Weary LA residents lastly informed once they can return to properties after fires ravaged 1000’s of buildings alongside the coast: Recap

Displaced locals in fire evacuation zones have finally learned when they’ll be allowed to return to their homes to survey the damage caused by the infernos.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said authorities will begin discussions about getting residents back to their homes after the current red flag warning ends.

Californians have been warned to brace for intense winds fueling fire conditions until Wednesday afternoon.

“Unfortunately, those conversations are not going to begin until the next predicted red flag ends on Wednesday,’ he said.

‘Please rest assured that first thing Thursday, we will start talking about re-population and evacuation order and warning areas,” he said in a Sunday news conference.

Los Angeles residents have put up signs threatening to shoot looters as almost 30 opportunist criminals were arrested while trying to burgle evacuated homes.

Among the 29 people who were arrested is a burglar who disguised himself as a firefighter to gain access to decimated mansions caught in the path of the worst fires to ever tear through Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna revealed on Sunday that the fake fireman had been arrested in glitzy Malibu – which was particularly ravaged by the largest of the fires – when he was caught burglarizing the abandoned and burnt out homes along the waterfront.

Authorities who have vowed to prosecute looters to the full extent of the law as the city reels from devastating infernos, which are still destroying everything in their paths across southern California.

Security in evacuated neighbourhoods has been beefed up, with wealthy residents employing a private security firm to protect their homes from looters after abandoning them due to the ongoing wildfires.

• Read the full story by Miriam Kuepper here

Los Angeles’ wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives and laid waste to 12,000 properties in a week.

But the infernos, which are still raging, have also sparked a slew of wild and unhinged conspiracy theories online.

From protecting P Diddy and enriching billionaires to an act of war and a deliberate political attempt to derail high speed rail in California, internet wonks have been having a field days.

Others have even claimed there is a correlation between the use of smart meters and homes being destroyed.

• MailOnline’s Chief Reporter Martin Robinson examines all the theories here

Our MailOnline video team have put together eight moments of shock and devastation from the Los Angeles wildfires as firefighters continue to battle flames.

The blazes have so far claimed the lives of 24 people and forced more than 100,000 to leave their homes.

See the videos below:

The wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles for nearly a week have destroyed prestigious architectural gems across the city.

The city is being burned alive by several fires, the largest of which, the Palisades fire, is just 13% contained. The second largest, the Easton fire, is just 27% contained.

These fires, which have so far burned 37,830 acres of land, an area more than two-and-a-half times the size of Manhattan, have so far destroyed 32 structures that preservationists considered historically significant.

Experts said this may be the single worst loss of such properties the region has ever suffered.

Destroyed historic buildings include the former home of actor Will Rogers (pictured above), who built a 31-room residence with 11 bathrooms, a guesthouse, a golfcourse, stables and a corral in the Palisades.

Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, the actor’s great-granddaughter, said in a statement: ‘The Rogers family is devastated by the loss of the California ranch and the overwhelming loss of the community. Our hearts go out to all those neighbors who have lost their homes.’

• Read the full story by Perkin Amalaraj here

This is the emotional moment a California dog owner was reunited with his beloved pet he feared had died in the Palisades Fire.

Casey Colvin was seen kneeling at his neighbor’s gate cooing to his dog and asking, ‘Hi booboo, how’s the fire?’ as the gray dog runs down the hill toward him.

As the dog leaps into his arms, Colvin could be seen screaming and crying.

He then runs down the street with his arms raised, cheering on his victory, before breaking down at the gate.

‘Oh thank you Jesus, oh thank you God,’ Colvin cries out.

He had been desperately trying to reach the dog, Oreo, since the Pacific Palisades fire broke out early last week.

• Watch the video below and read the full story by Melissa Koenig here

A shocking analysis has found that the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles may have been started by the rekindling of a New Year’s Eve blaze.

Evidence reviewed by The Washington Post suggests that the Palisades inferno was ignited in the same spot where fire crews put out flames a week before – and residents claim their response the second time was much slower.

The Palisades Fire – the largest of the three blazes ripping through Los Angeles -ignited on January 7 and has scorched 23,713 acres and is only 13 per cent contained as of Sunday.

A week before that blaze broke out, firefighters were called to the Pacific Palisades shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day to a small brush fire residents claim was started by fireworks.

