LA fires latest updates: At least 16 killed by California fires, five in the Palisades, as crews make progress containing one blaze

Summary

One of four fires burning through Los Angeles, the Kenneth Fire, is now 100% contained, according to California's fire department (Cal Fire)
Three other wildfires are currently burning in parts of Los Angeles - Palisades, Eaton and Hurst Fires - as firefighters are bracing for another round of strong Santa Ana winds
At least 16 people have been killed so far - 11 attributed to the Eaton Fire and five to the Palisades, while 13 others remain missing
Donald Trump has called politicians in California "incompetent" over their handling of the fires - but officials say the president-elect has yet to accept multiple invitations to visit fire-hit areas
People displaced by the fires seeking a place to stay are finding hotel room prices higher than advertised - as police say two people posing as firefighters have been arrested for looting
'Everything is gone': Residents on a tight-knit Altadena street have had their worlds upended, and say they now barely recognise the area

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey and Emily McGarvey

At least 35,000 still without power in Los Angelespublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
About 35,000 homes and businesses have no electricity in Los Angeles, according to a site that tracks blackouts.
The latest estimates from Poweroutage.us shows that about 17,500 customers of electricity provider Southern California Edison are without power.
In addition, about 17,700 customers of Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and about 100 customers with Pasadena Water and Power have no electricity.
In an update a few hours ago, the LA Department of Water & Power says since the fires started on Tuesday, its teams have restored power to more than 350,000 customers, with more than 100 crews prioritising repairs on downed wires.
'Everything is gone': Agony on a tight-knit LA street razed by infernopublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time
Max Matza & Christal Hayes
Reporting from Altadena, Caifornia
It all started on Tuesday night. The Santa Ana winds had been fierce much of the day.
Professional chef Daron Anderson was in his front yard just after 18:00 local time trying to secure items from flying away.
Across the street at 296 West Las Flores Drive, Rachel Gillespie was taking down Christmas decorations, concerned about her plastic icicles and patio furniture.
They exchanged worried glances. "This doesn't look good, does it?" she remarked.
Residents on this tight-knit Altadena street, where neighbours have watched each other start families and the children who once played in the streets grow up, have had their worlds upended, and say they now barely recognise the area.
"God, everything is gone," says Daron, his voice cracking.
But some things remain amidst the ruins. A scorched lemon tree sits in the lawn, some fruit still warm to the touch.
"If I can get a seed, we can replant one," he says, grabbing a handful.
"It's like a way you can start over."
- You can read our full story about Daron and his neighbours who lived on an Altadena street
Winds expected to surge in LApublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
Winds are picking up again around Los Angeles into early Sunday.
Santa Ana winds with north or north-easterly wind gusts up to 60-70mph (96-112kph) are expected over the high ground. Around the more prone coastal and valley areas, there will be gusts of 35-55mph (56-88kph).
By Sunday afternoon, an onshore wind - a switch in direction - will develop around coastal areas.
Another round of strong Santa Ana winds is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While there is still a bit of uncertainty in the detail, there is concern that wind speeds could be higher than the last few days and possibly as strong as the initial Santa Ana wind event last Tuesday when the Palisades fire first started.
Beyond that, a significant break of the strong winds could be likely from Wednesday but long-range forecasts are hinting at yet another Santa Ana wind event by next weekend.
Fire authorities warn against flying unauthorised dronespublished at 07:21 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
A Super Scooper drops ocean water on a hillside
US media reports that privately-owned civilian drones are being flown in areas impacted by the fires and causing disruption to aircraft battling the flames.
More than 30 drones flying within the temporary flight restriction area of the Palisades fire have been detected over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Sheila Kelliher.
Officials note that it is illegal to fly drones in areas where there is a temporary flight restriction in place.
A large Super Scooper aircraft named Quebec 1 on loan from Canada was damaged and grounded last week after hitting an unauthorised drone near the Palisades fire. The aircraft sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service. There were no reported injuries.
