County reports 14 confirmed deaths in jurisdiction as search operations continue; missing-person reports rise
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Summary
Los Angeles County officials confirmed 14 deaths in the county jurisdiction and said search operations that have started grid searches and will expand are likely to find additional victims; family assistance centers and missing-person reporting remain active.
Sheriff Luna said search-and-rescue crews conducted grid searches in the Eaton area and that, in the first day of those operations in Altadena, teams searched about 364 properties and located three deceased people.
“Unfortunately, we have confirmed 14 deaths, and that is in our specific LA County jurisdiction: 11 at the Eaton fire and 3 in our portion or our jurisdiction in the Palisades fire,” Sheriff Luna said. He cautioned those figures apply to county jurisdiction only and that city agencies and the county coroner may report differing totals for other jurisdictions.
Sheriff Luna said the sheriff's department had 16 missing‑person reports at the time he spoke (12 in Eaton and 4 in Palisades) and urged anyone who believes someone is missing to report it to local law enforcement. He said numbers are being reconciled and that “as these searches continue, I unfortunately anticipate that those numbers will increase.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonald said search operations will include cadaver dogs and that recovery work will require crime‑scene preservation when remains are found; the department is working closely with the Los Angeles County coroner.
Officials said family assistance and FEMA coordination centers are available for families seeking information. Sheriff Luna encouraged families to use the county’s resources and the family assistance center to report missing people and get guidance through the process.