The Brief

Water departments across L.A. County, including the L.A. Department of Water and Power and Pasadena Water and Power, have issued water advisories for residents near the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Because the fires have opened up the potential for contaminants to get in the water system, these notices offer guidelines for how to use the water safely if you’re in an affected area.

There are two types of advisories in effect right now due to the wildfires. Here’s what advisories are active, what they each mean and what you should do if they affect your area.

What areas are under advisory right now?

To check whether your home is under a water advisory, first make sure you know what water department or district you’re in. You can figure that out by checking your water bill to see which agency is listed. If you’re a renter, ask your landlord.

Here are the current notices. Keep in mind these advisories don’t always apply to the entire district. Read the notice to see if your address is in the impacted area:

• L.A. Department of Water and Power (ZIP code 90272 and adjacent areas): Do Not Drink
• Pasadena Water and Power: Do Not Drink. See the map of affected areas here
• Kinneloa Irrigation District: Do Not Drink
• Las Flores Water Company: Do Not Use
• L.A. County Waterworks Districts
  
  • LACWD No. 29, Malibu: Do Not Drink
• Lincoln Avenue Water Company: Do Not Use
• Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association: Do Not Use

Note: L.A. County Waterworks District No. 21 in Kagel Canyon cancelled its Boil Water notice on Jan. 13. Pasadena Water and Power also reduced the areas affected by the Do Not Drink notice on Jan. 13, but some areas remain under the advisory. The most recent map is linked above.

What is a Do Not Drink Notice?

A Do Not Drink Notice means you should not drink your tap water at all — and don't try to treat the water yourself by boiling, filtering or adding anything to it.

Agencies will issue a Do Not Drink notice when “the water supply has an acute contaminant that cannot be rendered safe by boiling the water or by disinfection, or is an unapproved source with no water quality data,” according to LADWP.

Here are the guidelines to follow if you’re under a Do Not Drink Notice:

• Drinking and baby formula: Do not use tap water at all, even if it is boiled. Use bottled water to drink, make baby formula and all your other drinking needs.
• Showering and bathing: Using tap water to bathe is safe, but be careful not to swallow the water or let it come into contact with nicks, cuts or open wounds. Sponge bathing is advised. Limit your time in the bath or shower, and do not take hot baths. Use lukewarm water and ventilate the area. 
• Washing dishes: Use bottled water. If you’re using a dishwasher, use the air-dry setting. 
• Washing clothes: It’s OK to use cold tap water to wash your clothes. If your clothes dryer does not vent outside, avoid using it and dry your laundry indoors.
• Washing vegetables and other food prep: Use bottled water for washing or handling food, and for making ice — don’t use automatic ice makers. 
• Washing hands: It’s safe to wash them with tap water as long as you wash vigorously with soap. If you’re washing your hands to prepare food, use bottled water. 
• Water for pets: Use bottled water.
• Swimming pools and hot tubs: Do not use them.

What is a Do Not Use Notice?

This notice means you shouldn’t use the tap water for any home activities, including showering, hand washing, drinking, food preparation or washing dishes. Local water departments say to use bottled water only for all of your water needs.

What is a Boil Water Notice?

A Boil Water Notice means it’s not safe to drink or use your water without boiling it first. There are not currently any Boil Water Notices in effect — as we noted earlier, a Boil Water Notice for L.A. County Waterworks District No. 21 in Kagel Canyon was cancelled earlier this week.

According to LADWP guidelines, a Boil Water Notice is put out when “the water supply has a microbiological contaminant that can be rendered safe by boiling the water or by using bottled water.” The widespread practice of disinfecting water via boiling dates back to 1858 to fight cholera outbreaks.

The rule of thumb for boiling your water is to bring it to a full rolling boil for at least one minute and then allow the water about 30 minutes to cool, according to the CDC.

LADWP advises that you “make up a batch of boiled water in advance so you will not be tempted to use it hot and risk scalds or burns. Boiled water may be used for drinking, cooking, and washing.”

To store your water after it has cooled, just pour it into a clean and covered container.

Here are the guidelines to follow if you’re under a Boil Water Notice:

• Drinking and baby formula: Use pre-boiled or bottled water. 

• Showering and bathing: According to LADWP, the water in your home may be used for showering, bathing, shaving and washing as long as you take care not to swallow any water and avoid having water come into contact with nicks, open wounds, cuts or blisters. Limiting time in the bath or shower can help minimize contact with the water.

  • People who are immunocompromised or have chronic illnesses should use boiled, then cooled water to bathe — sponge bathing is advisable here. 

• Washing dishes:

  • Hand-wash with pre-boiled water. Otherwise, you can rinse your dishes for a minute in a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water) after washing them with dish detergent. 
  • It’s fine to use the water for home dishwashers under the condition that the hot wash is at least 170° F and includes a full dry cycle. If you aren’t sure about the temperature of your specific dishwasher, that diluted bleach mixture rinse we mentioned above is your best friend.
  • You can use a commercial dishwasher if it is a National Sanitation Foundation listed washer.
• Washing clothes: It’s fine to use a washing machine for laundry, as long as the clothes are fully dried before being worn.
• Washing vegetables and other food prep: Wash them with boiled, then cooled, water.
• Brushing teeth: Use pre-boiled or bottled water. 
• Washing hands: It’s okay to use tap water, but use soap and scrub well. If you plan to handle food, use bottled or pre-boiled water.
• Water for pets: Pets can drink pre-boiled or bottled water. For more specific information, contact your vet.

What if I accidentally drank the tap water?

Under any of these advisories, LADWP says the likelihood of becoming sick is low, but still possible, especially for those who are immunocompromised or have a chronic illness. Seek out medical attention if you have any symptoms of gastroenteritis, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramps, with or without fever.

Is my home water filter enough to make my water safe to drink? 

No — and that applies to all three advisories. The average home filter is not designed to filter out the types of bacteria that are produced by a wildfire, according to Newsha Ajami, a hydrologist and leading expert in sustainable water resource management. Home filters are built for metals and toxins that are more commonly found in tap water on a day to day basis, Ajami said.

How does water contamination happen from a wildfire?

Ajami says there are a few different ways that the water supply can get contaminated from a wildfire.

One is cracks in the pipes. When water pressure goes down in the pipes due to the high usage from firefighting, the water that has leaked out into the ground is sucked back through the cracks along with all kinds of toxins and pollutants.

A firefighting helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire.

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Another risk is debris making its way into groundwater.

Overheated pipes can also lead to contamination of the water supply. The fires can melt them and affect the efficiency of entire water systems, Ajami said.

How long will these notices be in effect? 

Expect notices to be updated every two days. According to an FAQ from LADWP, the agency will inform residents when tests show that water is safe to drink. That testing takes a minimum of 48 hours to complete according to public safety protocols.

For the Do Not Drink Notice, LADWP says that the changing conditions of this particular event, along with the time it will take to flush the system and making sure the water adheres to their standards makes it difficult to give an estimate.

Pasadena Water and Power began testing its water on Jan. 12. You can look for the latest updates on the department’s website.

Where can I get bottled water?

Potable water is available at:

• 450 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, 91101 (Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) 
• 23533 West Civic Center Way, Malibu, 90265 (every day until further notice, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Adjacent to the Brentwood Country Club, 741 S. Gretna Green Way, Los Angeles, 90049 (Monday to Wednesday, Jan. 13 – 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, 90025 (every day until further notice, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Who do I contact with questions about the safety of my water?

Here are phone numbers to call for local water departments:

• Pasadena Water and Power
  
  • Customer service: (626) 744-4005
  • Water emergencies: (626) 744-4138 
• LADWP: (800) DIAL DWP or (800) 342-5397
• Kinneloa Irrigation District: General Manager Tom Majich, (626) 797-6295
• L.A. County Waterworks District: (800) 675-4357 
• Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association: Assistant General Manager Armando De La Paz, (626) 797-0509
• Lincoln Avenue Water Company: (626) 798-9101
• State Water Resources Control Board District Office: (818) 551-2004

LAist reporters Erin Stone and Cato Hernández contributed to this story.

DUARTE, Calif. — Veteran actor T.K. Carter, who appeared in the horror film "The Thing" and "Punky Brewster" on television, has died at the age of 69.

Carter was declared dead Friday evening after deputies responded to a call regarding an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Police did not disclose a cause of death or other details, but said no foul play was suspected.