If drones are detected near firefighting aircraft, it means operations have to be suspended, Kelliher says. "This disruption compromises structure defence and critical life saving efforts", she says.
"Please remember, when you fly we can’t, it truly puts us all in danger," she says.
Evacuation order extends to Brentwoodpublished at 07:05 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
Late on Saturday local time, authorities issued new evacuation orders for eastern communities threatened by the Palisades fire.
The latest orders include parts of the Brentwood area, a quintessential upscale LA neighbourhood with tree-lined streets and Italian eateries.
It's also home to the world-famous Getty Center art museum, which has now been evacuated.
Pink fire retardant blankets LA as crews try to halt inferno's spreadpublished at 06:49 Greenwich Mean Time
Crews have been dropping fire retardant over the Palisades Fire in an effort to stop its spread. The chemical is coloured bright pink to help crews see where it has been dropped.
It is made of salts - normally fertilizers - which slow the spread of a fire by changing the way it burns.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
In preparation for desert winds that are forecast to pick up today, aerial crews have been bombarding the Palisades fire with fire retardant to hold it back
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Retardant speckles flowers and coats a vehicle on a residential street
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
The foamy substance was dropped over leafy areas, homes and backyards in a bid to halt the spread of the flames
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
Retardant covers the foliage where exhausted firefighters took a break
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The bright pink colouring helps crews see where they've dropped the substance
One third of eastern Malibu is 'gone', mayor sayspublished at 06:12 Greenwich Mean Time
Malibu has lost one-third of the eastern edge of the city, Mayor Doug Stewart says.
Addressing a community meeting on Saturday evening local time, Stewart says that Malibu has faced three fires in three months, but the Palisades blaze has been the most destructive.
He says the "beautiful homes" along the Pacific Coast Highway are gone, and so too is the Big Rock community.
"We have a tremendous rebuilding ahead of us but we are not out of the fire-fight front yet," Stewart says, explaining that forecast gusty desert winds would complicate the efforts of crews tackling the blaze on Sunday.
Which fires are burning right now?published at 05:55 Greenwich Mean Time
Authorities in Los Angeles are currently managing four main blazes around the city.
The largest is the Palisades fire, which is 11% contained and covers 23,654 acres, according to Cal Fire, external. This fire is threatening the affluent enclave of Brentwood, home to the Getty art museum, as well as parts of Encino and Mandeville Canyon.
The second largest is the Eaton fire in the north of the city around Pasadena, covering 14,118 acres of which 15% is contained.
The Kenneth fire is 1,052 acres and 90% contained, while the Hurst fire is 799 acres and 76% contained.
'Critical' fire weather conditions expected in coming dayspublished at 05:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, EPA
Firefighters and aircraft have been attacking the fires around LA with a real sense of urgency, because winds across the region are already picking up and meant to strengthen in the coming days.
Officials say strong desert winds, known as Santa Anas, will strengthen on Sunday and into the first half of the week.
LA County fire chief Anthony Marrone said those winds will create "elevated critical fire weather conditions" until Wednesday.
That's heightened fears the blazes could spread into densely populated communities as they did last week.
Death toll rises to 16published at 05:36 Greenwich Mean Time
A few hours ago the LA Medical Examiner's Office released an update on the number of fire-related fatalities it is investigating.
So far there are 11 deaths linked to the Eaton fire, and five to the Palisades fire, bringing the death toll to at least 16. Officials say that number is likely to rise.
You can read what we know about some of the victims here.
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Winds pick up again as death toll risespublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
We're resuming our live coverage of the fires in Los Angeles as crews scramble to contain several blazes around the city.
The death toll from the fires rose to 16, the LA medical examiner said. Eleven were killed in the Eaton fire near Pasadena and five in the Palisades fire.
Water bombing aircraft have been working throughout the night trying to bring the infernos under control, ahead of an expected return of strong winds that brought wide-spread destruction last week.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest.