been damaged beyond belief,” Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials."

County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said residents eager to enter burned areas to see what’s left of their homes or search for valuables need to be patient.

“We don’t have a date. We’re trying to render the area safe,” he said.

Officials said it would be at least another week before access is restored, as hazardous materials teams investigate. The rubble and ash can contain asbestos, lead and other dangerous materials.

06:39 (IST), Jan, 18

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Ash and other dangers mean LA area residents who fled fires a week ago won't be going home soon

It has been more than a week since two massive fires forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in the Los Angeles area, and officials said Thursday residents won't be going home soon. As the search continues for human remains in the leveled neighborhoods, properties also face new dangers with burned slopes at risk of landslides and the charred debris laden with asbestos and other toxins.

More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders, and many do not know what, if anything, is left of their houses, apartments and possessions. Scores of people have gathered at checkpoints to plead with police and soldiers restricting access to their neighborhoods.

Officials said they understand their frustration, but they asked residents for patience as hazardous materials teams and cadaver dogs comb the sites block by block. They said it will be a week or more before people can go back.

“The properties have been damaged beyond belief,” Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials.”

Los Angeles wildfire live updates: Over a week has passed since two devastating fires in the Los Angeles area forced approximately 80,000 residents to evacuate, and authorities confirmed on Thursday that their return remains uncertain. Whilst search operations continue for casualties in the destroyed communities, additional risks have emerged, including potential landslides on burnt hillsides and toxic materials like asbestos in the burnt rubble.

The evacuated residents remain uncertain about the condition of their dwellings and belongings. Numerous individuals have assembled at security checkpoints, requesting access to their areas from law enforcement and military personnel maintaining the restrictions.

Authorities have acknowledged the residents' distress but request continued patience as specialist teams and detection dogs systematically inspect the affected areas. They estimate it will take at least another week before allowing residents to return.
"The properties have been damaged beyond belief," Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. "They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials."
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Slower winds and cooler temperatures on Friday provided some reprieve for crews battling the Los Angeles-area wildfires as search ...Read More

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