Thomas Kent "T.K." Carter was born Dec. 18, 1956, in New York City and was raised in Southern California.

He began his career in stand-up comedy and with acting roles. Carter had been acting for years before a breakthrough role as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing." He also had a recurring role in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster."

Other big-screen roles include "Runaway Train" in 1985, "Ski Patrol" in 1990 and "Space Jam" in 1996.

"T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres," his publicist, Tony Freeman, said in a statement. "He brought laughter, truth, and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike."

Copyright 2026 NPR

Downtown Los Angeles

A person in an inflatable frog suit holds a sign during a protest in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2026 against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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A woman holds incense during a protest in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2026 against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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A person holds up a sign during a protest in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2026 against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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A person holds up a sign during a protest in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2026 against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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A tourist bus drives past as people protest in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2026 against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

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Etienne Laurent

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Pasadena

Alison Brett (far right) of La Crescenta at the Ice Out For Good protest in Pasadena on Jan. 10, 2026.

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Casey Law of South Pasadena at Ice Out For Good protest in Pasadena on Jan. 10.

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People have been taking to the streets nationwide this weekend to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer this week.

At least 1,000 events across the U.S. were planned for Saturday and Sunday, according to Indivisible, a progressive grassroots coalition of activists helping coordinate the movement it calls "ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action."

Leah Greenberg, a co-executive director of Indivisible, said people are coming together to "grieve, honor those we've lost, and demand accountability from a system that has operated with impunity for far too long."

"Renee Nicole Good was a wife, a mother of three, and a member of her community. She, and the dozens of other sons, daughters, friends, siblings, parents, and community members who have been killed by ICE, should be alive today," Greenberg said in a statement on Friday. "ICE's violence is not a statistic, it has names, families, and futures attached to it, and we refuse to look away or stay silent."

Large crowds of demonstrators carried signs and shouted "ICE out now!" as protests continued across Minneapolis on Saturday. One of those protestors, Cameron Kritikos, told NPR that he is worried that the presence of more ICE agents in the city could lead to more violence or another death.

"If more ICE officers are deployed to the streets, especially a place here where there's very clear public opposition to the terrorizing of our neighborhoods, I'm nervous that there's going to be more violence," the 31-year grocery store worker said. "I'm nervous that there are going to be more clashes with law enforcement officials, and at the end of the day I think that's not what anyone wants."

Demonstrators in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

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The night before, hundreds of city and state police officers responded to a "noise protest" in downtown Minneapolis. An estimated 1,000 people gathered Friday night, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, and 29 people were arrested.

People demonstrated outside of hotels where ICE agents were believed to be staying. They chanted, played drums and banged pots. O'Hara said that a group of people split from the main protest and began damaging hotel windows. One police officer was injured from a chunk of ice that was hurled at officers, he added.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the acts of violence but praised what he said was the "vast majority" of protesters who remained peaceful, during a morning news conference.

"To anyone who causes property damage or puts others in danger: you will be arrested. We are standing up to Donald Trump's chaos not with our own brand of chaos, but with care and unity," Frey wrote on social media.

Commenting on the protests, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told NPR in a statement, "the First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly — not rioting, assault and destruction," adding, "DHS is taking measures to uphold the rule of law and protect public safety and our officers."

Good was fatally shot the day after DHS launched a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota set to deploy 2,000 immigration officers to the state.

In Philadelphia, police estimated about 500 demonstrators "were cooperative and peaceful" at a march that began Saturday morning at City Hall, Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson Tanya Little told NPR in a statement. And no arrests were made.

In Portland, Ore., demonstrators rallied and lined the streets outside of a hospital on Saturday afternoon, where immigration enforcement agents bring detainees who are injured during an arrest, reported Oregon Public Broadcasting.

A man and woman were shot and injured by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Thursday in the city. DHS said the shooting happened during a targeted vehicle stop and identified the driver as Luis David Nino-Moncada, and the passenger as Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, both from Venezuela. As was the case in their assertion about Good's fatal shooting, Homeland Security officials claimed the federal agent acted in self-defense after Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras "weaponized their vehicle."
Copyright 2026 NPR

Bob Weir, the guitarist and songwriter who was a founding member of the popular and massively influential American rock band the Grateful Dead, has died. According to a statement from his family posted on his website and social media pages, Weir died from underlying lung issues after recently beating cancer. He was 78.

