Hunter Biden's home might have burned in LA fires: president

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Joe Biden on Thursday revealed that his son, Hunter's, house in Malibu may have burned down in the Palisades wildfire.

Speaking to reporters, Biden said:  "It’s astounding what’s happened. There’s only one piece of good news.  My son lives out here and his wife.  Their — they got a notification yesterday that their home is probably burned to the ground.  Today, it appears that maybe it’s still standing.  We’re not sure."

Biden was speaking about being asked to sign a declaration that would help the Los Angeles area, which is being scorched with five wildfires raging through the area, destroying at least 2,000 properties and killing at least five people. 

Biden said he directed the Department of Defense to provide more firefighting help, the California and Nevada national guards to add more air units, and 10 Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets from San Diego.

"We’re prepared to do anything and everything as long as it takes to contain these fires and to help reconstruct and make sure we get back to normal," Biden said. "It’s going to be a hell of a long way."

Thousands of people have lost their homes, but because the fires are burning in Los Angeles, a large portion of the properties are owned by celebrities, or parents of celebrities such as the mother of Warriors' coach Steve Kerr. 

Actors Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and socialite Paris Hilton also lost their homes. 

A fire in the Hollywood Hills scorched the hills near the famed Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theatre, which is the home of the Academy Awards. 

Many of the towering fires that began on Tuesday were fueled by the powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph in some spots, blowing embers through the air and igniting block after block in the Pacific Palisades and elsewhere.

The winds lessened some on Thursday but were expected to return on Friday, forecasters said.