The blaze, called the Lachman Fire, was held at eight acres and reported contained at 4:46 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

• Read the full story by Dailymail.Com reporter Rachel Bowman here

New interactive maps showed the carnage left in the wake of the Los Angeles fires – giving displaced locals still forbidden from returning a crucial glimpse into what is left of their homes.

As the official death toll climbs to 24, anxious residents are preparing for another 72 hours of hellish weather conditions expected to propel the fires in new directions.

The fires have destroyed 40,000 acres across the most affluent neighborhoods in LA, with A-list celebrity homes and restaurant hotspots among the 12,300 structures wiped out.

Local fire departments have warned that harsher winds and more fire would prevent those under mandatory evacuation orders from returning home to assess the damage.

‘Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread,’ the California fire service (calFire) said in a statement. ‘The winds will cause increased fire activity.’

• Read the story by Brittany Chain here and see the interactive maps

Investigators are examining whether an electrical transmission tower may have caused the Eaton Fire which has burned around 7,000 buildings in and around Altadena, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

Officials have confirmed an area containing the Southern California Edison electrical transmission tower is being looked at as the source of the fire which then spread to more than 14,000 acres.

Wayne Howerton, an investigator for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the newspaper;

Nobody is allowed up there besides investigators. It’s currently an investigation into the start of the Eaton fire.

Southern California Edison officials have so far denied their electrical equipment was responsible.

By Sunday morning, Cal Fire reported the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had consumed more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometres), an area larger than San Francisco.

The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes accounted for 59 square miles (nearly 153 square kilometres).

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes 1,354 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico, he said.

These photographs show the latest devastation as the fire ravages buildings, cars and the landscape:

The death toll from wildfires in Los Angeles has risen to 24 as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said eight of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 resulted from the Eaton fire.

At least 16 people were missing and authorities said that number was expected to rise.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through to Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50mph (80kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70mph (113kph).

The most dangerous day will be on Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson.

Speaking at a community meeting on Saturday, Mr Thompson said:

You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there.

Fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that levelled entire neighbourhoods around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.

A newly unearthed promise has landed Mayor Karen Bass in more hot water as she fights to save her job.

While campaigning for the mayoral job in 2021, Bass told the New York Times she ‘would not travel internationally.’

‘Not only would I of course live here, but I also would not travel internationally — the only places I would go would be D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco and New York, in relation to L.A,’ she said.

She was speaking candidly about the differences between the role as mayor and her previous job as a member of Congress for the Democrats.

“I went to Africa every couple of months, all the time,” she said, of her Congress role.

Bass is now fighting to save her career after it was revealed she ignored warnings about the impending weather risks ahead of the Palisades fire, but opted to travel to Africa regardless.

The LAPD has offered an insight into the scams which will likely be circulating and targeting fire victims in the coming weeks.

‘In the aftermath of recent fires, scammers are actively targeting vulnerable individuals and families, exploiting their distress,’ an LAPD spokesperson said.

‘Below are important warnings to help you recognize and avoid some of the most common scams.

‘Always trust your instincts,’ the LAPD warning read.

‘If something feels off, take a step back and verify before proceeding.’

Cal Fire said on Sunday night that repairs have started along the Pacific Coast Highway for infrastructure and power poles.

Some 48,000 customers across California are currently without power, after fires tore through entire communities.

Tyler Perry blasted ‘greedy’ insurance companies for not renewing tens of thousands of policies for homeowners in the months leading up to the devastating LA wildfires.

The 55-year-old Madea star found it ‘gut-wrenching’ to watch an ER nurse hosing down her parents’ house in Hastings Ranch last Tuesday in the Eaton Fire while lamenting to ABC7 News how their fire insurance ‘just got canceled’ after 75 years.

‘Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?’ Perry – who boasts 30.1M social media followers – wrote on Sunday.

‘People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed. As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers.’

Pink fire retardant has stained houses and buildings in Los Angeles as the authorities continue to try and slow down the blazes that have killed at least 24 people.

The spray, known as Phos-Chek, has been dropped from nine large planes and 20 water-dropping helicopters across the city to fight the fires that have been burning since Tuesday.

It is made using a mix of chemicals that are used to extinguish or slow down the spread of the blaze, including ammonium polyphosphate – which does not evaporate easily and stays set on materials for longer than water.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been slammed by Justine Bateman as ‘disaster tourists’ after they appeared volunteering during the LA wildfires.

The Hollywood actress, 58, took to X/Twitter to blast the couple after they were spotted in footage dressed in plain clothes and speaking with victims and other helpers.

The former working royals were spotted in a clip out and about at an evacuation centre, offering hugs and warm wishes to victims of the devastating infernos.

The death toll has risen to 24 in relation to the LA fires, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office said.

Some 16 people died in the Eaton fire, making it the fifth deadlist fire on record in California.

At least eight people have died in the Palisades fire.

Cadaver dogs are still searching through the wrecks of both burnt-out regions, amid warnings the death toll is likely to continue to rise.

A man who lost his home and possessions in the Palisades fire has been reunited with his dog, Oreo.

Oreo survived five nights in the rubble of his home, which was razed in the inferno.

The dog’s owner, Casey Colvin, was not at home when the mandatory evacuation order was placed, and was unable to return home to save his dogs.

‘Thank you Jesus, thank you God,’ Colvin shouted in the footage as he clutched Oreo in his arms.

He also thanked a media crew from NBC who helped him return to find his dog.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has 150 firefighters on standby who are prepared to help extinguish the wildfires in California.

said today that his country is offering help to combat the California wildfires.

“The situation there is extremely challenging, and Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives,” he said.

“This matter is being worked out, and through appropriate channels, we have offered our assistance to the American side. We already have 150 firefighters prepared.”

Governor Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday which he says will allow fire-ravaged Californians to rebuild their lives and homes ‘faster and stronger.’

‘When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks,’ he said.

‘The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I’ve also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process.’

This executive order will extend protections against price gouging on building materials, storage services, construction, and other essential goods and services for 12 months, until January 7 2026, in Los Angeles County, Newsom said.

He has also encouraged departments to streamline permission requirements to rebuild, and to make it more affordable.

The executive order suspends permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act in an effort to allow residents to rebuild or restore their homes.

Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday afternoon he is sending another 1,000 California National Guard service members to help battle the fires in LA.

He said: ‘I’m deploying 1,000 more California National Guard service members to Los Angeles as we battle the unprecedented wildfires in the region.

‘The approximately 2,500 total service members mobilized will continue assisting local public safety efforts in communities devastated by the fires.’

Elon Musk has apologized to customers expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California this week.

A rollout of the trucks was meant to take place early this week, but Musk said Tesla is now relying on those trucks to serve as mobile base stations for the Starlink internet terminals he’s provided to fire ravaged communities.

‘Apologies to those expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California over the next few days,’ he wrote.

‘We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity.’

Musk has assured customers ‘a new truck will be delivered end of week.’

Firefighters are preparing for another round of strong winds that threaten communities in Brentwood and Encino.

The National Weather Service said a resurgence of gusty winds is forecast Sunday night into Monday across southern California as mid-level impulses sink south across the western U.S., allowing for a re-tightening of the surface pressure gradient and gusty downslope/offshore winds from the Desert Southwest into southern California into Tuesday.

‘There will be the potential for — especially late Monday night through Wednesday — explosive fire growth as those winds pick back up,’ Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the Los Angeles Times.

‘In the case of an evacuation order being issued, you have to follow that immediately. Seconds could save your life.’

Gusty winds of up to 50 to 65 miles per hour on Monday could cause explosive fire growth and areas north of the line from Point Dume to Glendale will be particularly at risk

‘It’s been a crazy week. Devastating for so many people. So many friends who’ve lost a lot… homes. I know it’s not things, it’s memories, things that people have worked really hard for,’ she said.

‘Anyways, we decided to evacuate ’cause we were under a warning, and then we kept getting an alarm. We have many friends at my house who had to evacuate from other areas so my house is full.

‘I know a lot of people weren’t so lucky. We’ve donated clothes, we literally emptied out my pantry to take down to all of the places that are accepting donations.’

Meghan Markle has decided to delay the launch of her new lifestyle and cooking Netflix show due to the ongoing LA wildfire crisis.

The program, With Love, Meghan, was set to be released on January 15, but this has now been moved to March 4.

A statement issued by the Duchess of Sussex on Sunday, three days before the series was scheduled to debut, read: ‘I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.’

With Love, Meghan reportedly includes tributes to the California-based royal’s home state and her personal ties to it.

The $25 billion firm said it discovered a downed conductor at a tower close to where the Hurst Fire broke out on Tuesday evening following an intense Santa Ana windstorm.

