LA WILDFIRES UPDATES
The scramble to rescue thousands of animals as Los Angeles wildfires rage


02:06
Horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. © AFP
Issued on: 13/01/2025 -
Video by: Sam BALL
As wildfires raging around Los Angeles force tens of thousands to flee their homes, activists, vets and volunteers across the region are scrambling to shelter thousands of animals that have been left homeless by the blazes, some in need of treatment after suffering injuries. At one LA equestrian center, hundreds of horses, along with donkeys, pigs and ponies, have already been taken in.
Issued on: 13/01/2025 -
Video by: Sam BALL
As wildfires raging around Los Angeles force tens of thousands to flee their homes, activists, vets and volunteers across the region are scrambling to shelter thousands of animals that have been left homeless by the blazes, some in need of treatment after suffering injuries. At one LA equestrian center, hundreds of horses, along with donkeys, pigs and ponies, have already been taken in.
ATF hones in on new theory as to what ignited massive California wildfire: report
Daniel Hampton
January 13, 2025
Daniel Hampton
January 13, 2025
RAW STORY

A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County, burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Federal authorities were reportedly looking at a new theory as to what may have ignited one of several massive wildfires in California.
NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz spoke with MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace on Monday about the latest reporting into the California wildfires, which have left at least two dozen dead and scorched more than 38,000 acres.
Kreutz told Wallace that while wildfire investigations can take weeks or months — or even a year — to determine the exact cause of a blaze, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, are in the Los Angeles area trying to do just that.
And they may have a lead.
"They're not ruling anything out but their line of investigation is going towards that it could be human-caused," said Kreutz. "Something that's indicating that is that there was actually a fire on New Year's Day in that exact same area where it's believed the Palisades Fire began. The thought is that maybe that fire was never fully put out and then when those winds came last week, it sort of re-ignited it. And that could potentially be what led to this fire."
Kreutz added investigators are looking into what caused that blaze, including fireworks or an encampment.
The Eaton Fire, she said, may have been a power issue, which has sparked other wildfires in the state, including the deadly Camp Fire.
Watch the clip below or at this link.

A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County, burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Federal authorities were reportedly looking at a new theory as to what may have ignited one of several massive wildfires in California.
NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz spoke with MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace on Monday about the latest reporting into the California wildfires, which have left at least two dozen dead and scorched more than 38,000 acres.
Kreutz told Wallace that while wildfire investigations can take weeks or months — or even a year — to determine the exact cause of a blaze, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, are in the Los Angeles area trying to do just that.
And they may have a lead.
"They're not ruling anything out but their line of investigation is going towards that it could be human-caused," said Kreutz. "Something that's indicating that is that there was actually a fire on New Year's Day in that exact same area where it's believed the Palisades Fire began. The thought is that maybe that fire was never fully put out and then when those winds came last week, it sort of re-ignited it. And that could potentially be what led to this fire."
Kreutz added investigators are looking into what caused that blaze, including fireworks or an encampment.
The Eaton Fire, she said, may have been a power issue, which has sparked other wildfires in the state, including the deadly Camp Fire.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
Wildfire relief tied to debt ceiling? Trump, GOP spark outrage after Mar-a-Lago meeting

Donald Trump gestures, as he attends a press conference on "Trump Will Fix It", at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
David Badash

