The death toll from the still-raging Los Angeles wildfires has risen to 24 people with at least 16 still missing, according to a tragic update from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Sunday evening.
The majority of the victims — 16 — were killed in the Eaton Fire, while eight were killed by the Palisades Fire — the two largest of the fires devouring the county. With the new death toll, the Eaton Fire is now the fifth-deadliest wildfire in California’s history.
Only two of the victims, 84-year-old Charles Mortimer and 66-year-old Victor Shaw, have been identified in the update. Mortimer died in the hospital of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries and Shaw died of the same cause outside his Altadena home, according to the medical examiner.
Shaw’s burned remains were found with a garden hose still in his hands as family members said he stayed behind to try to save his home of 55 years.
At least seven other people have been identified by the public and other local departments so far.
Many of the victims lived just blocks apart from one another in the same neighborhood, Altadena, which is historically black and working class.
According to the medical examiner, 16 of the victims were killed in Altadena, four in Malibu, one in Pacific Palisades, one in Palisades, one in Topanga, and one in a hospital death without a specified origin location.
With many people still missing, the death toll is expected to grow.
A dozen of those reported missing are from the Eaton fire zone and the other four are from the Palisades area. No children are among the missing, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Authorities expect that the number of missing will rise as families continue to report new cases.
