Estimated 24.6 million TV viewers watched inauguration coverage, smallest audience since 2013
Mother on trial in West Virginia denies locking adopted teens in shed
Extreme cold and snow across the South isn't a threat to most native plants and animals, experts say
Star-filled Louis Vuitton show unveils East-meets-West streetwear in collaboration with Kenzo
Trump order leaves Cuba prisoner deal in limbo
Ichiro Suzuki headlines 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class, receiving 99.7% of the vote
The facts about Trump's Stargate AI announcement
Trump says he is open to Musk buying TikTok if Tesla CEO wants to do so
Chicago Bears hire offensive guru Ben Johnson as head coach
Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
More Santa Ana winds blew into Southern California, again raising wildfire danger even as crews continued their efforts Tuesday to fully contain a pair of massive blazes that erupted amid erratic winds earlier this month, killing more than two dozen people and destroying more than 15,000 structures.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order Tuesday to expedite fire debris removal and install reinforcement barriers and sandbags with rain in the forecast for burn areas.
Forecasters took the rare step of issuing a "particularly dangerous situation warning" for a large portion of L.A. and Ventura counties Sunday afternoon due to damaging Santa Ana winds and very low humidity.
That warning will be in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday for the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley including Calabasas and Agoura Hills, Malibu coast, western Santa Monica Mountains recreation area, the Interstate 5 corridor, San Gabriel Valley and north of the 210 Freeway including Altadena and Glendora.
Additionally, L.A. County will be under a standard red flag warning for extreme fire danger through 10 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters say a "moderate to strong" Santa Ana wind event was expected, with isolated gusts of 80 to 100 mph expected in most wind-prone mountain locations, such as the San Gabriel, western Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS forecasters said winds topping 60 mph were already detected in the San Gabriel Mountains Monday morning.
"In additional to the traditional areas of Santa Ana winds, the strong and gusty winds and dry air mass are expected to spread to the Palos Verdes Hills and off the coast to the Channel Islands and Catalina Island as well," according to the NWS. "... There will be a significant break in the winds Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday, however humidities will remain critically low, under 10% with poor overnight recoveries and there will still be locally gusty winds up to 45 mph, especially in the mountains and below passes and canyons. The next widespread increase in Santa Ana winds is expected to be Wednesday night into Thursday."
Officials urged residents to review their evacuation plans and make sure emergency kits are stocked with needed items should they have to evacuate.
Red-flag parking restrictions went into effect at 8 a.m. Monday and will remain in effect until further notice, aimed at keeping streets clear in high fire danger areas to accommodate people trying to evacuate and fire crews trying to respond to blazes.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health issued a Windblown Dust and Ash Advisory through 10 p.m. Tuesday, with strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region. Officials advised residents to stay indoors, and to wear protective masks and eye-wear upon stepping out.
Containment of the 14,021-acre Eaton Fire grew to 89% Tuesday, aided by water-dropping helicopters, continued extinguishing hot spots in steep, inaccessible canyons near Winters Creek, Mt. Lowe and Mt. Wilson before a new wind event moves into the region.
The 23,713-acre Palisades Fire was 63% contained.
Evacuation orders were lifted for dozens of areas in both fires this weekend, though some homes were still without electricity and/or gas service due to safety shutoffs.
A curfew remains in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers were open at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., and Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., to assist homeowners with applying for aid.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will "probably" travel to California this week to view the devastating wildfires in L.A. County.
Trump referenced the fires during his inauguration speech on Monday.
"From weeks ago, without even a token of defense, they're raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don't have a home any longer. That's interesting.
"We can't let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That's going to change," he said, without elaborating.
The causes of the Eaton and Palisades fires remain under investigation. They erupted on Jan. 7 as the area was under a red flag warning for critical fire danger due to a historic wind event that saw gusts of 80 mph.
Together, the fires have killed at least 27 people and destroyed at least 14,362 structures. As of Sunday, more than 8,300 firefighting personnel were engaged in the efforts to fight the blazes.
Emergencies have been declared in the county and the state, and then- President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state. By the time all the damage in assessed, the fires are expected to constitute the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Due to red flag warnings in place, several public places were closed until Tuesday, including Griffith Park, the L.A. Zoo and the Autry Museum of the American West, inside the Park.