However, Edison said it doesn’t know whether the damage happened before or after fire, which has so far burned through almost 800 acres of land.

The conductor was found at the Eagle Rock Sylmar 220 kV circuit, the company said in press release on Sunday, adding that the findings were preliminary.

It comes as speculation swirls about what could have caused the worst cluster of wildfires ever seen in the United States and Los Angelinos who have lost everything are demanding answers.

The Selling Sunset star announced his agency, The Oppenheim Group, will be representing fire victims searching for a new rental for free.

‘If you’ve lost your home in the Los Angeles fires and you need to find a place to rent until your home is rebuilt, all Oppenheim Group agents will represent you for free or credit you back any commission we receive in the transaction,’ he wrote in an Instagram video on Saturday.

The 41-year-old country crooner publicly thanked donors on Sunday morning for contributing to the Relief for Rescues Fund, which began Thursday.

‘And starting today at Tractor Supply, at checkout you can donate either online or in person and 100% of that continues to go to relief funds,’ Miranda – who boasts 27.2M social media followers – said.

‘So from MuttNation and Tractor Supply, friends thank y’all so much for helping us out and we’re going to continue to send prayers and love and light!’

Lambert said the funds would benefit several animal shelters in the region impacted by the fire including Pasadena Humane.

The community-supported animal resource center has taken in over 400 animals from the Eaton Fire, including a ‘five-day-old puppy found under a collapsed building.’

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been slammed for smirking and smiling in her latest ‘tone-deaf’ video response to the devastating fires in Los Angeles.

Bass has faced fierce backlash after posting a video message about the city’s historic infernos, where she appeared to be smiling as she discussed residents’ ‘unbearable loss.’

The controversial clip showed a rather chipper Bass delivering what was meant to be a somber message about the devastating, fiery crisis plaguing her city.

While appearing to smile at times during her address, Bass said: ‘To any of you and all of you who have experienced a loss, the grief, the anger, the just utter shock – I’ve seen the devastation, it is unbelievable the amount of loss that people have experienced.’

Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a link on X to californiafirefacts.com, a website set up by his campaign committee, to address what he claims is misinformation about the LA fires.

The website encourages users to donate to the California Fire Foundation through a link that connects to ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s fundraising platform.

Social media users quickly called out the Governor for promoting the super PAC while raising funds for firefighters.

‘He’s fine raising for his own political gain. Notice he isn’t posting from his governor account. and the link for “fundraising: is actually an ACT Blue account!! He’s a criminal,’ one person said.

Newsom denied insinuations that he is receiving any funds from the fire donations.

‘Not a cent of these donations go to Gavin Newsom or his PAC. Gov. Newsom is proud to have raised $450,000 for the Fire Foundation in small-dollar contributions during these fires and is grateful for the people across the nation who have come together to help Californians in their time of need,’ a spokesperson for Newsom told the New York Post.

ActBlue claims to ‘charge a flat rate of 3.95% on each donation’ to ‘cover the processing cost,’ according to their website.

Vanessa Prata and her father, Aluizio Prata, are helping their Altadena neighbors learn the fate of their homes.

A residents who did flee are kept away by police or military barricades, Prata and her dad have taken it upon themselves to check on their neighbors’ homes.

‘They’re sitting in these shelters. They’re not sure whether their house survived or didn’t survive,’ Prata said.

‘Once you know what the situation is, you have an ability to regroup and see what you’re going to do moving forward.’

Prata posted to an Altadena community group on Facebook, offering the one thing she could think of that would help.

‘We are more than happy to drive around and take a picture for any person who would like to see their home or, God forbid, what is left of their home,’ she wrote.

The requests came pouring in – as many as 45 by Saturday morning. She and her dad set out on Friday, checking addresses written in a small notebook. They slowly make their way past fallen trees, downed wires and the husks of burned out cars.

Of more than two dozen homes they visited Friday and Saturday, fewer than half were still standing.

Governor Gavin Newsom was slammed for claiming that reservoirs in southern California were ‘completely full’ when at least one of them has been confirmed to be bone dry.

‘I don’t know what he’s referring to when he talks about the Delta smelt in reservoirs. The reservoirs are completely full, the state reservoirs here in Southern California,’ Newsom said.

