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| What's the latest on Los Angeles wildfires and how did they start? | What's the latest on Los Angeles wildfires and how did they start? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: LA County District Attorney releases footage of LA looters and arson suspect arrest | |
| At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles fires as two major blazes continue to burn across the sprawling US city. | At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles fires as two major blazes continue to burn across the sprawling US city. |
| Firefighters made progress over the weekend in containing the Palisades and Eaton fires but warn that the return of high winds - forecast until Wednesday - could see these two spread again, or fuel new ones. | Firefighters made progress over the weekend in containing the Palisades and Eaton fires but warn that the return of high winds - forecast until Wednesday - could see these two spread again, or fuel new ones. |
| The fires are already among the most destructive in LA's history when measured by the number of buildings destroyed. Rebuilding work will cost "tens of billions" of dollars, US President Joe Biden has said. | The fires are already among the most destructive in LA's history when measured by the number of buildings destroyed. Rebuilding work will cost "tens of billions" of dollars, US President Joe Biden has said. |
| What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
| An area to the north-west of the city centre is described by officials as "particularly dangerous". | An area to the north-west of the city centre is described by officials as "particularly dangerous". |
| A red flag warning - indicating a high level of fire danger - is in place until 18:00 (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, with the strongest Santa Ana winds expected on Tuesday. | A red flag warning - indicating a high level of fire danger - is in place until 18:00 (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, with the strongest Santa Ana winds expected on Tuesday. |
| Nearby, the largest fire is in the Palisades area, and has burnt through more than 23,000 acres. It is still only about 14% contained, despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters. | Nearby, the largest fire is in the Palisades area, and has burnt through more than 23,000 acres. It is still only about 14% contained, despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters. |
| The blaze is moving east, threatening the exclusive neighbourhood of Brentwood, home to the Getty Center, a world-famous art museum that has evacuated its staff. | The blaze is moving east, threatening the exclusive neighbourhood of Brentwood, home to the Getty Center, a world-famous art museum that has evacuated its staff. |
| Follow live updates | Follow live updates |
| What are the Santa Ana winds?, external | |
| LA fire victims fear new housing crisis | |
| Another fire, Eaton, is more deadly than Palisades so far - responsible for 16 of the deaths. | |
| The overall destruction is immense, with more than 12,000 structures - homes, outbuildings, sheds, mobile homes and cars - destroyed. Celebrities Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton are among those who have lost their homes. | The overall destruction is immense, with more than 12,000 structures - homes, outbuildings, sheds, mobile homes and cars - destroyed. Celebrities Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton are among those who have lost their homes. |
| Tens of thousands of homes are also without power. | Tens of thousands of homes are also without power. |
| The fires could turn out to be the costliest in US history, with damage projected at up to $150bn, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather. | The fires could turn out to be the costliest in US history, with damage projected at up to $150bn, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather. |
| Where are the fires? | Where are the fires? |
| There are three active fires in the wider area, while a smaller fire is nearly contained, say California fire officials: | There are three active fires in the wider area, while a smaller fire is nearly contained, say California fire officials: |
| Palisades: The first fire to erupt a week ago and the biggest in the region. It has scorched more than 23,000 acres as of Tuesday, including the upmarket Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, and is only 14% contained | Palisades: The first fire to erupt a week ago and the biggest in the region. It has scorched more than 23,000 acres as of Tuesday, including the upmarket Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, and is only 14% contained |
| Eaton: Affecting the northern part of LA, blazing through areas such as Altadena. It is the second biggest fire in the area, burning more than 14,000 acres. It is now 33% contained | Eaton: Affecting the northern part of LA, blazing through areas such as Altadena. It is the second biggest fire in the area, burning more than 14,000 acres. It is now 33% contained |
| Hurst: Located just north of San Fernando, it began burning last Tuesday. It has grown to 799 acres, but is almost fully contained | Hurst: Located just north of San Fernando, it began burning last Tuesday. It has grown to 799 acres, but is almost fully contained |
| Auto: Broke out on Monday. It has reportedly been stopped from moving forwards after spanning 56 acres, according to Ventura County officials | Auto: Broke out on Monday. It has reportedly been stopped from moving forwards after spanning 56 acres, according to Ventura County officials |
| The earlier Kenneth, Archer, Sunset, Lidia, Woodley and Olivas fires have been contained. | The earlier Kenneth, Archer, Sunset, Lidia, Woodley and Olivas fires have been contained. |
| What does it mean for a fire to be contained? | What does it mean for a fire to be contained? |
| Containment describes the progress firefighters make in controlling the spread of flames. It is often listed as a percentage. For example, if a fire is 14% contained, that means fire crews have established barriers around 14% of the fire's perimeter. | Containment describes the progress firefighters make in controlling the spread of flames. It is often listed as a percentage. For example, if a fire is 14% contained, that means fire crews have established barriers around 14% of the fire's perimeter. |
| Natural barriers include roads, rivers and oceans. Firefighters can also create barriers using equipment such as bulldozers, hoses and shovels to remove vegetation down to the bare soil, meaning there is nothing for the fire to burn. | Natural barriers include roads, rivers and oceans. Firefighters can also create barriers using equipment such as bulldozers, hoses and shovels to remove vegetation down to the bare soil, meaning there is nothing for the fire to burn. |
| A fire being 100% contained doesn't mean it has been extinguished, but rather that the flames have been fully encircled and the spread has been effectively stopped. | A fire being 100% contained doesn't mean it has been extinguished, but rather that the flames have been fully encircled and the spread has been effectively stopped. |
| Maps and images reveal scale of LA wildfire devastation | |
| What we know about the victims | |
| What caused the fires? | What caused the fires? |
| Detectives continue to investigate the possible causes. | Detectives continue to investigate the possible causes. |
| Lightning - the most common source of fires in the US - has been ruled out as a cause for the Palisades and Eaton fires. | Lightning - the most common source of fires in the US - has been ruled out as a cause for the Palisades and Eaton fires. |
| There has been no official indication so far that arson or utility lines - the next two biggest culprits in sparking fires - caused any of the conflagrations. | There has been no official indication so far that arson or utility lines - the next two biggest culprits in sparking fires - caused any of the conflagrations. |
| However, in the case of the Eaton fire, legal cases have been filed against the electrical company, Southern California Edison Company (SCE), claiming there is evidence that the blaze - one of the largest - was ignited due to negligence of the firm's overhead wires. | However, in the case of the Eaton fire, legal cases have been filed against the electrical company, Southern California Edison Company (SCE), claiming there is evidence that the blaze - one of the largest - was ignited due to negligence of the firm's overhead wires. |
| SCE has vowed to "review the complaint when it is received", pointing out that "the cause of the fire continues to be under investigation". | SCE has vowed to "review the complaint when it is received", pointing out that "the cause of the fire continues to be under investigation". |
| A spokeswoman added that the company "remains committed" to supporting communities affected by the fires. | A spokeswoman added that the company "remains committed" to supporting communities affected by the fires. |
| On Friday, SCE said authorities were investigating whether its infrastructure was involved in the ignition of the separate Hurst fire. | On Friday, SCE said authorities were investigating whether its infrastructure was involved in the ignition of the separate Hurst fire. |
| 'I have nothing to go back to': BBC reporter loses home | |
| How one street went up in flames | How one street went up in flames |
| California's very wet years of 2022-23 brought about a huge growth of vegetation, which dried out in the drought of last year, creating abundant kindling. | California's very wet years of 2022-23 brought about a huge growth of vegetation, which dried out in the drought of last year, creating abundant kindling. |
| Conditions have been ripe for wildfires thanks to a combination of an exceptionally dry period - downtown LA has only received 0.16 inches (0.4cm) of rain since October - and powerful offshore gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. | Conditions have been ripe for wildfires thanks to a combination of an exceptionally dry period - downtown LA has only received 0.16 inches (0.4cm) of rain since October - and powerful offshore gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. |
| Was LA prepared for the fires? | Was LA prepared for the fires? |
| A political row about the city's preparedness has erupted after it emerged some fire crews' hoses ran dry. | A political row about the city's preparedness has erupted after it emerged some fire crews' hoses ran dry. |
| California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to hydrants and why the Santa Ynez Reservoir was closed for maintenance and empty when the fire broke out. | California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to hydrants and why the Santa Ynez Reservoir was closed for maintenance and empty when the fire broke out. |
| "Losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors," he wrote. | "Losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors," he wrote. |
| Fact-checking criticism of California Democrats over fires | Fact-checking criticism of California Democrats over fires |
| LA Mayor Karen Bass, who was on a previously arranged trip to Ghana when the fires began, has faced intense questions about the region's preparedness and the water issues. On Saturday, she deflected questions about her handling of the emergency. | LA Mayor Karen Bass, who was on a previously arranged trip to Ghana when the fires began, has faced intense questions about the region's preparedness and the water issues. On Saturday, she deflected questions about her handling of the emergency. |
| Before the fires broke out, the city of LA's fire chief warned in a memo that budget cuts were hampering the department's ability to respond to emergencies. But another official, the LA County fire chief, denied his department had been unprepared. | Before the fires broke out, the city of LA's fire chief warned in a memo that budget cuts were hampering the department's ability to respond to emergencies. But another official, the LA County fire chief, denied his department had been unprepared. |
| Watch: Before and after footage reveals scale of damage after LA wildfires | |
| What role has climate change played? | What role has climate change played? |
| Although strong winds and lack of rain are driving the blazes, experts say climate change is altering the background conditions and increasing the likelihood of such fires. | Although strong winds and lack of rain are driving the blazes, experts say climate change is altering the background conditions and increasing the likelihood of such fires. |
| Much of the western United States including California experienced a decades-long drought that ended just two years ago, making the region vulnerable. | Much of the western United States including California experienced a decades-long drought that ended just two years ago, making the region vulnerable. |
| "Whiplash" swings between dry and wet periods in recent years created a massive amount of tinder-dry vegetation that was ready to burn. | "Whiplash" swings between dry and wet periods in recent years created a massive amount of tinder-dry vegetation that was ready to burn. |
| Climate 'whiplash' linked to raging LA fires | |
| US government research is unequivocal in linking climate change to larger and more severe wildfires in the western US. | US government research is unequivocal in linking climate change to larger and more severe wildfires in the western US. |
| "Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. | "Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. |
| Fire season in southern California is generally thought to stretch from May to October - but the Governor Newsom has pointed out earlier that blazes are now a perennial issue. "There's no fire season," he said. "It's fire year." | Fire season in southern California is generally thought to stretch from May to October - but the Governor Newsom has pointed out earlier that blazes are now a perennial issue. "There's no fire season," he said. "It's fire year." |
| A simple guide to climate change | A simple guide to climate change |
| Why LA is so hard to evacuate | |
| How long will the fires last? | How long will the fires last? |
| No one can say when the Los Angeles fires will finally go out. The city is bracing for continued burning and a possible spread amid the latest wind warnings. | No one can say when the Los Angeles fires will finally go out. The city is bracing for continued burning and a possible spread amid the latest wind warnings. |
| The Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames are set to strengthen, with strong gusts on Tuesday before the severity is expected to drop. There are now new red flag warnings for dangerous wind storms. | The Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames are set to strengthen, with strong gusts on Tuesday before the severity is expected to drop. There are now new red flag warnings for dangerous wind storms. |
| The other conditions that fed the fire - dry brush and lack of precipitation - continue as well. | The other conditions that fed the fire - dry brush and lack of precipitation - continue as well. |
| Have you been affected by the fires in California? Get in touch here. | Have you been affected by the fires in California? Get in touch here. |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Have you been affected by the fires in California? | Have you been affected by the fires in California? |
| Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. | Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. |