LAFD Wildland Fire Trucks line up by Mirman school near Mulholland drive as the Palisades Fire burns towards the Encino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, January 10, 2025, triggering new evacuation orders. Patrick T. Fallon, AFP

LAFD Wildland Fire Trucks line up by Mirman school near Mulholland drive as the Palisades Fire burns towards the Encino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, January 10, 2025, triggering new evacuation orders. Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighborhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people, authorities said, as California's National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.
News of the growing toll, announced late Thursday January 9 by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, came as swaths of the United States' second-largest city lay in ruins. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

LA FIRES

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736954729259AFP__20250111__36TH864__v2__Preview__UsWeatherFire.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="LAFD Wildland Fire Trucks line up by Mirman school near Mulholland drive as the Palisades Fire burns towards the Encino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, January 10, 2025, triggering new evacuation orders. Patrick T. Fallon, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">LAFD Wildland Fire Trucks line up by Mirman school near Mulholland drive as the Palisades Fire burns towards the Encino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, January 10, 2025, triggering new evacuation orders. <em>Patrick T. Fallon, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — While two more roaring fires are engulfing Los Angeles, Philippine authorities will still have to wait to be certain that there are no Filipinos among the 25 dead victims from the massive wildfires.</p><p>Speaking on Teleradyo Serbisyo, Los Angeles Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz said around 191 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have been displaced by the tragedy. They are expecting the numbers to climb as incoming dangerous winds threaten to spread the fires further.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/13/high-winds-return-to-la-firefighters-prepare-for-more-palisades-fire-activity-0759">High winds return to LA, firefighters prepare for more Palisades Fire activity</a></div><p>“This week po siguradong tataas pa po ang number [191] na ‘yan. Unfortunately, 25 na po ngayon ang bilang ng mga nasasawi at ang sabi ng LA County Office, aabutin pa ng ilang linggo bago malaman ang pangalan at identity ng mga bangkay na ito dahil hindi na po natin pwede ma-identify through facial recognition or fingerprint,&quot; he stressed.</p><p>(This week, we&#x27;re certain that this number [191] will rise. Unfortunately, 25 people were already dead and the LA County Office said it will take several weeks before they can confirm the names and identities of the bodies since they can no longer identify them through facial recognition or fingerprints.)</p><p>&quot;Natupok po sila (They were burned),&quot; he continued.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtsecsUd5X4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>He said there are no confirmed reports yet of any missing Filipino or Fil-Am.</p><p>“Dalawang malaking sunog pa po ang nagaganap. Sa mga balita po ay paparating na naman ang malalakas na hangin pero posible pong kumalat pa po ‘yung dalawang malalaking apoy sa LA Country,&quot; Cruz stated.</p><p>(Two large fires are still happening. News reports say the strong wins are coming again, but it&#x27;s possible that the two wildfires can spread more in LA County.)</p><p>The &quot;Santa Ana winds&quot;, or some call &quot;Devil Winds&quot;, were the strong, dry winds that swept down the mountains and reportedly whipped the blazes up further in California. The National Weather Service on Tuesday raised its &quot;particularly dangerous situation&quot; red flag warning as it recognized how the dry winds of up to 50 to 70 miles per hour could fuel the fires.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/13/strong-winds-return-to-whip-up-los-angeles-fires-0832">Death toll from Los Angeles fires rises, with dangerous winds incoming</a> </div><p>There were also videos online showing &quot;fire tornadoes&quot; — blazing spirals that can create its own weather system and even leave streaks of molten metal flowing from burned cars.</p><p>A fire started wrecking havoc across an upscale section of Los Angeles on January 7, destroying houses, causing traffic jams, and burning over 510 hectares of the Pacific Palisades. The fire scattered rapidly while another blaze raged some 30 miles inland in the foothills above Pasadena, turning entire streets into inferno with homes and trees burned down —  prompting the government to declare a state of emergency.