LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The death toll from the Los Angeles County wildfires has grown to 24 as firefighters continued battling the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires Sunday and braced for more gusty Santa Ana winds expected this week.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office said Sunday evening eight of the 24 confirmed dead were attributed to the Palisades Fire, the other 16 from the Eaton Fire.
At a briefing Sunday morning, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said three additional victims were found Saturday in the rubble of the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, bringing the death toll from that blaze to 11.
"Yesterday we started a search and rescue operation out in the Eaton area, where in the first day of this operation, grid searching, we searched approximately 364 properties in the Altadena area, and unfortunately during that search we did locate three deceased," Luna said. "As these searches continue, I unfortunately anticipate that those numbers will increase. We will start a similar operation in the northern side of the county here very soon."
Luna said the sheriff's department has received 16 reports of missing persons, 12 in the Eaton Fire area and four in the Palisades area.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that he had signed an executive order to suspend permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act to allow fire victims to restore their homes and businesses faster.
Among other things, the order directs state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements, including provisions of the Building Code, that can safely be suspended or streamlined to accelerate rebuilding and make it more affordable. It also extends protections against price gouging on building materials, storage services, construction and other essential goods and services to Jan. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles County.
As of Sunday morning, the Palisades Fire had burned 23,707 acres and was still just 11% contained, with 4,720 firefighting personnel assigned.
The Eaton Fire was 27% contained at 14,117 acres.
The news was better for the Hurst Fire in Sylmar, which was 89% contained at 799 acres, with 300 firefighters assigned.
Luna added that the sheriff's department has increased staffing to 1,200 personnel, with many working 12-hour shifts, supplemented by hundreds of National Guard members.
Approximately 105,000 people remained under evacuation orders in all the fire areas, with about 87,000 under evacuation warnings. Officials said the fire areas remains extremely unsafe, with downed power lines, unstable buildings and pockets of fire.
The county has implemented a curfew that continues to be in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones. Only firefighters, utility workers and law enforcement personnel are allowed in those areas.
Luna reported approximately 29 arrests so far, 25 in the Eaton Fire area and four in the Palisades Fire area, including one man in Malibu who was arrested for allegedly dressing as a firefighter in an attempt to burglarize a home.
Officials said 16% of damage inspections have been completed, and they were working on a process to allow affected residents to go online to view information about their homes.
Authorities were warning residents near the fire areas that air quality continues to be highly unhealthy. People were urged to suspend the use of leaf blowers, to stay inside with doors and windows closed as much as possible, and to wear masks if they do go outside.
An extended period of critical fire weather conditions was expected to affect the Southland through midweek, and firefighters were dealing with some strong winds Sunday. High wind warnings were in place until 2 p.m. for the San Gabriel Mountains and western Santa Monica Mountains, with gusts of 60 mph or more. A wind advisory was also in effect Sunday in the Santa Clarita and western valleys of LA County, and the eastern Santa Monica Mountains to the Malibu coast, where wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph were expected.
Winds were expected to weaken into Sunday afternoon, but a stronger offshore wind event will likely develop between Monday night and Wednesday, with gusts up to 60 mph.
"It goes without saying that these winds combined with the very low humidities and tinder dry fuels will lead to Red Flag Fire conditions," according to the National Weather Service.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the LAFD would have "every firefighter on hand and available for the upcoming wind event."
Emergencies have been declared in the county and the state, and President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state. Both Newsom and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger have invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the area and assess the damage.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that "there has been no lack of communication between Los Angeles" and the incoming Trump administration. She said she had spoken with members of Trump's team and would have more to say in the coming days.
FEMA has deployed officials at seven county libraries near the impacted areas to assist residents through fire damages. They will be available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the following locations:
-- La Canada Flintridge Library
-- La Crescenta Library
-- Live Oak Library
-- San Fernando Library
-- San Gabriel Library
-- Temple City Library
-- West Hollywood Library
By the time all the damage in assessed, the fires are expected to constitute one of the costliest wildfire disasters in U.S. history.
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