Donald Trump gestures, as he attends a press conference on "Trump Will Fix It", at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
David Badash
January 13, 2025
ALTERNET
House Republicans, especially the California delegation, are facing sharp criticism after spending portions of the weekend with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort and residence. They reportedly discussed ways to take the unprecedented approach of tying passage of relief funds—for the Golden State’s historic wildfire disaster—to raising the debt ceiling, as the fires continue to burn and the death toll rises to 24 people.
“Of the nearly two dozen House Republicans who attended the Sunday dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where this option was discussed, several are caucus leaders and appropriators with major influence in upcoming budget reconciliation and government funding negotiations,” Politico reports. “Trump also discussed the wildfires Saturday night with a group of House Republicans from California, New York and New Jersey.”
According to J.D. Wolf of MeidasTouch News, the California GOP members of Congress “chose to leave the state at its most vulnerable moment,” and “have drawn criticism for abandoning their … state during the crisis, opting instead to join Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.”
“California [GOP] Representatives Jay Obernolte, Tom McClintock, Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert, Vince Fong, and Young Kim were spotted in a photo with Trump this weekend when they could have been back home seeking ways to help even if the fire isn’t in their district,” he declared. “Instead, these lawmakers have prioritized meeting with Trump over exercising leadership in their home state. Their absence sends a troubling message to their state.”
In a stern rebuke, Wolf added: “In doing so, they have not only abandoned their duty to Californians but also cast doubt on their priorities and dedication as elected officials.” He also wrote: “Californians are left wondering if these leaders will ever prioritize their needs over political maneuvering.”
One House Republican from California was “not invited,” according to Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill.
“But all the talk of unity at Mar-a-Lago this weekend only went so far – Trump did not invite David Valadao (R-Calif.), 1 of the 10 House Rs who voted to impeach after Jan. 6, to the mtg of CA, NY and NJ GOP members.”
Valadao’s presence would have made sense. Hill reports he is a caucus chief and senior appropriator.
Trump, who has a history of trying to withhold relief aid to California, has been accused of politicizing the tragedy, which Politico notes, “could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.”
It may become even more costly.
The Associated Press reports, “firefighters are preparing for a return of dangerous winds that could again stoke the flames on Monday.”
ALTERNET
House Republicans, especially the California delegation, are facing sharp criticism after spending portions of the weekend with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort and residence. They reportedly discussed ways to take the unprecedented approach of tying passage of relief funds—for the Golden State’s historic wildfire disaster—to raising the debt ceiling, as the fires continue to burn and the death toll rises to 24 people.
“Of the nearly two dozen House Republicans who attended the Sunday dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where this option was discussed, several are caucus leaders and appropriators with major influence in upcoming budget reconciliation and government funding negotiations,” Politico reports. “Trump also discussed the wildfires Saturday night with a group of House Republicans from California, New York and New Jersey.”
According to J.D. Wolf of MeidasTouch News, the California GOP members of Congress “chose to leave the state at its most vulnerable moment,” and “have drawn criticism for abandoning their … state during the crisis, opting instead to join Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.”
“California [GOP] Representatives Jay Obernolte, Tom McClintock, Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert, Vince Fong, and Young Kim were spotted in a photo with Trump this weekend when they could have been back home seeking ways to help even if the fire isn’t in their district,” he declared. “Instead, these lawmakers have prioritized meeting with Trump over exercising leadership in their home state. Their absence sends a troubling message to their state.”
In a stern rebuke, Wolf added: “In doing so, they have not only abandoned their duty to Californians but also cast doubt on their priorities and dedication as elected officials.” He also wrote: “Californians are left wondering if these leaders will ever prioritize their needs over political maneuvering.”
One House Republican from California was “not invited,” according to Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill.
“But all the talk of unity at Mar-a-Lago this weekend only went so far – Trump did not invite David Valadao (R-Calif.), 1 of the 10 House Rs who voted to impeach after Jan. 6, to the mtg of CA, NY and NJ GOP members.”
Valadao’s presence would have made sense. Hill reports he is a caucus chief and senior appropriator.
Trump, who has a history of trying to withhold relief aid to California, has been accused of politicizing the tragedy, which Politico notes, “could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.”
It may become even more costly.
The Associated Press reports, “firefighters are preparing for a return of dangerous winds that could again stoke the flames on Monday.”
'They don't deserve anything': GOP senator says CA wildfire victims shouldn't get aid
Daniel Hampton
January 13, 2025
RAW STORY

Remains of a Tesla electric car, destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen, at the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 13, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
A firebrand Republican senator said Monday that California wildfire victims don't deserve federal aid because they elected Gov. Gavin Newsom
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined the right-wing Newsmax network with host Chris Salcedo on Monday afternoon to talk about the fires, which have left at least two dozen dead.
"Speaking of flushing money down the toilet, California Democrats are asking the 49 other states for a bailout after Democrat policies destroyed Los Angeles in these latest wildfires," Salcedo said. "Gavin Newsom has said it's going to take billions just to rebuild California after these wildfires that have been devastating because of Democrat policies. This after California lawmakers drove insurers out of the state, leaving homeowners unprotected."
After the long wind-up, Salcedo finally asked Tuberville his question: "Why should taxpayers in your home state of Alabama and my home state of Texas continue to bail out states that continue to vote for Democrats time and time again despite their continued record of failure?"
Before allowing his guest to answer, Salcedo pointed to the earnings of Los Angeles' fire chief: $750,000, higher than the president and governor combined.
In response, Tuberville flatly rejected the idea of sending aid to wildfire victims.
"We shouldn't be. They got 40 million people in that state and they vote in these imbeciles in office and they continue to do it. And there's a very small part of them in that state that's doing it," said Tuberville.
He added that California has many Republicans who are "good people" and that he "hate[s] it for them."
"They are just overwhelmed by these inner-city, woke posses with the people that vote for them. I don't mind sending them some money, but unless they show that they're going to change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the maintenance with the brush and the trees — everything that everybody else does in the country and they don't do it — they don't deserve anything, to be honest with you unless they show us they're going to make some changes," said Tuberville.
Daniel Hampton
January 13, 2025
RAW STORY

Remains of a Tesla electric car, destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen, at the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 13, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
A firebrand Republican senator said Monday that California wildfire victims don't deserve federal aid because they elected Gov. Gavin Newsom
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined the right-wing Newsmax network with host Chris Salcedo on Monday afternoon to talk about the fires, which have left at least two dozen dead.
"Speaking of flushing money down the toilet, California Democrats are asking the 49 other states for a bailout after Democrat policies destroyed Los Angeles in these latest wildfires," Salcedo said. "Gavin Newsom has said it's going to take billions just to rebuild California after these wildfires that have been devastating because of Democrat policies. This after California lawmakers drove insurers out of the state, leaving homeowners unprotected."
After the long wind-up, Salcedo finally asked Tuberville his question: "Why should taxpayers in your home state of Alabama and my home state of Texas continue to bail out states that continue to vote for Democrats time and time again despite their continued record of failure?"
Before allowing his guest to answer, Salcedo pointed to the earnings of Los Angeles' fire chief: $750,000, higher than the president and governor combined.
In response, Tuberville flatly rejected the idea of sending aid to wildfire victims.
"We shouldn't be. They got 40 million people in that state and they vote in these imbeciles in office and they continue to do it. And there's a very small part of them in that state that's doing it," said Tuberville.
He added that California has many Republicans who are "good people" and that he "hate[s] it for them."
"They are just overwhelmed by these inner-city, woke posses with the people that vote for them. I don't mind sending them some money, but unless they show that they're going to change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the maintenance with the brush and the trees — everything that everybody else does in the country and they don't do it — they don't deserve anything, to be honest with you unless they show us they're going to make some changes," said Tuberville.
Watch the clip below or at this link
.
'California helps fund Tuberville’s Alabama': Senator blasted over saying state doesn’t 'deserve' aid

Image via RawPixel/Creative Commons.