However, the LA Times reported Friday that the the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water storage complex has been completely empty for over a year. This reservoir serves the Pacific Palisades, an area of west of downtown Los Angeles where a wildfire has grown to about 23,654 acres. Firefighters have only been able to contain 11 percent of the out-of-control blaze.

The tournament – hosted by Tiger Woods – is slated to take place between February 13 and February 16 in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood ravaged by the flames over recent days.

Other options include postponing the Genesis Invitational or holding it at Riviera as planned. But so far, no decision has been made.

According to the LA Times, the PGA has written to its members to inform them that officials are ‘monitoring the devastating fires in Los Angeles County’.

‘At this point, it is premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational. Although the Riviera Country Club has not been directly affected by the fires, our immediate concern is the health and welfare of those in the affected communities, including all our members who have ties to Southern California.’

‘Let me tell you something, she’s got a spine of steel,’ Yvette told TMZ outside a grocery store on Saturday.

‘And she’s also been a Black woman in America for a long time, so none of this is new to her. We are mad, because we’re tired of it.’

Kym added: ‘We’re mad for her. Somebody needs to stand behind her and support her, because of how she’s handling it. You can see it in her face. She stays calm, but think about it, she’s got the city to take care of!’

The 53-year-old Community alum noted that the 71-year-old Democratic politician was born and raised in the City of Angels, but she’s ‘not the mayor of every municipality’ as Mayor Doug Stewart oversees Malibu.

In an angry TikTok, The Hills alum, 41, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, confronted Moore’s detractors head-on.

‘Let me tell you about Mandy Moore. Mandy Moore, when I was younger, shout-out Mandy Moore. She booked my hotel for me because she was such a nice friend.’

Photos have shown the remains of homes burned by the Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California.

A New York City influencer has sparked fierce debate over her ‘dystopian’ Los Angeles fire relief efforts – with some disapproving of her beauty product goodie bags and others rushing to her defense.

She wrote on Thursday: ‘Putting together bags of products to send to LA. If you guys have any stuff you can donate, DM @cocoschiffer.’

The photo showed pink bags filled with cosmetic supplies, which some viewers felt trivialized the devastation being caused by the ongoing flames.

Jeffery Ku and his wife Cheryll captured their 34-minute escape from the Eaton Fire blaze on their Ring doorbell camera.

Cheryll saw the flames at 6:19 p.m. and told her husband they needed to flee. Flames were rolling on the hillside above them, and the couple started to pack their belongings in the car.

‘Winds gusting, no electricity, we grabbed what we could. I took videos of the fire between trips to the car, and I never would have imagined how quickly the conditions could get worse,’ Ku said.

‘By the time we left, smoke had filled the air, making it hard to breathe, embers flying everywhere, and the sky was bright orange.’

At 6:45 p.m., Ku sprayed down their roof while ash and embers swirled around them.

‘I remember saying goodbye to our home as I backed out of our driveway for what I thought would be the last time I would ever see our home again. Grateful that our home still stands,’ he said.

An emotional Hall Jr spoke to CNN after his Pacific Palisades home burned to the ground in fires that have so far killed 16 people.

‘I thought I had more time,’ Hall told CNN. ‘I saw the fire charging down the hill and knew that I had to get out of there. I opened up the back of my SUV, I loaded a painting, one other object.

‘By the time I was going back in from that run, hot embers were raining down from the sky. I knew at that point that I just didn’t have much time. I could see the embers hitting the roofs of the houses around me and made that decision: it’s time to go.

‘The medals were in a closet in my bedroom, 70 feet away, and I didn’t have time to go get them. From the time that I saw the first plume of smoke at the top of the hill … I had about three minutes between then and when it came charging towards me.

‘It wasn’t easy to leave that behind. I worked a lifetime to achieve that and the memories remain but the souvenir is gone.’

Hall Jr represented the United States at three Olympic Games – in 1996, 2000, and 2004 – winning five gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Ricki Lake has uncovered the moment psychic Tyler Henry predicted that her home would burn in a fire.

The 56-year-old former talk show host lost her Pacific Palisades home, like many other public figures, in this week’s raging Los Angeles wildfires.

On Thursday she revealed that her sprawling abode had been destroyed in the inferno, despite her best efforts to save it.

And on Saturday, she appeared on Instagram to share a highlight from an October 2024 episode of Live From The Other Side With Tyler Henry in which the medium warned of the destruction to come.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone advised the threat of fire remains high on Sunday.

‘These winds, combined with low relative humidities and low fuel moistures, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County very high,’ Marrone said.

‘I asked our county residents in wildfire-prone areas to understand that the necessary public safety power shut-offs are important for our collective safety in preventing the next wildfire natural disaster.’

The Kenneth Fire burned 1,052 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties since it broke out on Thursday.

Fire officials said the blaze was 100 percent contained on Sunday after crews worked overnight to put it out.

The homes of Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling, Milo Ventimiglia, and Miles Teller are among those destroyed, while dozens of other stars face an anxious wait alongside their neighbors to learn if anything could be saved.

At least 29 people have been arrested in the fire zones, including thieves who pretended to be firefighters, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said on Sunday.

The burglars claimed to be associated with a fire station, but a check with the department weeded them out.

‘When I was out in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter and asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down. I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs,’ Luna said.

‘We were turning him over to LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman, and he was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home.’

Luna said 25 people were arrested in the Eaton Fire area and four in the Palisades.

President-elect Donald Trump blamed the fires ravaging Los Angeles on ‘incompetent’ officials in an early Sunday morning Truth Social post.

‘The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost,’ he said.

‘There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?’

Dennis Quaid was stopped for an interview while evacuating from the Los Angeles wildfires on Friday evening, and the internet is focused on the ‘overeager’ reporter talking to him.

In a now-viral news clip, the 70-year-old actor was interrupted by a reporter for NBC 4 Los Angeles and his cameraperson outside of his Brentwood home.

While he was trying to pack up his car, the reporter, Robert Kovacik, started asking him questions and Quaid answered them politely.

However, viewers of the news segment took to X, formerly Twitter, to slam the reporter for being ‘obnoxious’ as he ‘bothered’ Quaid.

John Carr, 65, ignored evacuation warnings to stay behind and save his inherited house his parents built in Palisades.

He leaped over fences, hurting a rib in the process, as the flames began to enter his rear garden and creep nearer to his home.

‘The house was built by my mother and father in 1960 and I lived here my whole life so there’s a lot of memories here. And I think I owed it to them as well to try my best to save it,’ the brave former pilot said.

‘Some things in life are worth fighting for, you know. If I were to lose this house, it would be very difficult to afford to build a new house, to pay the enormous property taxes they have here. What would I do?’

While now a resident of up-market enclave Montecito, it’s well known that Meghan Markle grew up in Los Angeles.

Meghan now lives some 90 miles away from the city, in the Montecito mansion she shares with her husband Prince Harry, 40, and their children Archie and Lilibet.

However, it seems her connection with LA remains strong, as over recent years, she has carried out a number of charitable activities in the city.

The Sussexes have rallied around victims by making donations to relief efforts through their Archewell Foundation and have opened their $29million Montecito mansion to loved ones who were forced to evacuate.

Kathryn Barger, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, blasted GoFundMe for charging hefty transaction fees on fire-related fundraisers on Saturday.

‘Let me go off-script for a minute,’ Barger said. ‘I was shocked to find out that to give $500, they were going to charge me $95.’

‘So, I’m going to be reaching out to the CEO of GoFundMe to find out if, at the very least, they can cut the cost in order to ensure that the money goes directly to the family.’

GoFundMe told Buisness Insider they charge 2.9 percent plus $0.30 for each transaction, which ‘helps us pay our payment processors and safely deliver funds.’

‘The comments made at the press conference were inaccurate,’ the spokesperson said.

‘GoFundMe is primarily powered by voluntary tips and relies on these completely optional contributions from donors to maintain our quality customer service, trust and safety protections, and world-class fundraising technology.’

While it’s still too early for an accurate tally of the financial toll, the losses so far likely make the wildfires the costliest ever in the U.S., according to various estimates, leaving behind devastation that will ripple far beyond California’s borders.

With tens of thousands of displaced LA residents who have lost all but the clothes they were wearing, plus a few select personal items, insurance companies will be on the hook for colossal payouts.

It will inevitably lead to a rise in insurance premiums for Americans across the country as companies work out how they can best pay out claims.

With losses surpassing a staggering $135 billion, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather, the aftermath of this inferno is set to burden federal programs, strain insurance markets, and reshape the lives of Americans nationwide.

One person reacting to the interview on X picked up on the governor’s restless movements and said: ‘Who the hell is he dancing with?’

Another said: ‘Watching Gavin Newsome (sic) his body language and speech suggests he is overwhelmed.’

‘At the beginning of his interview, the first thing he does is start waving his fingers,’ a third pointed out.

‘His physical gestures are over the top and distracting,’ another watcher thought.

Hollywood’s elite are fleeing their homes as the Los Angeles wildfires rage on – with celebrities racing to find refuge in hotels costing thousands of pounds per night.

And actors Dennis Quaid and Sarah Michelle Gellar are among those seen arriving at the Hotel Bel-Air, built in 1922 and which charges up to $15,000 per night for a room.

The effects of the Los Angeles fire disaster will be long-lasting and thousands of people have lost everything or been displaced.

Help for those who have lost their homes to the huge infernos is coming from around the world while many were forced to flee and are still unclear on when they can return.

But charities and government-run relief efforts are overwhelmed by donations of items they don’t need or don’t have the resources to sift through.

Thieves are also preying on kind-hearted people with convincing scams that won’t send a dollar to anyone in need.

A man who served 30 years in the Army said the LA fires have turned the town into a warzone.

‘It was difficult, I mean it’s like Afghanistan type difficult,’ Jim Cragg told NBC News.

‘Everyone up here is doing a great job. I’ve been talking with LAPD, LA fire. They’re doing everything they can, but it’s a war zone.’

Cragg said he was able to save his home by placing a cheap lawn sprinkler on his roof.

‘After the last brush fire got close to us a couple years ago, I bought these cheap sprinklers, the ones that wave back and forth, and bought hoses,’ he said.

‘I had them ready, popped up on my roof, turned them on, sprayed down fire retardant on the side of my house and I left, got out with my family.’

Governor Gavin Newsom was slammed for his over-the-top body language in an interview he gave to NBC’s Meet The Press about his response to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles.

Newsom, wearing a black button down untucked with a pair of jeans, spoke with his hands all throughout the 18-minute-long conversation that took place in Altadena, a community that’s been ravaged by the Eaton Fire. He often clapped and made other big gesticulations as he answered questions.

Newsom also denied he was playing the blame game by opening an independent investigation into why the reservoirs were empty.

‘How could it be when we’re doing an independent investigation and we just want the adjudication of the facts? As I say, it’s not about finger pointing. It’s about answering the questions you and everybody want answered,’ he said.

The Duchess of Sussex ‘s Suit co-star Abigail Spencer has hailed Meghan’s support for Los Angeles fire victims as ‘excellent’.

Abigail, 43, who starred in Suits alongside Meghan Markle, also 43, and is due to appear in her upcoming Netflix series, With Love Meghan, took to social media to praise Archewell’s post supporting victims of the devastating LA fires.

Abigail shared the post to her Instagram, writing: ‘Excellent vetted resources for those looking to help’.

Palm trees can be seen in several photos still upright amid the burning wrecks of homes and cars.

One user, pointing to the destruction of homes and cars, that an apparent ‘heat attack’ had targeted the livelihoods of Californians.

These ‘attacks’ are, according to conspiracy theorists, designed to facilitate the eradication of national identities and form a one-world government.

But in reality, trees are often able to survive wildfires thanks to adaptations like thick bark and high moisture content that protect them from the heat.

Palm trees in particular are often safe from fires, as often fires occur at ground level – far from a tree’s canopy.

Celebrity realtor Oppenheim, 47, best known for his regular appearances on Netflix reality show Selling Sunset, has lashed out at local landlords for overlooking state laws that prohibit people taking advantage of a natural disaster.

Appearing remotely on BBC politics show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, a visibly emotional Oppenheim said: ‘I think it should be exposed, but we’re having landlords taking advantage of the situation.

‘I had a client. We sent him to a house that was asking $13,000 a month. He offered $20,000 a month, and he offered to pay six months up front. And the landlord said: “No, I want $23,000 a month.”‘

He added: ‘There are price gouging laws in California. They’re just being ignored right now, and this isn’t the time to be taking advantage of situations, and it’s also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster.

‘I researched the law last night. You cannot charge more than 10% pre-disaster market rates.’

Mountain lions, goats and donkeys in LA have been seen fleeing to safety from the blistering infernos as the city’s shelters fill up with lost pets.

Videos show wild animals running for their lives from the wildfires which have already claimed the lives of around 16 people while burning over 37,000 acres of land and destroying 12,000 structures in its wake.

In one clip take in the night, a mountain lion and two small cubs are seen running down Topanga Canyon Boulevard, California, away from the Palisades fire.

Californians are up in arms after it was revealed LA’s elite are hiring private firefighters for as much as $2,000 an hour to save their multi-million dollar homes.

In an effort to protect their investments the ultra-rich of Tinsel Town are hiring expensive private firefighters to save their homes using a bright pink flame retardant, a move that is infuriating many.

Governor Gavin Newsom is facing fresh fury after claiming he does not know how the Los Angeles wildfires happened – while appearing to cast blame on other officials, including beleaguered LA mayor Karen Bass.

Newsom has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ in his latest attempts to defend his response to the devastating ‘Palisade Fire’ inferno across the state.

The man previously touted as a potential Democrat presidential candidate has also been criticized over $100million cuts to funding earmarked for tackling wildfires.

The enormous image, captured by the Pléiades Neo satellite on January 9, shows Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades, as well as the Summit and North of Montana neighborhoods, engulfed in the smoke.

PR experts have questioned the timing of the release of Meghan Markle‘s Netflix cookery show and say it should be postponed amid the wildfires in Los Angeles.

The Duchess of Sussex’s long-awaited lifestyle series With Love, Meghan is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, January 15.

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, were seen in the city helping hand out food parcels to survivors after making the 90 mile journey from their $29million Montecito mansion.

But despite their laudable efforts, making donations to the cause from their Archewell Foundation, and opening up their luxury home to their displaced friends and loved ones, scores of experts say Netflix should push back the release date of Meghan’s show.

Two men were arrested near Vice President Kamala Harris’ Brentwood home on Saturday.

LAPD was called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. but were not on the property when they were detained.

Law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles, ‘they likely had no idea where they were.’

The two men were detained for breaking curfew, but released after police found no evidence they were committing a crime, reported KTLA.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood next to the wife of the Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom who has come under increasing pressure from the likes of President-elect Donald Trump for his response to the raging wildfires.

The royal couple, who live near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles away from LA, were seen comforting victims as they handed out food parcels with Jennifer Newsom at the Pasadena Convention Centre, which is being used as an evacuation centre, on Friday.

California’s beleaguered governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ by saying in a new podcast interview he was struggling to get ‘straight answers’ from other local leaders and officials.

The Democrat state chief told Pod Save America and its host Jon Favreau: ‘So, I’m the governor of California and want know the answer – I’ve got that question, I can’t tell you, by how many people, “What happened” – on my own team, “What happened?”. I’ll be candid with you, I wasn’t getting straight answers.’

But there has been a backlash in response, with one X user posting: ‘If he doesn’t know what happened, when he’s the first who should know, then he isn’t fit for purpose and needs to resign.’

Meanwhile, LA mayor Karen Buss has faced new criticism after visiting a local fire HQ then posting a video message in which she was seen smiling.

Hollywood actor Mel Gibson, who says he has lost his home in the inferno, has now been asked by Fox News what advice he would give the pair – and said: ‘Spend less on hair gel.’

As the California wildfire crisis enters its fifth day, here is a rundown of the status of the biggest blazes as of Sunday morning:

Palisades Fire

The largest of the Los Angeles wildfires has scorched through 23,654 acres and leveled homes, businesses and structures in the Pacific Palisades right across to the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu.

So far, the fire is thought to have claimed the lives of at least five people and is just 11% contained.

The most recent development has seen the blaze explode into the Mandeville Canyon area, after the blaze spread towards it and the Brentwood neighborhood, partially closing the 405 freeway.

Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire broke out on Tuesday and has since torn through 14,005 acres of land.

The blaze resulted in evacuation orders for those in Altadena and Pasadena, with more people ordered to flee on Thursday as the flames becan to encroach on Mount Wilson.

Glenoaks Canyon and Chevy Chase Canyon residents have since been allowed back home, with the fire 15% contained.

It has been estimated that the Eaton Fire has destroyed 7,000 structures and is responsible for the deaths of 8 people.

Kenneth Fire

The Kenneth Fire spans across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and has so far burned 1,052 acres of land.

The blaze has been 90% contained since it broke out on Thursday and prior evacuation orders have since been lifted.

Hurst Fire

The smallest of the fires, the blaze is currently 76% contained and has affected 799 acres.

Evacuation orders were given to the areas around Sylmar, but these have since been lifted.