Palisades Fire

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Reality TV Couple Sues LA Over Palisades Fire

Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag join others in blaming city after homes burn down

(Newser) - Reality TV couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are suing the city of Los Angeles after losing their Pacific Palisades home in the wildfires that have torn through Southern California in recent weeks, the AP reports. The couple, who rose to stardom on The Hills, a spin-off of Laguna Beach,...

Their Homes Are Gone, but Now They Have a Keepsake

Artists' offers to sketch, paint burned homes 'means the world' to those left with nothing

(Newser) - Homes burned to the ground in Los Angeles County are getting new life—with a paintbrush. Watercolor artist Jordan Heber typically charges $350 to $400 for painting commissions , mostly of beloved homes. After whole neighborhoods burned in California, she created a TikTok video showcasing her work and offering to paint...

Conan's Home Survives Fire, but Not Assistant Sona's

'I'm letting you go. Is this a bad time?' he asks

(Newser) - Conan O'Brien devotes the entirety of the latest episode of his popular Conan Needs a Friend podcast to the Los Angeles wildfires. As it turns out, his Pacific Palisades home was spared—barely—but the home of co-host and longtime assistant Sona Movsesian in Altadena was not as fortunate,...

Cops: Couple With Fire Truck Impersonated Firefighters in LA

One of them served time for arson in Oregon

(Newser) - Two people who showed up in a Palisades fire evacuation zone over the weekend in a fire truck claimed to be volunteer firefighters from the Roaring River Fire Department in Oregon —and they were arrested after authorities determined that the department doesn't exist. Police say Dustin Nehl, 31,...

Tennis Legend's Trophies Stolen During Fire Evacuation

Pam Shriver had packed them in a car while fleeing from the Pacific Palisades fire

(Newser) - Hall of Fame tennis player Pam Shriver wanted to save some of her most precious trophies from the California wildfires, but she ended up losing them in another way. ESPN reports that when Shriver, 62, awoke Thursday at the hotel where she had fled to escape the Palisades fire, she...

Menendez Brothers' Key Hearing Gets Pushed

Los Angeles-area wildfires cause delay

(Newser) - A new sentencing hearing for brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez in the killing of their parents has been delayed for nearly two months because of Southern California's wildfires. Recently elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement Friday that the hearing planned for Jan. 30...

Wildfires May Have Contaminated LA's Water

'Chemicals can't be killed. You have to physically remove them from the water'

(Newser) - Fire crews are making progress against the Los Angeles-area wildfires, but residents are facing fresh challenges including potentially contaminated drinking water. Utilities have issued "Do Not Use" or "Do Not Drink" notices in areas affected by the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, and experts say it could...

Fire Prevention Efforts Paid Off at Getty Museum

'We're holding up well, but it's been totally wild'

(Newser) - They take fire prevention extremely seriously at the J. Paul Getty Museum's two campuses in Los Angeles, and those efforts paid off last week when the Palisades fire came within 6 feet of the Getty Villa's eastern wall. The museum—and its 40,000 antiquities—remained intact, though...

After the 'Unimaginable,' Hollywood Steps Up to Help

Halle Berry donates 'entire closet' to wildfire victims; Sharon Stone, other celebs also boosting efforts

(Newser) - As firefighters desperately work to contain the Palisades Fire and other blazes breaking out in Southern California, locals are trying to help, too —even stars like Halle Berry, who decided she was going to donate all the clothes she owns to help, reports USA Today . "I'm packing...

Police Say LA Looters Are Impersonating Firefighters

'We have people who will go to all ends to do what they do,' LAPD chief says

(Newser) - What's lower than looting homes evacuated amid the Los Angeles wildfires? How about looting homes while dressed as a firefighter? Police say at least one of the dozens of looting suspects arrested over the weekend was in disguise. "We are turning him over to LAPD because he was...

Dad-Daughter Duo Tell Neighbors if Houses Survived

Vanessa and Aluizio Prata stayed behind, do drive-bys to let neighbors know if they still have a home

(Newser) - As the fire roared toward their Altadena home, Vanessa Prata and her parents hurried to pack their car. But they didn't leave, reports the AP . Instead, the Pratas remained in their family home of 27 years, which is somehow still standing even as homes just over a block away...

Heidi Montag's Old Song Is No. 1 Again After Fire

Reality star's 'Superficial' shoots to No. 1 on iTunes after blaze destroys couple's LA-area home

(Newser) - Reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have a small bit of consolation after the California wildfires. Variety reports that on Friday, Pratt, 41, posted a bunch of photos on TikTok showing him in front of their scorched, destroyed home, along with a plea for fans to stream Montag'...

Weather Service Issues Highest Alert Level in LA Area

Strong winds expected to return Monday night

(Newser) - Firefighters have been making progress against the deadly wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area—but that progress is being threatened by dangerous winds that have caused the National Weather Service to issue its most severe fire warning . The NWS says another round of Santa Ana winds will cause a...

Screenwriter's LA Lament: We Could Use a Hero
Screenwriter's LA Lament:
We Could Use a Hero
OPINION
Jan 13, 2025 11:21 AM CST

Screenwriter's LA Lament: We Could Use a Hero

Amy Chozick says leadership is sorely lacking amid the wildfires

(Newser) - Writer Amy Chozick, who had to flee the California wildfires with her family, voices a complaint about the experience in a New York Times essay:
  • "People keep saying the scenes out of Los Angeles look like something from a movie. Except they don't, not really. Movies need a
...

After Trump Jr. Tweet, Zelensky Pledges Help to LA

Ukrainian president offers his nation's firefighters to fight California's deadly wildfires

(Newser) - Last week, Donald Trump Jr. weighed in on the Los Angeles-area wildfires thusly: "Oh look of course The LA fire department donated a bunch of their supplies to Ukraine," the eldest son of the president-elect posted Wednesday on X , retweeting a few 2022 headlines noting that the LA...

To Rebuild Fast, Newsom Halts Environmental Rules

California's stringent regulations have been suspended for the time being after fires

(Newser) - With massive rebuilding needed in the Los Angeles area after a series of devastating wildfires, including the deadly Palisades Fire , Gov. Gavin Newsom has already made a big move to expedite that process. The New York Times reports that Newsom has given his OK to a "broad" executive order...

Pro vs. Private Firefighters: 'We Consider Them a Liability'

Private firefighters inspire controversy as they protect the rich, insurance firms, government agencies

(Newser) - As the Palisades Fire raged last week, wealthy local entrepreneur Keith Wasserman put out a tweet he's come to regret. "Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home?" he posted in the since-deleted tweet. "Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will...

Palisades Fire May Have Started at Site of New Year's Blaze

Fireworks are believed to have started first fire, which was extinguished quickly

(Newser) - Not long after midnight on the first day of the new year, firefighters were called to a fire in the Santa Monica Mountains near the southern California community of Pacific Palisades. Believed to have been sparked by New Year's Eve fireworks, it spread slowly amid relatively light 15mph winds,...

California Braces for a 'Lot More' Deaths

Firefighters make progress before high winds return

(Newser) - Crews worked to contain wildfires still out of control in the Los Angeles area on Sunday before the winds pick back up this week. A red flag warning that was issued Saturday evening was extended till Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Times reports, as was a fire watch warning. The...

Trump Blames 'Incompetent Pols' Over Wildfires

Firefighters trying to keep the biggest fire from jumping the 405

(Newser) - With four major wildfires still burning in the Los Angeles area, President-elect Trump amplified his criticism early Sunday:
  • "The fires are still raging in L.A.," he wrote on Truth Social . "The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. ... This is one of the
...

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