California fires updates: Death toll in Los Angeles fires rises to 29

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday afternoon that directs $2.5 billion in relief to help support wildfire response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles.

"We're all in this together," Newsom said during a press conference announcing the passing of the bill Thursday afternoon.

The governor was joined at the press conference by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate pro Tempore Mike McGuire, legislators and local leaders.

Newsom noted that California leaders "put politics aside" to deliver the relief package.

The governor said the funds will be made available immediately.

As much of Southern California remains under a red flag alert for weather-driven wildfire danger, firefighters across the region have been working to contain at least 10 new fires that broke out Thursday.

Most of the new blazes have been contained or have seen forward progress stopped.

Multiple fires that began in San Diego County have been contained, but the largest Border 2 Fire remains active with at least 20 acres burned.

San Bernadino County also saw two fires break out with the Highland Fire being stopped and the Baldy Fire burning just two acres.

Los Angeles County fire officials have made progress with the Sepulveda Fire, which is 54% contained.

Two fires in Ventura County, the Laguna Fire and the Acacia Fire, have also been contained.

As fires across Los Angeles County continue to spread and impact residents, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a bulletin to insurance companies on Thursday "to help speed the recovery process" for those affected.

Lara highlighted that companies must supply advance payments on claims submitted by policyholders who "suffered a total loss" in the wildfires, citing legislation that was passed in the state after the 2018 fires.

Without filing an itemized claim, companies must supply funds that are 30% of the policy’s dwelling limit, up to $250,000, according to the bulletin.

Additionally, insurers must provide policyholders with an advance payment of no less than four months of living expenses, according to the bulletin.

Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the Laguna Fire that broke out Thursday in Ventura County and prompted the evacuation of California State University Channel Island, officials said.

The blaze broke out just before 9 a.m. on agricultural land close to the university in Camarillo and spread to a nearby ridge. Fire crews quickly attacked the blaze from the ground and air to prevent it from spreading beyond 50 acres, officials said.

Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, credited "aggressive firefighting" for halting the blaze that erupted amid strong winds and single-digit humidity levels across the region.

"Having all these resources available and ready to respond within minutes of this fire breaking out made a huge difference in our ability to bring this under control," Dowd told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.