Tuesday, March 18

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Maps: See how large the California wildfires are
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Maps: See how large the California wildfires are

In the Los Angeles area, a number of large wildfires are causing death and destruction. Due to strong winds and dry weather, a few wildfires that began to spread on Tuesday had grown significantly in size. By Saturday night, almost 12,000 buildings and structures had been damaged, and 13 people had been killed. Over a dozen people are missing, and over 153,000 people are under evacuation advisories. For real-time updates, click this link. The fires' sizes and conditions are depicted on the maps below. They will be regularly updated. The Palisades Fire, the biggest of the fires, covers an area of about 35 square miles. That is more than half of Washington, D.C.'s total land area. The Eaton Fire, a second fire, has spread to cover more than 22 square kilometers. Thousands of buildings within...
Photos of Los Angeles show catastrophic scale of devastation as blazes burn uncontrolled
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Photos of Los Angeles show catastrophic scale of devastation as blazes burn uncontrolled

At least five fires spread across more than 45 square miles in the greater Los Angeles area on Thursday, continuing to burn mostly out of control. The fires, which have been fanned by dry conditions and strong winds, have claimed the lives of at least ten individuals. Tens of thousands of acres are being burned in highly populated regions by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, among others, forcing more than 180,000 people to evacuate. Photographs of the catastrophe, which will probably go down as the most catastrophic in Los Angeles history, depict the cataclysmic level of devastation and misery it left behind.
NFL playoffs live updates: Texans lead Chargers 32-12 late in fourth quarter
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NFL playoffs live updates: Texans lead Chargers 32-12 late in fourth quarter

With two games on Saturday, three more on Sunday, and a final to decide the divisional round on Monday, the NFL playoffs are finally here. The following is the schedule: Chargers at Texans (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday) Steelers at Ravens (8 p.m. ET Saturday) Broncos at Bills (1 p.m. ET Sunday) Packers at Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET Sunday) Commanders at Buccaneers (8 p.m. ET Sunday) Vikings at Rams (in Arizona at 8 p.m. ET Monday) For the most recent information from the NFL's first round, tune in to NBC News throughout the weekend.
The dangerous combination fueling the L.A. fires: Exceptional dryness and strong winds
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The dangerous combination fueling the L.A. fires: Exceptional dryness and strong winds

The Summary Exceptionally dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds have fueled the dangerous fires in Los Angeles. Southern California has been abnormally dry for months, even in what is typically the rainy season. Devastating blazes are expected to become more frequent as climate change amplifies the ingredients that help wildfires ignite and spread. A frightening triple combination of extreme conditions—a protracted drought, an extremely dry winter, and strong Santa Ana winds—has sparked multiple out-of-control wildfires in the Los Angeles area. As of Friday, 11 people have been killed and over 12,000 buildings had been burned by the fast-moving fires that had devoured the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, as well as portions of the Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, Altadena, S...
From a school featured in ‘Freaky Friday’ to a historic synagogue, these are some of the landmarks damaged in the L.A.-area fires
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From a school featured in ‘Freaky Friday’ to a historic synagogue, these are some of the landmarks damaged in the L.A.-area fires

Numerous sites with a place in film and cultural history have been among the thousands of buildings burned or damaged by this week's catastrophic wildfires in Southern California. Authorities say at least six people have been killed in the Los Angeles region fires, which have destroyed homes, businesses, and schools at a startling rate. Pacific Palisades, a wealthy enclave west of downtown Los Angeles that the Beach Boys mentioned in Surfin USA, their 1963 hymn to sunny coastal California living, is one of the regions most severely affected. The following are a some of the famous sites that have sustained damage: Palisades Charter High School: This public school has frequently used as the backdrop for Hollywood movies, such as the 2003 Freaky Friday remake starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie ...
California fire evacuations: How to prepare, what to pack and what to do if you’re trapped
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California fire evacuations: How to prepare, what to pack and what to do if you’re trapped

After roaring wildfires consumed parts of the Los Angeles area, tens of thousands of Southern Californians were urged to leave their homes. About 3,000 acres of the Pacific Palisades, a community situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, have already been destroyed by the biggest of the wildfires. With catastrophic wind gusts expected to reach 100 mph throughout Wednesday, the fires are posing a threat to homes. Anthony C. Marrone, the fire chief for Los Angeles County, issued a warning, stating that all inhabitants of the county are at risk due to the National Weather Service's prediction of a persistent red flag weather event with high winds and low humidity. Officials suggest that if you have been ordered to evacuate, you should do so right away and not hesitate...
What makes the Santa Ana winds so destructive?
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What makes the Santa Ana winds so destructive?

Dry wind gusts that can produce watery eyes or runny noses, as well as occasionally be strong enough to stop traffic or topple trees, are experienced by Southern Californians every year between fall and spring. The terrain of the western United States allows for the natural occurrence of the so-called Santa Ana winds. When coupled with other climatic factors, like dryness, they become much more dangerous since they raise the possibility of wildfires like the ones that are raging right now in the Los Angeles region. This year's gusts were more widespread than usual and occasionally approached hurricane strength. They combined with an unusually dry winter to provide the perfect environment for fires to spread. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which started on Tuesday, along with three minor fi...
California wildfires: What we know about L.A. fires, maps, what caused it, who is affected and more
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California wildfires: What we know about L.A. fires, maps, what caused it, who is affected and more

A number of fierce wildfires broke out Tuesday and blazed throughout the Los Angeles area, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. The fires destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least 13 people, some of whom perished attempting to stop the fires from engulfing their homes. Two of the fires were linked to an undetermined number of serious injuries, according to a Los Angeles County fire official, while a city official in Los Angeles called Tuesday night's fire one of the most horrific and catastrophic she had ever seen in her area of the city. For live coverage, click this link. According to climate scientist Daniel Swain, the more information we get, the worse this appears to be. What we know about the flames is as follows. Where are the fires? The Palisades Fire started as ...
How to help to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires
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How to help to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires

Over the past few days, wildfires have destroyed over 37,000 acres of the Los Angeles metropolitan region, burning over 12,000 buildings, forcing over 150,000 people to relocate, and killing at least 11 individuals. In order to support California's recovery efforts, the White House made federal disaster funding available to the state on Tuesday, the day the fires first broke out. Worldwide donations have also poured in as a result of the tragedy. Stay tuned for real-time updates. Here are the best ways you can support Los Angeles' recovery efforts as the fires continue to burn and the city prepares for a potential recovery. Long-term giving The Center for Disaster Philanthropy's president and CEO, Patricia McIlreavy, emphasized that the Los Angeles community will require gifts that ...
Special counsel Jack Smith resigns
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Special counsel Jack Smith resigns

WASHINGTON — In a court filing on Saturday, officials announced that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith had resigned on Friday. The action was anticipated prior to Donald Trump, the president-elect, taking the oath of office. Smith's investigation into Trump's purported meddling in the 2020 election is anticipated to be published shortly. Trump has refuted the accusations. According to a footnote in a federal court filing, the Special Counsel finished his work and turned in his final secret report on January 7, 2025, and departed from the Department on January 10. The footnote was included in a Justice Department document where the government requested that Trump appointee U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon refrain from extending a limitation that is now preventing the release of...