LA Fire death toll rises to 31 as new body is uncovered in the wreckage

Los Angeles, California - A body has been found in the wreckage of one of the huge fires that tore through Los Angeles in January, officials announced Tuesday, taking the death toll from the tragedy to 31.

Emergency vehicles are on the side of the road as flames from the Hughes Fire race up the hill in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025.
Emergency vehicles are on the side of the road as flames from the Hughes Fire race up the hill in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025.  © Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

The human remains were discovered more than six months after huge blazes ravaged America's second-largest city for three weeks in January.

The two fires destroyed thousands of structures, devastating the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, as well as Malibu and Altadena in the wider county.

"The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) Special Operations Response Team (SORT) responded yesterday... in Altadena to investigate possible human remains found there," a statement from the county said.

International Court of Justice to deliver landmark climate ruling
Environment and Climate International Court of Justice to deliver landmark climate ruling
Pope Leo marks 1969 moon landing with call to Buzz Aldrin
Space Travel Pope Leo marks 1969 moon landing with call to Buzz Aldrin

"SORT investigated and determined the remains were human. The death toll related to the wildfires is now 31."

The victim has not yet been identified.

Investigations into the causes of the two fires were still underway, with power lines coming under the microscope.

While rebuilding has begun in parts of the disaster zones, especially in the Pacific Palisades area, large swaths of the fire's footprint remain devastated.

Cover photo: Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

More on Environment and Climate: