LA wildfires: What’s the latest update and how did they start?

Transcript

00:00At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles fire

00:03as two major blazes continue to burn across the city.

00:06The L.A. County Coroner's Office said eight of the deaths

00:09were attributed to the Palisades fire

00:11and 16 from the Eaton fire.

00:13At least 16 people were missing

00:15and authorities said that number was expected to rise.

00:18Strong winds are forecasted in the coming days,

00:20which threaten to push flames

00:21towards the city's major cultural landmarks.

00:24Fire threat warnings remain very high

00:26until 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

00:28And according to experts,

00:30Tuesday will be the most dangerous day.

00:32The cause of the fires is not yet known

00:34and an investigation is underway.

00:36Lightning, the most common source of fires in the U.S.,

00:39has been ruled out as a cause

00:40for the Palisades and Eaton fires.

00:42Arson or utility lines, the next most common causes,

00:45have also been ruled out.

00:47California experienced a lot of rain in 2022 and 2023,

00:51meaning a huge amount of vegetation grew.

00:53This then dried out in the drought of last year,

00:56creating the perfect kindling.

00:58This, plus powerful offshore winds,

01:00created ripe conditions for wildfires.

01:02Donald Trump has heavily criticized

01:04Californian politicians' handling of the fires,

01:06calling them incompetent.

01:08Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom

01:10responded by inviting the president-elect

01:12to witness the damage in person,

01:13but said he's received no response from Trump so far.

01:16L.A. County remains under a health emergency

01:19and smoke advisory.

01:20People are being directed to stay inside

01:22in order to avoid air pollution.

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