A member of the Dead for its first three decades, and a keeper of the flame of the band's legacy for three more, Weir helped to write a new chapter of American popular music that influenced countless other musicians and brought together an enormous and loyal audience. The Grateful Dead's touring, bootlegging and merchandising set an example that helped initiate the jam-band scene. Its concerts created a community that brought together generations of followers.

Known to fans as "Bobby," he was born in San Francisco as Robert Hall Parber, but was given up for adoption and raised by Frederick and Eleanor Weir. In 1964, when he was still a teenager, Weir joined guitarist Jerry Garcia in a folk music band, Mother Mcree's Uptown Jug Band. In May of 1965 Weir and Garcia were joined by bassist Phil Lesh, keyboard player Ron "Pigpen" McKernan and drummer Bill Kreutzmann to form an electric, blues-based rock and roll band that was briefly named The Warlocks. After discovering that there was another band using that name, Jerry Garcia found a phrase that caught his eye in a dictionary and in December of that year they became the Grateful Dead, launching a 30-year run over which time they grew into a cultural institution.

Weir was a singular rhythm guitarist who rarely played solos, choosing instead to create his own particular style of chording and strumming that gracefully supported Garcia's distinctive guitar explorations especially during the extended jams which were the heart of the band's popularity.

Lyrics were largely a product of a communal effort between Weir and Garcia, as well as lyricists John Perry Barlow, Robert Hunter, that often blurred the lines between who wrote what. The opening lines to "Cassidy," which first appeared on Weir's 1972 solo album Ace and was played by the Dead on live recordings including the 1981 double album Reckoning, reflect the combination of metaphor, rhyme and storytelling set to memorable melodies that the band's audiences could memorize, analyze and sing along to:

I have seen where the wolf has slept by the silver stream
I can tell by the mark he left you were in his dream
Ah, child of countless trees
Ah, child of boundless seas
What you are, what you're meant to be
Speaks his name, though you were born to me
Born to me, Cassidy

Weir's emotive singing, on "Cassidy" and other songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and the band's unofficial theme, "Truckin', " often included whoops and yells, in contrast to Garcia's calm and steady approach. His occasional tendency to forget lyrics was usually greeted by thunderous applause from fans.

After Garcia's death in 1995, at age 53, the surviving members of the band carried on in various forms and arrangements, the longest running of which was Weir's Dead & Company, which also featured Grateful Dead drummers Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. Weir and the band concluded their "final tour" in July of 2023, but then returned to the stage for two extended residencies at the Sphere in Las Vegas, in 2024 and 2025.

A self-described "compulsive music maker," in 2018 Weir formed yet another band to mine the depths of the Grateful Dead catalog. It was a stripped-down guitar, acoustic bass and drums outfit that he called Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. Its members included renowned bassist and producer Don Was.In October of 2022, Weir & Wolf Bros worked with a classical music arranger to present yet another iteration of the Dead's catalog, notable for never being played the same way twice, with a group that largely only plays what's written on the paper in front of them, the 80-piece National Symphony Orchestra.

In a 2022 interview with NPR, Weir explained the reason for that collaboration, and in doing so, seemed to offer a possible explanation for why the band's music stayed so popular for so long: "These songs are … living critters and they're visitors from another world — another dimension or whatever you want to call it — that come through the artists to visit this world, have a look around, tell their stories. I don't know exactly how that works, but I do know that it's real."

After Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, Weir kept the legacy of the Grateful Dead alive, touring with bands that came to include generations of musicians influenced by the group. Here, Weir performs with The Dead at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2009.

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Weir's work to shepherd and sustain the Dead's legacy was rewarded by ever younger generations of Deadheads, the band's loyal following, who attended tour after tour, often following the band from city to city as their parents and grandparents did during in the 1960's, '70s, '80s and '90s.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in March 2025, Weir shared his thoughts on his legacy, as well as on death and dying, that had a hint of the Eastern philosophies that were popular when the Grateful Dead emerged from the peace and love hippie movement of San Francisco. "I'll say this: I look forward to dying. I tend to think of death as a reward for a life well-lived," he said.

Copyright 2026 NPR