Axios

The wildfires that have killed 10 people and razed about 10,000 structures this week continued to rage across Los Angeles County on Friday.

The big picture: The fires are already among the most destructive recorded in the state.

As the Los Angeles fires continue to burn, Axios spoke with Bill Clerico, former fintech CEO who in 2022 Convective Capital to invest in wildfire tech startups.

What follows is an edited transcrtipt of the conversation:

Last year was Earth's warmest on record, eclipsing 2023's record and for the first time exceeding the Paris target of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, the Copernicus Climate Change Service announced.

Why it matters: While climate scientists don't put too much stock into an individual year's record, the long-term trend is toward more rapid warming, and it is not entirely clear why 2024 was so hot and what it portends.

The Honda Civic hybrid, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID. Buzz are the winners of the 2025 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year awards.

Why it matters: The selection of a hybrid sedan, a gasoline pickup truck and an electric minivan as the industry's best vehicles offers proof that consumers have a multitude of choices when it comes to car buying.

Fact-checking suddenly looks quaint, inadequate and practically irrelevant.

• Whole realities — the supposed culprits for the LA inferno, a new MAGA map of the world, a child sex-abuse scandal ("grooming gangs") in Britain — now sweep the internet overnight.
• We no longer need fact-checkers. We need reality-checkers.

Why it matters: When President-elect Trump takes office 10 days from now, he'll be more impervious than ever to metaphysical truth — long the purview of traditional, rigorous news reporting.

None of the Los Angeles County fires that have killed at least 10 people are among California's 20 largest wildfires, but they're among the most destructive on record as they burned more structures overnight.

The big picture: Mayor Karen Bass described this enduring "firestorm" that prompted tens of thousands to evacuate after erupting Tuesday amid extremely dry conditions and Santa Ana winds that reached hurricane-force intensity as "the big one in magnitude."

Raging wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County into Thursday have razed neighborhoods across the area, leaving behind a trail of destruction and deaths.

The latest: At least 10 fire-related deaths have been reported as of 9pm local time, per a statement from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

A new Los Angeles County wildfire ignited and exploded in size in West Hills near homes in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas, triggering more mandatory evacuation orders on Thursday.

State of play: The Kenneth Fire quickly spread into Ventura County after starting around 3:30pm in L.A., prompting the NFL to move the L.A. Rams' wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona. A Ventura County fire official told KNBC Thursday evening, "Forward progress of the fire has been stopped and we've contained it to only 960 acres."

Raging wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County have destroyed homes, neighborhoods and iconic landmarks, and killed at least five people.

Why it matters: Some of the most historic structures in the U.S. were completely wiped out.

As wildfires incited by high winds and record dry conditions ravage Los Angeles County, the National Weather Service is warning of continued high-risk weather to come both this week and next.

The big picture: Winds will once again pick up Thursday evening into Friday morning across the Los Angeles region, with damaging gusts in the foothills and the potential for additional fire spread, NWS forecasters said Thursday afternoon.

Raging fires tearing through Los Angeles County have destroyed entire neighborhoods and left a trail of destruction across huge parts of the region.

The latest: At least five deaths have been confirmed so far, though the total death toll remains unclear. Thousands of people have been displaced and nearly 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders.

Before and after satellite images help show the destruction caused as the Los Angeles County wildfires continue.

The big picture: So far, at least 25,000 acres have burned and five deaths confirmed, per officials.

Constellation Energy confirmed a deal Friday to acquire power producer Calpine, a Houston operator of gas-fired power plants. The deal was announced with a value of $26.6 billion.

Why it matters This would force a major messaging shift for Constellation, a nuclear power giant that touts how most of its energy is "emissions free."

Americans who live in states dealing with fires, high winds and flooding could see insurance rates increase — or lose coverage entirely — as disasters intensify.

Why it matters: The affected areas span from coast to coast and include tens of millions of people living in two of the most populous states — California and Florida.

A few months later and weaker than expected, the tropical Pacific Ocean has officially tipped into La Niña conditions, which can influence weather patterns globally, NOAA declared Thursday.

Why it matters: La Niña winters are often drier than average across the southern tier of the U.S., with more rain and snow favored in the Pacific Northwest, among other knock-on effects.

NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad is leaving the federal atmosphere and oceans agency at an uncertain, increasingly stormy time.

Why it matters: In an exit interview with Axios, Spinrad said NOAA's services — from weather forecasting to climate research and space weather warnings — have never been more important and economically valuable.

A separate Los Angeles wildfire that ignited in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night was still threatening homes and iconic L.A. landmarks early Thursday morning.

The big picture: The Sunset Fire was one of multiple fires burning out of control across Los Angeles County as of Thursday.

Beyond the immediate danger posed by wildfires spreading through Los Angeles County is the smoke that poses a worrisome threat to the health of millions in the area.

Why it matters: Wildfire smoke can exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD and has been associated with higher risk of cardiac arrest and stroke. Particulates can trigger inflammation even in healthy individuals.

As winter storms bring snow and ice to wide swaths of the U.S. this week, it's worth a look back to see when your area set its all-time snowfall record.

How it works: NOAA captures reported snowfall maximums from each county, along with the exact measurement location.

The devastating Los Angeles County wildfires burst into the political sphere Wednesday, as President-elect Trump blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for "virtually apocalyptic" scenes of destruction.

Why it matters: Trump — always in campaign mode — and some of his GOP allies are seizing on the wildfires to try to score political points against a Democratic governor who's widely seen as a potential 2028 contender for the White House.

The devastating wildfires raging through Los Angeles are re-opening the debate about how to model and manage risk for the insurance industry, as climate change makes such destruction more inevitable.

Why it matters: California's insurance market is in the middle of major reforms to deal with the cost of fire, but they may not be fast enough given the billions of dollars at stake.

Multiple wildfires in Los Angeles County, fueled by record dry conditions and unusually high winds, continue to burn while thousands of firefighters work to put out the flames.

The big picture: Five fatalities have been reported in the Eaton Fire, north of Pasedena, along with "a number of injuries, and over 1,000 structures damaged or destroyed," said Los Angeles County fire chief, Anthony Marrone, at a Wednesday evening briefing.

Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) is fresh off his victory over one of the last red-state Democrats and has his next target: fixing how the federal government fights wildfires.

Why it matters: Sheehy, who has worked fighting wildfires, told Axios that he is focused on passing reforms to the system as his first move in the Senate — as fires ravage Los Angeles County.