LOS ANGELES, CA – The death toll from the Los Angeles County wildfires has climbed to 27 as officials confirmed that 31 active missing persons cases remain under investigation. Authorities continue to search for those unaccounted for following the devastating fires that erupted earlier this month.
In a statement issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) on Tuesday, officials revealed that 43 missing persons cases had been reported to the department’s Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Unit as of January 16. Of those cases, 12 individuals have been located safely.
The Eaton Fire, which has scorched areas in Altadena and Pasadena, accounts for 24 of the active missing persons cases, while 7 are linked to the Palisades Fire. Nine of the deceased individuals who were previously reported missing were located in structures destroyed by the Eaton Fire, and four were recovered from structures damaged in the Palisades Fire.
Search teams, including deputies, cadaver dogs, and rescue crews, have combed through 16 structures associated with missing persons reports but have found no additional individuals or remains in those locations. Two additional structures in the Palisades Fire zone linked to missing persons cases are currently being searched, officials said.
“Any human remains recovered during these searches will be examined by the Medical Examiner to determine positive identification and provide clarity to the families of the missing,” LASD said in the statement. “Homicide investigators will be in contact with the affected families to assist in the identification process.”
Authorities stressed that the situation remains fluid and that the Sheriff’s Department is committed to thorough investigations and providing support to those affected by the fires.
Both fires erupted on January 7 and have left a trail of destruction across Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire has burned approximately 23,713 acres, destroyed more than 10,000 structures, and is now 27% contained. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has consumed 14,117 acres and destroyed over 7,000 structures. That fire is now 55% contained, officials said.
Efforts to locate missing individuals and provide answers to their families are ongoing as crews work to gain further control of the fires and assess the full scale of the devastation. Authorities have asked the public to report any information related to missing persons or suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
