The Los Angeles fire death toll reached 24 as crews braced for returning Santa Ana winds. Edison International faced scrutiny after being unable to rule out equipment involvement, while investigators focused on the Skull Rock trail area as a possible origin point for the Palisades Fire.
By afternoon, wealthy residents hiring private firefighters for $2,000 per hour highlighted deepening class divisions, as hundreds of landlords exploited the crisis by hiking rents for evacuees. The National Weather Service issued its most severe fire warning, with economic impact estimates reaching $275 billion.
Evening developments included a lawsuit filed against utilities for "failure to de-energize," while political tensions escalated as Republicans tied federal aid to debt ceiling negotiations. The crisis overshadowed other developments, including the approval for release of Jack Smith's Trump report and progress in Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks.