California fires live updates: Death toll hits 7 as new Kenneth blaze threatens Calabasas; arson suspect arrested

Looters have seized on the chaos of the L.A. fires to plunder homes and businesses, according to police.

“Twenty individuals chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property,” L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters on Thursday.

At least six people have now died as a result of the Los Angeles fires with the addition of the first person killed in the Palisades Fire.

The city of Malibu confirmed the death in a statement to CNN.

“Although the individual has not yet been identified, this tragic news weighs heavily on our hearts,” Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said. “On behalf of the City of Malibu, I want to express my deepest condolences to the loved ones of this person. Our community grieves with you in this moment of unimaginable loss.”

A range of charitable organizations are doing important work to support Angelenos as they struggle with multiple historic wildfires.

The American Red Cross, California Community Foundation, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and World Central Kitchen are all accepting donations to assist on aspects ranging from food to shelter to medical supplies.

The federal government will cover 100 percent of the cost of key parts of the response to the L.A. wildfires for the next 180 days, the president announced on Thursday.

“Folks, I want to underscore, I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do,” Biden said.

A Los Angeles resident confronted California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, demanding answers about why certain L.A. fire hydrants weren’t working and what officials would do differently to prevent future tragedies.

The exchange quickly grew heated, as the governor explained he was attempting to reach President Biden on the phone, while the woman insisted she be present for the call.

Watch the whole exchange below, via Sky News.

As fires continue to run rampant around L.A., officials have said they’ve at times had issues accessing enough water from hydrants to put out the blazes.

The issues have prompted some on the right to erroneously allege that California’s leadership has emptied the state’s reservoirs.

The actual cause of the shortage, President Biden said on Thursday, was that utility companies shut off power in certain areas to avoid power lines sparking new fires.

The lack of electricity then impacted water pumping systems.

Just four days ago, West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower was playing host to film stars and producers as they celebrated the Golden Globes.

Now, as fires ravage Los Angeles, A-listers and local residents alike are taking refuge in the art deco tower.

Some guests have seen brief visits turn into indefinite stays, while others have dropped into the hotel for an hour or two to escape the chaos outside, Vanity Fair reports.

“There’s a lot more pets, and that makes me happy because unfortunately, there was an article in The New York Times today about how people are leaving their pets behind in the fires,” owner Jeff Klein told the magazine. “So I’m happy to know that at least at the Sunset Tower, they’re bringing their pets. It’s also nice—I think a pet will comfort you as well. But yes, it’s almost like Noah’s Ark in a way.”

Watch live as Joe Biden addresses the nation as wildfires continue to rip through the Los Angeles County area on Thursday, 9 January.

Today, the White House said the president will convene senior White House and Administration officials for a briefing on the full Federal response he has directed to the wildfires.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of California to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds from 7 January and continuing.

The fires around Los Angeles have had particular heath impacts on the roughly 45,000 homeless people who live in the city of Los Angeles.

Living outside, and often lacking reliable transportation, puts this community at heightened risks from breathing in noxious smoke.

“People have said it feels like you’re breathing in lead and you can see what you’re breathing in,” advocate Carla Orendorff, who works with mutual aid groups supporting homeless people, told The Guardian.

“Our hearts are with the Los Angeles community and all those affected by the devastating fires,” the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance told The Independent in an emailed statement.

“We are in close contact with our colleagues at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens but as of now, they have not requested our assistance. We remain prepared and ready to support them at any point.”