LA wildfires latest: New blaze breaks out in California as 'devil' winds set to return and fan flames (2025)

We're pausing our coverage of the wildfires in Los Angeles, where it's just gone midnight - but we'll be back with more live updates later.

Before we go, here are the key things you need to know:

• At least 24 people have died in the fires, with a further 23 missing;
• "Severe" fire weather will continue through the week, threatening to worsen the situation;
• Arson investigators have been spotted in the area of the Palisades fire - the biggest blaze;
• A small new fire has broken out in Ventura County.

There are questions over whether authorities were prepared for the infernos, with our US correspondent Martha Kelner taking a look:

There are still four major fires burning:

• Palisades fire- 23,713 acres burned, 14% contained
• Eaton fire- 14,117 acres burned, 33% contained
• Hurst fire- 799 acres burned, 97% contained
• Auto fire- 5 acres, 0% contained

And if you want to read stories written by our correspondents in Los Angeles you can do so here:

Two lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison, alleging the utility failed to de-energise its power equipment and clear brush where a blaze sparked near Pasadena.

The complaints were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of people whose homes and personal property were destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

They come as investigators are continuing to determine the cause and origin of the multiple fires that began almost a week ago.

Despite no official cause, the suits contend there is evidence pointing to Southern California Edison's inaction.

The utility, however, has told state public utilities regulators that fire officials have not suggested its electric facilities played a part in the fire's ignition.

Last Tuesday,when the fires first started, the White House made federal disaster assistance available to the state of California to aid recovery efforts. The disaster has also prompted an outpouring of donations from around the world.

As thefires rage onand as Los Angeles looks ahead toward an eventual recovery,here are ways you can most effectively help the city's recovery efforts, with a list of charities that have been vetted by our partners over at NBC News.

Twelve sports teams that call Southern California home announced today that they are donating a combined more than $8m (£6.5m) to support victims of the wildfires and those fighting the blazes.

The American Red Cross and relief funds for the fires are among those set to receive the donations.

Fanatics, a clothing company, and the Fanatics Foundation will also donate $3m (£2.4m) worth of merchandise to those who have had to evacuate, the teams announced.

Arson investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were in the area of the Palisades fire yesterday, according to our partner network NBC News.

The investigators were seen walking and driving around a neighbourhood in the Pacific Palisades. The ATF earlier said that it has deployed its National Response Team to investigate the causes.

“The NRT brings a wealth of experience and expertise to these types of investigations,” Brice McCracken, the ATF special agent in charge of the National Centre for Explosives Training and Research, said in a statement.

“The NRT is committed to working closely with our partners to determine the origin and cause of the Pacific Palisades Fire,” he added.

The cause of the fire, which destroyed entire neighbourhoods and an estimated thousands of homes and other structures, has not been determined.

A warning has been issued that the wildfires may "take off" again due to renewed high winds.

Watch Sky's US correspondent Martha Kelner takes us through why as she brings us the latest from LA...

A short time ago, we reported on a new blaze starting in Ventura County, called the Auto fire.

As we said in our morning summary, the blaze is only five acres in size - much smaller than the other three fires (Palisades fire- 23,713 acres,Eaton fire- 14,117 acres,Hurst fire- 799 acres).

CAL Fire says the fire has been contained to the dry river bed, and the local population is safe.

The local sheriff watch commander was keen to stress that there were no mandatory evacuations for surrounding areas, after some local reports suggesting there had been.

She said there could have been confusion after teams on the ground used megaphones to get some of the transient population out of the river bed.

Welcome back to our coverage of the wildfires in Los Angeles.

At least 24 people have been killed in the blazes so far, with "severe fire weather" set to continue.

Pasadena fire chief Chad Austin warned the fires may "take off" again this week due to the renewed high winds.

The Santa Ana winds that have fuelled the fires are expected to persist over the next three days.

The number of deaths is expected to rise with at least 23 people still unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the cause of the fires but have not come to any conclusions yet.

Arson has not been ruled out in any of the blazes.

Some 34 people have been arrested on suspicion of crimes like burglary or curfew violations.

There are still four major fires burning, including one that broke out just this morning UK time (late night in Los Angeles):

• Palisades fire- 23,713 acres burned, 14% contained
• Eaton fire- 14,117 acres burned, 33% contained
• Hurst fire- 799 acres burned, 97% contained
• Auto fire - 5 acres, 0% contained

LA water company sued

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has been sued over claims it failed to properly manage water supplies critical to help fight the deadly Palisades fire.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the blaze, says LADWP should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir which was dry when the fire erupted last Thursday.

Last week Los Angeles governor Gavin Newsom called for an investigation into LADWP's handling of water resources.

Cost of rebuilding enormous

The cost of rebuilding after the wildfires is already estimated to be in the billions, according to real estate data tracker CoreLogic.

The firm said the reconstruction cost value of commercial and residential properties inside areas where there are active fires could be $14.8bn (£12bn).

Their estimate is based on more than 16,500 properties that could have been damaged in the Palisades and Eaton fires.

By Victoria Seabrook, climate reporter

Scorching, deadly fires that tore through Los Angeles apace last week were whipped up by furious winds that had barrelled in from the desert.

The blazes are still raging. And this week the so-called Santa Ana or "Devil" winds are back. This is what it could mean.

What are the Santa Ana winds?

Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow in from the northeast.

They pick up speed as they hit the mountains around LA, and send humidity levels plunging, further upping the fire risk.

Although investigators are still confirming the spark of each fire, these winds have largely been blamed for last week turning the wildfires into infernos that razed entire neighbourhoods to the ground.

Adding fuel to the fire has been the impacts of climate change, which is making the weather hotter and drier, creating tinderbox conditions that allow fires to balloon.

Los Angeles has had no significant rainfall in over eight months, even during what is now supposed to be the wetter season.

You can read the full explainer in the link below...