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Officials report large acreage, evacuations and curfew as crews battle multiple Los Angeles-area fires
Summary
Fire chiefs and law-enforcement officials gave updated acreage, containment and evacuation figures; deputies, the National Guard and police are enforcing curfews and protecting evacuated neighborhoods while investigators probe arson and a drone strike on firefighting aircraft.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney said the Eaton Fire was estimated at 13,956 acres with 3% containment and that roughly 4,000–5,000 structures “may be damaged or destroyed” pending damage inspections. “We currently have 1,527 firefighting personnel remaining assigned to this incident,” Maroney said. He added that the cause of the fire remained unknown.
City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said the Palisades fire was tracked at 20,438 acres with crews focused on strengthening containment lines; she reported the Hearst fire at 771 acres and 37% containment and said evacuation orders for the city’s Kenneth fire had been lifted. Crowley thanked mutual-aid partners and city firefighters for overnight operations.
Sheriff Robert Luna said deputies were assisting with evacuations, traffic control and security and reported that about 153,000 residents were under evacuation orders and about 57,830 structures were at risk; he said approximately 166,800 residents were under evacuation warnings. Luna announced a nightly curfew in mandatory evacuation zones for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas, effective 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and warned violators may be arrested and prosecuted under Los Angeles County Code section 2.68320. “We're not screwing around with this,” Luna said, adding that arrests for curfew violations would not be cited and released.
Luna said National Guard troops had been deployed to assist with road closures and critical-infrastructure protection and would be coordinated with local police departments. LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi described a recent arrest in connection with the Kenneth fire investigation: officers detained a suspect after residents reported attempted ignition; the major-crimes unit and Ventura County sheriffs later determined insufficient probable cause for arson charges and the person was arrested on a felony probation violation. Choi also said the city has opened a family assistance center for missing people at Chevy Hills Recreation Center, 2551 Motor Avenue, open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. today and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. tomorrow.
Maroney reported a drone struck the wing of a contracted CL-415 “Super Scooper” airtanker, producing a fist-sized hole; repairs were being prioritized and the aircraft is expected to fly Monday. He warned that drone flights in active fire areas are illegal and will halt aerial firefighting when detected. District Attorney Nathan Hockman and sheriff's officials said looting, arson, drone incursions and scams will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent under existing law; Hockman warned of scams targeting survivors and pointed reporters to recovery.lacounty.gov for vetted donation guidance.
Officials said mutual-aid resources, including crews from other states and Canada, had arrived and that weather forecasts kept the region at risk for additional red-flag conditions through the coming days. Authorities encouraged residents to follow official evacuation orders and use county and city resources for current status and support.
