While the dangerous fire weather conditions that sparked devastating fires in Los Angeles have receded, forecasters warn another round of Santa Ana winds is expected early next week.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said late Thursday that the death toll had risen to 27. Authorities warned that the number could rise further as search and rescue efforts continue.

According to local media reports, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received more than 150 tips regarding what may have triggered the incident. fence fire.

Here’s what we know:

What’s the latest situation on the ground?

Death toll and missing persons

• The fire has killed at least 27 people and 31 others are missing. the whole neighborhood has been destroyedauthorities said it would take months to clean up.
• Ten of the deaths were related to the Palisades Fire and 17 were related to the Eaton Fire.
• About 82,400 people remain under evacuation orders and another 90,400 are under evacuation warnings.

active fire

• Fence fire: Nearly 9,596 hectares (23,713 acres) have burned in and around Pacific Palisades, with 27% contained.

No growth was reported in the past 72 hours.

• Eaton Fire Protection: The fire has burned more than 5,713 hectares (14,117 acres) and is 55% contained, a 10% increase from yesterday.

The City of Pasadena has declared a local public health emergency in response to the ongoing effects of the Eaton Fire.

“Volcanic ash and debris pose significant potential risks to current and future health, safety and the environment,” the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) said. said in a press release. “PPHD is declaring a local health emergency to ensure residents take appropriate steps to protect themselves from toxic volcanic ash and debris.”

• Automatic fire: The situation began in Ventura County and is currently 85% contained. Firefighters halted their advance and limited the burn to 25 hectares (61 acres).

According to Cal Fire, more than 5,000 firefighters fighting That includes Israeli reinforcements arriving Thursday as well as personnel from Canada and Mexico.

The recent fire has been brought under control

• Hurst Fire: A fire that burned 324 hectares (800 acres) of land in the San Fernando Valley is now fully contained.
• Small mountain fire: San Bernardino police investigating a hillside fire that burned 14 hectares (34 acres) reported that a man was arrested on two felony charges, including reckless burning. According to local media reports, the fire has been completely controlled.

What to expect on Friday?

Weather conditions are improving in the Los Angeles area, helping to put out ongoing wildfires.

The National Weather Service said strong Santa Ana winds that helped spread the fire quickly are expected to subside over the weekend. This shift is expected to increase moisture in the Pacific Ocean, creating more favorable conditions for containment.

Firefighters are taking advantage of this period of calm weather to strengthen containment lines around major fires. However, authorities warned that while progress is being made, the situation remains dynamic and residents should remain alert to any changes.

Looking ahead, meteorologists warn that strong winds could return early next week, which could exacerbate fire conditions.

“The potential for a serious fire to occur sometime next week is certainly high,” Palisades Fire Incident Meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a news conference Wednesday night.

Good news: We expect fire weather concerns to end this week. Bad news: One to watch next week. While we are confident there will not be a repeat of last week’s conditions, dangerous fire weather is expected. #cawx #PalisadesFire #eatonfire pic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 15, 2025

What do we know about the investigation into the cause of the fire?

Utility equipment under scrutiny

Southern California Edison (SCE) is an electric utility company in Los Angeles Under investigation for its potential role in igniting the Eaton Fire.

At least four lawsuits have alleged that SCE’s equipment may have caused the fires. One of the petitioners was Jeremy Gussey, whose Altadena home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, CNN reported. He filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, saying SCE is responsible.

Gursi cited photos taken by Altadena residents Jennifer Errico and Marcus Errico as evidence. They captured images of a small fire under a power line in Eaton Canyon.

However, Marcus Errico said he was unsure whether SCE was responsible for the fire.

“I saw a light on the hillside above our house,” Erico told CNN. “As I got closer, I could see a series of transformer towers on the hillside across from us in Eaton Canyon with power lines going all the way up. Up on the hill. At the bottom of a base, there was just a small ring of flames around the entire base,” he added.

The company defended its decision to keep transmission lines open, saying wind speeds were slightly below the threshold required for shutdowns. However, safety auditors have raised concerns about SCE’s fire risk models, arguing their assessments may not adequately account for severe wind events.

Fire broke out on New Year’s Day

Some Pacific Palisades residents expressed concern that the devastating Palisades Fire may be related to a smaller fire in the same area on New Year’s Day that may have been started by fireworks.

An earlier fire broke out in the same area six days ago and local firefighters reportedly had it under control within hours, according to authorities.

The close timing and location of the two fires has raised questions about whether strong winds could reignite smoldering debris from New Year’s Eve fireworks, potentially sparking the Palisades Fire.

However, earlier this week, Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said there was currently no evidence that the two incidents were related. “We don’t have any information to suggest there is a connection, but that’s the benefit of bringing in outside resources to examine every detail,” she added.

About 95% of wildfires in California are caused by human activity, whether it’s intentional blazes, downed power lines or accidents like backyard barbecues or fireworks celebrations gone wrong, according to Cal Fire officials.

Establish an investigation task force

In response to the complexities of these investigations, leaders from federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined forces to form the Joint Regional Fire Crime Task Force.

This multi-agency team will investigate the cause of the fire while working on case leads, developing and sharing criminal intelligence, and supporting the effective prosecution of crimes related to the Los Angeles County wildfires.

The task force will focus on four key areas: robberies, burglaries and impersonation crimes; arson-related crimes; illegal drone activity; and financial fraud targeting disaster victims and individuals seeking charitable donations.