Image via RawPixel/Creative Commons.
ALTERNET
January 14, 2025
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) was blasted over his comments during an interview with the conservative news outlet, Newsmax, on Monday about California's need for government aid as fires continue to rage across LA, leaving residents homeless, and without basic necessities.
Newsmax host Chris Plante asked Tuberville, "Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?
The Alabama lawmaker replied, "We shouldn't be. They've got 40 million people in that state, and they've voted these imbeciles in office, and they continue to do it. If you go to California, you run into a lot of lot of Republicans — a lot of good people, and I hate it it for them. But they are just overwhelmed by these inner city, woke policies, with the people that vote for them."
He added, "And I don't mind sending them some money, but unless they show that they're gonna change their ways, and get back to building dams, and restoring water and everything everybody else does in the country, and they refuse to do it, they don't deserve anything to be honest with you unless they show us they're gonna make some changes."
Former US attorney Joyce Vance replied, "In 2020, Alabama got $2.17 for every $1 paid in fedl taxes," and included a link to the report for proof.
She added, "In 2023 the fedl govt sent over $64 billion through direct payments, contracts, grants & other forms of financial assistance to Alabama, making putting it among the most federally dependent states in the nation."
Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan added: "California helps fund Tuberville's Alabama."
Crooked Media founder and former speechwriter for ex-President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau, commented: "We've already got multiple Republicans in Congress - including the Speaker of the House - on record saying that Republican-controlled Washington will only help Republican-controlled states."
Ahmed Baba, a columnist for the Independent, added: "Trump is 100% going to withhold aid from blue states in an effort to force them to comply with parts of his agenda. And apparently a lot of Republican lawmakers will help him do it."
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) was blasted over his comments during an interview with the conservative news outlet, Newsmax, on Monday about California's need for government aid as fires continue to rage across LA, leaving residents homeless, and without basic necessities.
Newsmax host Chris Plante asked Tuberville, "Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?
The Alabama lawmaker replied, "We shouldn't be. They've got 40 million people in that state, and they've voted these imbeciles in office, and they continue to do it. If you go to California, you run into a lot of lot of Republicans — a lot of good people, and I hate it it for them. But they are just overwhelmed by these inner city, woke policies, with the people that vote for them."
He added, "And I don't mind sending them some money, but unless they show that they're gonna change their ways, and get back to building dams, and restoring water and everything everybody else does in the country, and they refuse to do it, they don't deserve anything to be honest with you unless they show us they're gonna make some changes."
Former US attorney Joyce Vance replied, "In 2020, Alabama got $2.17 for every $1 paid in fedl taxes," and included a link to the report for proof.
She added, "In 2023 the fedl govt sent over $64 billion through direct payments, contracts, grants & other forms of financial assistance to Alabama, making putting it among the most federally dependent states in the nation."
Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan added: "California helps fund Tuberville's Alabama."
Crooked Media founder and former speechwriter for ex-President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau, commented: "We've already got multiple Republicans in Congress - including the Speaker of the House - on record saying that Republican-controlled Washington will only help Republican-controlled states."
Ahmed Baba, a columnist for the Independent, added: "Trump is 100% going to withhold aid from blue states in an effort to force them to comply with parts of his agenda. And apparently a lot of Republican lawmakers will help him do it."
'It will never end': Dem condemns House speaker's desire for 'conditions' on CA fire aid
Jennifer Bowers Bahney
January 13, 2025 4:51PM ET
RAW STORY

(Philip Yabut / Shutterstock)
Florida Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz called out House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) assertion that he wants "conditions" put on federal aid to the blue state of California.
Johnson told CNN's Manu Raju on Monday, "Obviously, there's been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems. And it does come down to leadership. And it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects, so that's something that has to be factored in."
Johnson added, "I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That's my personal view, we'll see what the consensus
Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, have been deeply critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D-CA) handling of the blazes that have reportedly killed 24 people and destroyed or damaged an estimated "12,000 houses, businesses, schools and other structures."
Moskowitz warned Johnson on social media that the tit-for-tat of involving politics in allocating relief aid would have dire consequences.
"This is a Mistake. If you start this, it will never end. When Dems retake the House, they will condition aid to Florida and Texas. Disaster Aid must stay non partisan. I would fight democrats should they try and do this. The Speaker can find many other ways to hold people accountable."
Politico reported Monday that a "group of House Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump talked about tying wildfire aid to a debt ceiling increase Sunday night, as the fires spreading across huge swaths of Los Angeles are estimated to become one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history."
Johnson was not present at the Mar-a-Lago dinner where the debt ceiling increase was reportedly discussed, but he was asked about the possibility by Raju.
"There's some discussion about that but we'll we where it goes," Johnson answered.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
Jennifer Bowers Bahney
January 13, 2025 4:51PM ET
RAW STORY

(Philip Yabut / Shutterstock)
Florida Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz called out House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) assertion that he wants "conditions" put on federal aid to the blue state of California.
Johnson told CNN's Manu Raju on Monday, "Obviously, there's been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems. And it does come down to leadership. And it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects, so that's something that has to be factored in."
Johnson added, "I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That's my personal view, we'll see what the consensus
Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, have been deeply critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D-CA) handling of the blazes that have reportedly killed 24 people and destroyed or damaged an estimated "12,000 houses, businesses, schools and other structures."
Moskowitz warned Johnson on social media that the tit-for-tat of involving politics in allocating relief aid would have dire consequences.
"This is a Mistake. If you start this, it will never end. When Dems retake the House, they will condition aid to Florida and Texas. Disaster Aid must stay non partisan. I would fight democrats should they try and do this. The Speaker can find many other ways to hold people accountable."
Politico reported Monday that a "group of House Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump talked about tying wildfire aid to a debt ceiling increase Sunday night, as the fires spreading across huge swaths of Los Angeles are estimated to become one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history."
Johnson was not present at the Mar-a-Lago dinner where the debt ceiling increase was reportedly discussed, but he was asked about the possibility by Raju.
"There's some discussion about that but we'll we where it goes," Johnson answered.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
California governor spars with Musk over wildfire ‘lies’
By AFP
January 13, 2025

California is battling a spike in online misinformation about the Los Angeles wildfires - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP MARIO TAMA
Anuj CHOPRA
California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of spreading “lies” about the state’s response to deadly wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, escalating their online row over swirling misinformation.
President-elect Donald Trump and Musk — the Tesla and SpaceX owner poised to play a key role advising the incoming administration –- have stepped up criticism of the governor’s handling of the devastating blazes that have killed at least 24 people and displaced tens of thousands.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk blamed the huge loss of homes in Los Angeles on “bad governance at a state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water.”
“(Musk) exposed by firefighters for his own lies,” Newsom posted late Sunday, alongside a video clip showing the tycoon asking a firefighter whether water availability was an issue.
The firefighter replied there was water in “several reservoirs,” and added that battling large-scale fires required supplementing the effort with water trucks.
In a separate spat over the weekend, Newsom accused Musk of “encouraging looting by lying,” after the billionaire amplified a post on X that falsely claimed the governor and his fellow Democrats had “decriminalized looting.”
“It’s illegal — as it always has been,” Newsom responded, amid concerns of a looting spree in areas where people were forced to flee the fires.
“Bad actors will be arrested and prosecuted,” he added.
– Viral, misleading videos –
Musk’s personal account on X, which has more than 212 million followers, has become increasingly influential and has often courted criticism for amplifying misinformation.
The platform — previously called Twitter, which Musk purchased in 2022 for $44 billion dollars — has seen an explosion of right-wing misinformation about the deadly wildfires, researchers say.
Even though months of dry weather and strong winds created optimal conditions for the wildfires, narratives on X have singled out the state policies such as practices to increase diversity in the Los Angeles fire force as a culprit.
One viral video debunked by the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard had falsely claimed fire department officials were desperately using women’s handbags to fight the flames because their resources had been diverted to “woke causes” and war assistance to Ukraine.
But the water-filled pouches seen in the video were actually “canvas bags,” carried by firefighters because they were easier to use to extinguish small sets of flames than having to hauling out a hose, the entertainment news site TMZ cited local officials as saying.
Wildfire misinformation was also swirling on other platforms including the Meta-owned Facebook.
Authorities recently warned of a false Facebook post urging people to travel to California to join a clean-up crew in areas affected by the wildfires.
“We would like to clarify that there is no such opportunity available,” the state’s fire protection department wrote on its website.
Meta triggered a global backlash last week after it announced it was scrapping third-party fact-checking in the United States and introducing a crowd-sourced moderation method similar to X.
Disinformation researchers have criticized Meta’s policy overhaul, which came less than two weeks before Trump takes office, warning that it risked opening the floodgates for false narratives.
Facebook currently pays to use fact checks from around 80 organizations globally on the platform, as well as on WhatsApp and Instagram. AFP currently works in 26 languages with Facebook’s fact-checking scheme.
By AFP
January 13, 2025

California is battling a spike in online misinformation about the Los Angeles wildfires - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP MARIO TAMA
Anuj CHOPRA
California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of spreading “lies” about the state’s response to deadly wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, escalating their online row over swirling misinformation.
President-elect Donald Trump and Musk — the Tesla and SpaceX owner poised to play a key role advising the incoming administration –- have stepped up criticism of the governor’s handling of the devastating blazes that have killed at least 24 people and displaced tens of thousands.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk blamed the huge loss of homes in Los Angeles on “bad governance at a state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water.”
“(Musk) exposed by firefighters for his own lies,” Newsom posted late Sunday, alongside a video clip showing the tycoon asking a firefighter whether water availability was an issue.
The firefighter replied there was water in “several reservoirs,” and added that battling large-scale fires required supplementing the effort with water trucks.
In a separate spat over the weekend, Newsom accused Musk of “encouraging looting by lying,” after the billionaire amplified a post on X that falsely claimed the governor and his fellow Democrats had “decriminalized looting.”
“It’s illegal — as it always has been,” Newsom responded, amid concerns of a looting spree in areas where people were forced to flee the fires.
“Bad actors will be arrested and prosecuted,” he added.
– Viral, misleading videos –
Musk’s personal account on X, which has more than 212 million followers, has become increasingly influential and has often courted criticism for amplifying misinformation.
The platform — previously called Twitter, which Musk purchased in 2022 for $44 billion dollars — has seen an explosion of right-wing misinformation about the deadly wildfires, researchers say.
Even though months of dry weather and strong winds created optimal conditions for the wildfires, narratives on X have singled out the state policies such as practices to increase diversity in the Los Angeles fire force as a culprit.
One viral video debunked by the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard had falsely claimed fire department officials were desperately using women’s handbags to fight the flames because their resources had been diverted to “woke causes” and war assistance to Ukraine.
But the water-filled pouches seen in the video were actually “canvas bags,” carried by firefighters because they were easier to use to extinguish small sets of flames than having to hauling out a hose, the entertainment news site TMZ cited local officials as saying.
Wildfire misinformation was also swirling on other platforms including the Meta-owned Facebook.
Authorities recently warned of a false Facebook post urging people to travel to California to join a clean-up crew in areas affected by the wildfires.
“We would like to clarify that there is no such opportunity available,” the state’s fire protection department wrote on its website.
Meta triggered a global backlash last week after it announced it was scrapping third-party fact-checking in the United States and introducing a crowd-sourced moderation method similar to X.
Disinformation researchers have criticized Meta’s policy overhaul, which came less than two weeks before Trump takes office, warning that it risked opening the floodgates for false narratives.
Facebook currently pays to use fact checks from around 80 organizations globally on the platform, as well as on WhatsApp and Instagram. AFP currently works in 26 languages with Facebook’s fact-checking scheme.
Devastating LA fires prompt 2028 Olympics debate
By AFP
January 13, 2025

Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have sparked debate over the city's hosting of the 2028 Olympics - Copyright AFP Georges BENDRIHEM
Rob Woollard
The Los Angeles wildfire disaster has cast a shadow over preparations for the 2028 Olympics, raising questions over whether the city can deliver a safe and successful Games.
So far, none of the more than 80 venues due to stage Olympic competition in Los Angeles have been directly affected by the infernos that have left at least 24 people dead and reduced entire neighborhoods to smouldering ruins.
But experts say the ongoing disaster has underscored the challenges of staging the world’s largest sporting event in a region increasingly under threat of wildfires.
“The situation is clearly grave and given the prospect of significant climate change, you do have to wonder whether the current situation might be repeated, possibly even during the Games,” Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School in Paris told British daily The iPaper.
“This raises very serious questions, not least about insurance, and whether Los Angeles’ big-ticket 2028 attraction might be about to become an uninsurable mega-event.”
While the flames that razed Pacific Palisades came uncomfortably close to the Riviera Country Club — which will host 2028’s Olympic golf tournament — the overwhelming majority of venues are situated outside what would be regarded as high-risk fire zones.
Historical data, meanwhile, indicates that the chances of a similar disaster erupting during the 2028 Olympics are highly unlikely.
Prior to last week, no fire in Los Angeles County had appeared on a list of the 20 most destructive fires in California history, according to statistics provided by CalFire, the state’s fire agency.
The 2028 Olympics will also be taking place in July, a time of year when there are no Santa Ana winds, the powerful seasonal gusts widely seen as the biggest factor behind the unprecedented scale and scope of last week’s carnage.
And Los Angeles has already staged the Olympics successfully on two occasions — in 1984 and 1932.
– ‘Wake-up call’ –
Nevertheless, Dan Plumley, sports finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, said the fires would have set alarm bells ringing among Olympic organizers.
“Organising committees will have factored these events into their planning but you’re very much working on a contingency basis — how much do you reasonably budget for this and how cautious or not cautious are you going to be?” Plumley told the iPaper.
“How much risk they want to build in, we’ll have to wait and see but these fires will have acted as an enormous wake-up call.”
Pennsylvania State University professor Mark Dyerson meanwhile floated the idea of the Olympics being moved to 2024 hosts Paris if LA was unable to deliver the games.
“They could go back to Paris,” the academic told the New York Post. “It would be unfortunate, but I’m sure they have some kind of committee — the IOC is a huge bureaucracy — that allegedly looks at contingencies.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom however told NBC’s “Today” morning program that planning for the 2028 Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2026 — where eight matches take place in Los Angeles — was on track.
Newsom said the flurry of major sporting events in Los Angeles over the next few years — the city will also host the Super Bowl in 2027 — should be seen as an opportunity.
“My humble position, and it’s not just being naively optimistic, (is) that only reinforces the imperative (of) moving quickly, doing it in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation,” Newsom told NBC.
Conservative pundits however have wasted no time in demanding that Los Angeles be stripped of the Olympics.
“The Los Angeles Olympics should be cancelled,” right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk wrote on X last week.
“If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you aren’t qualified to host the Olympics. Move them to Dallas, or Miami, so the world’s athletes can compete in a place capable of actually safely building and running something.”
Los Angeles 2028 organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
By AFP
January 13, 2025

Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have sparked debate over the city's hosting of the 2028 Olympics - Copyright AFP Georges BENDRIHEM
Rob Woollard
The Los Angeles wildfire disaster has cast a shadow over preparations for the 2028 Olympics, raising questions over whether the city can deliver a safe and successful Games.
So far, none of the more than 80 venues due to stage Olympic competition in Los Angeles have been directly affected by the infernos that have left at least 24 people dead and reduced entire neighborhoods to smouldering ruins.
But experts say the ongoing disaster has underscored the challenges of staging the world’s largest sporting event in a region increasingly under threat of wildfires.
“The situation is clearly grave and given the prospect of significant climate change, you do have to wonder whether the current situation might be repeated, possibly even during the Games,” Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School in Paris told British daily The iPaper.
“This raises very serious questions, not least about insurance, and whether Los Angeles’ big-ticket 2028 attraction might be about to become an uninsurable mega-event.”
While the flames that razed Pacific Palisades came uncomfortably close to the Riviera Country Club — which will host 2028’s Olympic golf tournament — the overwhelming majority of venues are situated outside what would be regarded as high-risk fire zones.
Historical data, meanwhile, indicates that the chances of a similar disaster erupting during the 2028 Olympics are highly unlikely.
Prior to last week, no fire in Los Angeles County had appeared on a list of the 20 most destructive fires in California history, according to statistics provided by CalFire, the state’s fire agency.
The 2028 Olympics will also be taking place in July, a time of year when there are no Santa Ana winds, the powerful seasonal gusts widely seen as the biggest factor behind the unprecedented scale and scope of last week’s carnage.
And Los Angeles has already staged the Olympics successfully on two occasions — in 1984 and 1932.
– ‘Wake-up call’ –
Nevertheless, Dan Plumley, sports finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, said the fires would have set alarm bells ringing among Olympic organizers.
“Organising committees will have factored these events into their planning but you’re very much working on a contingency basis — how much do you reasonably budget for this and how cautious or not cautious are you going to be?” Plumley told the iPaper.
“How much risk they want to build in, we’ll have to wait and see but these fires will have acted as an enormous wake-up call.”
Pennsylvania State University professor Mark Dyerson meanwhile floated the idea of the Olympics being moved to 2024 hosts Paris if LA was unable to deliver the games.
“They could go back to Paris,” the academic told the New York Post. “It would be unfortunate, but I’m sure they have some kind of committee — the IOC is a huge bureaucracy — that allegedly looks at contingencies.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom however told NBC’s “Today” morning program that planning for the 2028 Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2026 — where eight matches take place in Los Angeles — was on track.
Newsom said the flurry of major sporting events in Los Angeles over the next few years — the city will also host the Super Bowl in 2027 — should be seen as an opportunity.
“My humble position, and it’s not just being naively optimistic, (is) that only reinforces the imperative (of) moving quickly, doing it in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation,” Newsom told NBC.
Conservative pundits however have wasted no time in demanding that Los Angeles be stripped of the Olympics.
“The Los Angeles Olympics should be cancelled,” right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk wrote on X last week.
“If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you aren’t qualified to host the Olympics. Move them to Dallas, or Miami, so the world’s athletes can compete in a place capable of actually safely building and running something.”
Los Angeles 2028 organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
By AFP
January 13, 2025

The wildfires raging around Los Angeles have also disrupted the economy as awards shows and film production have ground to a halt. — © AFP Patrick T. Fallon
Andrew MARSZAL
As Los Angeles is gripped by wildfires that resemble a Hollywood disaster movie, the city’s vast entertainment industry is already counting the costs of yet another drastic setback that its workers can ill-afford.
Actors, crew, writers and producers have lost their homes; film and television productions have been temporarily halted; and calls are mounting for Hollywood’s award season to be canceled.

At least five people have been confirmed killed in the fires. — © AFP
It comes with Los Angeles’s entertainment sector — worth $115 billion to the region’s economy — already in dire straits, as some film and TV productions abandon the city over high costs. The Covid-19 pandemic and recent labor upheavals have also taken their toll in recent years.
“Hollywood, as everyone, was hit by the pandemic with severe consequences. The strikes, obviously, affected the industry, probably forever,” said Marc Malkin, senior culture and events editor for trade magazine Variety.
“Add the fires to that, and Hollywood is just being hit over and over again.”
Stars including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal have lost their homes to the past week’s blazes.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg, with thousands of houses destroyed across a city that is home to 680,000 people employed in the entertainment industry or service jobs directly supporting it.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” “NCIS,” “Hacks” and “Fallout” are among more than a dozen Los Angeles-based TV productions that have seen their sets go dark since the fires broke out.
Parts of the city where major soundstages are located, including Burbank, were threatened by the fires, but have so far been spared.
But Film LA, which handles permissions for outdoor movie and TV shoots, warned producers working in or near evacuation zones to “expect to have your permit canceled,” and advised others that on-set safety supervisors would be in short supply.

Smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire burn toward the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California – Copyright AFP AGUSTIN PAULLIER
With dense smoke and soot cloaking the entire region, even productions hoping to film further afield are affected.
“If you’re shooting outside in Los Angeles right now, not great. The air quality is that bad,” said Malkin.
– ‘Glitz-and-glamor’ –
There is no word yet on when productions will resume. Aside from the many logistical issues, the industry must consider the optics of returning to normal while swaths of Los Angeles are aflame.
Nowhere is this issue more delicate than with Hollywood’s ongoing award season — an endless series of swanky premieres, galas and prize-giving ceremonies that is currently on hold.
Events including the Critics Choice Awards show have been delayed, and Los Angeles premieres for films like Pamela Anderson’s “The Last Showgirl” and the Robbie Williams biopic “Better Man” were scrapped last week.
The cancellations even extended to New York, where a premiere for hit Apple TV show “Severance” was aborted.
“The studios, the streamers, are having the right response by canceling or postponing glitz-and-glamor events,” said Malkin.
“For people to walk the red carpet, all glitzy and glamor-y, while Los Angeles is literally and figuratively burning… it would be a little disconcerting to hear people either talking about their fashion or that ‘silly story from set.'”
Even the televised announcement of this year’s Oscars nominees has been delayed.
“So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer wrote in a message to members.
“Hacks” actress Jean Smart has advocated going a step further, and scrapping the entire season.
“With ALL due respect, during Hollywood’s season of celebration, I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider NOT televising them and donating the revenue they would have garnered to the victims of the fires and the firefighters,” Smart wrote on Instagram.
While few in Tinseltown are in the mood for celebrating, Malkin warned that canceling the entire season would have devastating ripple effects on hair-and-makeup artists, waiters, drivers and security staff.
“Yes, the celebrities are going to be okay, financially,” he said.
“But when you think about all the people who staff these various award shows, these are gig workers who rely on these paychecks… it would have a devastating effect.”
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