January 17, 2025

Firefighters progressed due to a temporary easing of winds, but officials caution that hazardous conditions could return. Although the hazardous fire weather conditions that have stoked Los Angeles’s devastating fires have subsided, forecasters caution that another round of Santa Ana Winds is expected early next week. The death toll has risen to 27, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said on Thursday evening. Authorities warn that the number could climb further as search and rescue efforts continue. According to local media reports, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received more than 150 tips on what may have started the Palisades Fire. Here is what we know: What’s the latest on the ground? Death toll and missing people Active fires No growth has been reported over the last 72 hours. The city of Pasadena has declared a local public health emergency in response to the ongoing effect of the Eaton Fire. “Ash and debris pose a significant potential current and future risk to health, safety, and the environment,” the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) said in a press release. “PPHD is declaring a local health emergency to ensure residents take appropriate measures to protect themselves from toxic ash and debris.” According to Cal Fire, more than 5,000 firefighters are fighting the fires, including reinforcements from Israel who arrived on Thursday and crews from Canada and Mexico. Recently contained fires What’s expected on Friday? The Los Angeles area is experiencing improved weather conditions, which are aiding firefighting efforts against the ongoing wildfires. The National Weather Service has indicated that the strong Santa Ana winds, which have significantly contributed to the fires’ rapid spread, are expected to subside by the weekend. This shift is anticipated to bring increased moisture from the Pacific Ocean, creating more favourable conditions for containment. Firefighters are using this window of calmer weather to strengthen containment lines around major fires. However, authorities caution that while progress is being made, the situation remains dynamic, and residents should stay alert for any changes. Looking ahead, meteorologists warn of the potential return of strong winds early next week, which could exacerbate fire conditions. “There’s definitely a high likelihood of critical fire conditions developing sometime next week,” Rich Thompson, an incident meteorologist for the Palisades Fire, said at a news conference on Wednesday evening. Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx #PalisadesFire #EatonFire pic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 15, 2025 What do we know about the investigation of what started the fires? Utility equipment under scrutiny Southern California Edison (SCE), Los Angeles’s electrical utility, is under investigation for its potential role in igniting the Eaton Fire. At least four lawsuits have been filed alleging that SCE’s equipment may have sparked the blaze. Among the petitioners is Jeremy Gursey, whose home in Altadena, according to CNN, was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. He filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, saying SCE was responsible. Gursey referenced photographs taken by Altadena residents Jennifer Errico and Marcus Errico as evidence. They captured images of a small fire beneath transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. However, Marcus Errico said he wasn’t sure if SCE was responsible for the blaze. “I saw a glow in the hillside right above our house,” Errico told CNN. “And as I got closer, I could see right across from us on the hillside in Eaton Canyon, there are a series of transformer towers with power lines stretching up into the mountains. And at the base of one, there was just a small ring of flames around the whole base,” he added. The company has defended its decision to keep transmission lines operational, stating that wind speeds were just below the threshold required for shutdown. However, safety auditors have raised concerns about SCE’s fire risk modelling, suggesting that their assessments may not adequately account for severe wind events. A fire on New Year’s Day Some Pacific Palisades residents have expressed concerns that the devastating Palisades Fire may be linked to a smaller blaze that occurred on New Year’s Day, potentially ignited by fireworks, in the same area. According to authorities, the earlier fire broke out six days prior in the same vicinity and was reported to have been contained within hours by local firefighters. The close timing and location of the two fires have raised questions about whether strong winds could have rekindled smouldering debris from New Year’s Eve fireworks, possibly triggering the Palisades Fire. However, earlier this week, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents. “We do not have any information suggesting there’s a connection, but that’s the benefit of bringing in outside resources to examine every detail,” she added. According to Cal Fire officials, about 95 percent of wildfires in California are caused by human activity, whether through intentional arson, downed power lines, or accidents such as back yard barbecues or fireworks celebrations gone wrong. Formation of investigative task force In response to the complex nature of these investigations, the leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined to create a Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force. This multi-agency team will investigate the origins of the fires, while also handling case leads, developing and sharing crime intelligence, and supporting the efficient prosecution of crimes linked to the Los Angeles County wildfires. The task force will focus on four key areas: looting, burglary, and impersonation offences; arson-related crimes; illegal drone activity; and financial fraud aimed at disaster victims and individuals seeking to make charitable donations. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/la-wildfires-day-11-what-is-the-latest-and-what-do-investigations-show

Another security personnel succumbed to his injuries from yesterday’s (Thursday) deadly attack on an aid convoy in Kurram, bringing the death toll in this latest incident of terrorist violence to two, officials confirmed on Friday. According to police, the attack — on the convoy transporting essential supplies to the crisis-hit district — also claimed the lives of three drivers, while five drivers remain missing, and five personnel sustained injuries. Trader representatives said that after the attack, the trucks were looted and set ablaze. It is worth noting that one personnel had been martyred during the attack yesterday, while retaliatory action by security forces resulted in the killing of six assailants. Kurram Additional Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ali said that the attack damaged three vehicles in the convoy. In the first phase of the third convoy’s journey, 35 goods-laden vehicles, carrying medicines, vegetables, fruits, and other essential supplies, had been dispatched, A substantial security detail, including police, Frontier Corps (FC), and other security forces, had been deployed for protection. Following the terrorism incident, the convoy transporting goods to Kurram was halted and sent back for safety. It was a major setback to the peace agreement that finally allowed aid to be sent to the restive region which remained in the spotlight for months following a wave of tribal violence that claimed over 130 lives and resulted in the closure of routes for over 100 days. So far, only two consignments of aid for Kurram could be dispatched during the last two weeks, with the latest one to reach the tribal region on January 14. The residents complain that the aid that had been delivered goods were “not good enough”, while the helicopter service for patient transfers from Kurram also remains suspended for the past 10 days. Despite a peace deal reached between the warring tribes under the negotiations facilitated by the Grand Jirga, the Kurram Peace Committee, and local peace groups, the situation remains precarious in the district. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1273176-death-toll-of-security-personnel-in-kurram-convoy-attack-rises-to-two

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/17/live-no-pause-in-israeli-attacks-on-gaza-ahead-of-ceasefire-on-sunday