</p><p>The Philippine Consul General noted that the air quality in whole California has been affected as well.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/12/timeline-devastating-california-wildfires-in-january-2025-1925">TIMELINE: Devastating California wildfires in January 2025</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9mMbJ2fvFfc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>As for the possible cause of fires, Cruz said authorities of LA County are still mum but assured &quot;multi-taskforce is investigating&quot; already.</p><p>“Until makapagbigay po sila ng official statement hindi po kami pwede magbigay ng posibleng dahilan sa panimula. Although kahapon may nahuli po silang attempted arsonist. Napigilan naman po ang taong ito na magsimula po ng apoy,” he explained.</p><p>(We cannot give any possible cause until they release an official statement. Although yesterday, they arrested an attempted arsonist. The person was successfully stopped from starting the fire.)</p><p>LA County District has also charged around <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/14/nine-charged-over-looting-in-la-wildfires-0827">nine people</a> who are reportedly looting in evacuation zones near huge fires in the area.</p><div><strong>SITUATION OF PINOYS, FIL-AMS IN CALIFORNIA</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Cruz stated that the hundred of Filipinos affected by fire are mostly &quot;undocumented&quot; working as caregivers while staying in at their employers&#x27; houses.</p><p>“Unfortunately no&#x27;ng nasunog po &#x27;yung bahay ng employers nila, nawalan na po sila ng trabaho, nawalan pa po sila ng tirahan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Unfortunately when their employers&#x27; houses were burned down, they didn&#x27;t only lose their jobs but also their homes.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/10/mga-pinoy-kabilang-sa-libo-libong-lumikas-dahil-sa-wildfire-sa-los-angeles-2156">Filipinos among thousands of evacuees due to Los Angeles fire</a></div><p>These Filipinos are now being &quot;constantly monitored&quot; in various evacuations. But Cruz assured they are getting adequate help both from the consulate office and other concerned Fil-Am groups who have been volunteering to assist other victims as well — no matter the race.</p><p>The Consul General also said that aside from essential supplies, they are initially giving 200 US dollars financial assistance per affected Filipino.</p><p>&quot;Ang initial financial assistance na mabibigay po namin ay 200 US dollars, ito’y pang-emegerncy lang po muna. Initial per person. Kung mag-ina, mag-asawa, tatlong anak, lima po sila,  they qualify for 100 US dollars,&quot; he explained.</p><p>(The initial financial assistance we can provide is 200 US dollars, this is only for emergency use. It’s an initial amount per victim. If they&#x27;re a mother and a child, or a couple with three children, that’s five people, they qualify for 100 US dollars.)</p><p>Since many Pinoy victims are undocumented, Cruz also eased worry amid fears of mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump, who earlier called the deadly California wildfires “a true tragedy”.</p><p>&quot;Sa tingin ko po ang priority po ngayon ng Govenrment of California… Una magbigay po ng assistance. Wala pong nagtatanong kung documented o undocumented… California po kasi is called “a sanctuary state,&quot; he explained.</p><p>(I think the priority of Government of California... First, to give assistance. No one asks if you&#x27;re documented or undocumented. It&#x27;s because California is called &quot;a sanctuary state&quot;.)</p><p>LA County officials have already began their clearing and searching operations, while deploying firefighting crews of over 8,500 personnel in vulnerable areas especially around the Palisades and Eaton fires.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTGZkuIaWjMpt8g&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script>

<p>While two more roaring fires are engulfing Los Angeles, Philippine authorities will still have to wait to be certain that there are no Filipinos among the 25 dead victims from massive wildfires.</p>

While two more roaring fires are engulfing Los Angeles, Philippine authorities will still have to wait to be certain that there are no Filipinos among the 25 dead victims from massive wildfires.

Nearly 200 Pinoys affected by LA wildfires; number expected to rise | ABS-CBN

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Nearly 200 Pinoys affected by LA wildfires; number expected to rise

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 16, 2025 12:44 AM PHT

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