rory�*s mother shelley sykes spoke with our correspondent emma vardy. one came, i said to rory, you know, "we've got to go down to the main house. we're on a standby." he said, "i'm not leaving, mum, you just go." isaid, "no, rory, get ready, be prepared." he said, "no, i'm not going — you sort yourself out." he is stubborn. but then he showed me he couldn't walk. he was already on crutches but his feet had swelled so badly. anyway, it got thicker and thicker. and then the fire actually came behind the property and the smoke was just intense. at three o'clock or four o'clock in the morning they sent the emergency — you've got to evacuate. so i wrapped myself up, went to the cottage and said to rory, "we've got to either come to the house or let's jump in the car and go down." he just didn't want to leave. again, i think we were a little bit overly confident because they've stopped the fires within a day and a half with all those other... you couldn't believe it could get so bad? no, never. rory did lock the door. i kept banging on the door. he'd locked t

the wildfires in los angeles have so far claimed the lives of 2a people including 32—year—old rory sykesapers. rory had cerebral palsy and struggled with mobility — his mother shelley sykes has been speaking to our correspondent emma va rdy. isaid to i said to him, we got to go down to the main house, we are on standby. he says, "i'm not leaving, mum, you just go." isaid, "no, rory, get ready. be prepared." and he said, "no, i'm not going. "you sort yourself out." and you know, he's stubborn. but then he showed me he couldn't walk. he's already on crutches, but his feet had swelled so badly. anyway, it got thicker and thicker. and then the fire actually came behind the property and the smoke was just intense. at 3 or 4am in the morning, they sent the emergency — you've got to evacuate. so i wrapped myself up, went up to the cottage and said to rory, "come on, we've got to either come to the house or let's jump in the car and go down." and he just didn't want to leave. so i raced down, and i raced to the fire station up the road. the truck went up to my house and they were on the radio —

one of the victims of the palisades fire was 32—year—old rory sykes, a child actor from the �*90s britishow, kiddy kapers. he lived with cerebral palsy, and his mother says she escaped but could not save him. the biggest fear i had was that it might burn and hurt, because i think burning must be the most painful death, and the fire department chiefs said "no, "he will have died of carbon monoxide poisoning first." ijust can't believe my baby's not going to be here. the clean—up task is so vast, it will stretch on for months. there have been promises by officials that the rebuilding process will be made as quick as possible, by cutting red tape, to help people put their lives back together. but there is frustration that in many places it is still too dangerous to start, and the job of rehousing people will take time. it will take months, if not years. i know that, in hawaii, it took at least temporary housing for a year, so we don't know what the situation will be here. all around, signs of the trauma the city has suffered, as the fires overwhelmed communities. as people tried to escape fr

rory had cerebral palsy and struggled with mobility — his mother shelley sykes has been speaking to ours, "i'm not leaving, mum, you just go." isaid, "no, rory, get ready. be prepared." and he said, "no, i'm not going. "you sort yourself out." and you know, he's stubborn. but then he showed me he couldn't walk. he's already on crutches, but his feet had swelled so badly. anyway, it got thicker and thicker. and then the fire actually came behind the property and the smoke was just intense. at 3 or 4am in the morning, they sent the emergency — you've got to evacuate. so i wrapped myself up, went up to the cottage and said to rory, "come on, we've got to either come to the house or let's jump in the car and go down." and he just didn't want to leave. so i raced down, and i raced to the fire station up the road. the truck went up to my house and they were on the radio — just check if it's the third cottage or whatever where he's in. and then, within an hour, they came back and said, "we want you to come up." so i'm thinking, "oh, my god, they haven't brought "rory back with them." so, you k

rory sykes, a child actor who starred in the late �*90s tv show kiddy kapers. lsy and struggled with mobility — his mother shelley sykes has been speaking to our correspondent emma va rdy. i said to him, "we've got to go down to the main house, we're on standby. " he says, "i'm not leaving, mum, you just go." isaid, "no, rory, get ready. be prepared." and he said, "no, i'm not going. you sort yourself out." and you know, he's stubborn. but then he showed me he couldn't walk. he's already on crutches, but his feet had swelled so badly. anyway, it got thicker and thicker. and then the fire actually came behind the property and the smoke was just intense. at 3 or 4am in the morning, they sent the emergency — you've got to evacuate. so i wrapped myself up, went up to the cottage and said to rory, "come on, we've got to either come to the house or let's jump in the car and go down." and he just didn't want to leave. so i raced down, and i raced to the fire station up the road. the truck went up to my house and they were on the radio — to cinders and ash. there wasn't

one of the victims of the palisades fire was 32—year—old rory sykes, a child actor from the 90s britished with cerebral palsy, and his mother said she escaped but she could not eave him. the biggest fear i had was he might burn and hurt, because i think burning must be the most painful death, and the fire department chiefs said "no, he will have died of carbon monoxide poisoning first." ijust can't believe my baby's not going to be here. the clean—up task is so vast it will stretch on for months. there have been promises by officials that the rebuilding process will be made as quick as possible, by cutting red tape, to help people put their lives back together. but there is frustration that in many places it is still too dangerous to start. and the job of rehousing people will take time. it will take months, if not years. i know that in hawaii it took at least temporary housing for a year, so we don't know what the situation will be here. all around, signs of the trauma the city has suffered, as the fires overwhelmed communities. as people tried to escape from the oncoming flames, in th

rory sykes, de 32 aÑos, estaba ciego y padecÍa de parÁlisis cerebral.arly anne, louise kelly, rodney kent nickerson, ambos de 83 aÑos, y vÍctor shaw, de 66, se negaron a dejar sus casas que terminaron devoradas por las llamas. este sÁbado, la fuerza del viento dificulta apagar las llamas que amenazan mÁs zonas residenciales y por consiguiente, podrÍaa provocar mÁs pÉrdidas de vidas humanas. tenemos cobertura en equipo con erica flores y carlos robles, que estÁn en diferentes puntos del condado de los Ángeles. y alejandro godina en mÉxico, paÍs que ofrece ayuda. pero comenzamos contigo. erika. erika quÉ es lo Último? cuÉntanos. >> por quinto dÍa, los Ángeles arden llamas. el incendio es el mayor siniestro en el condado. avanza ferozmente tierra adentro, consumiendo todo a su paso, incluyendo cientos de estructuras adicionales. y amenazan nuevas comunidades como encino, westley y brentwood. albino se quedÓ sin empleo. el restaurante donde habÍa trabajado por dÉcadas como mesero fue devorado por el fuego. >> mi corazÓn estÁ acÁ. mi corazÓn estÁ aquÍ. mi vi

. >> reporter: former child actor rory sykes born blind, also had cerebral palsy. >> he said, mom, leave no mom can leave their kid. and i have got a broken heart. i couldn't lift him, couldn't move him. >> reporter: his mom telling an australian news organization she drove to get help from firefighters. >> when the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground. >> reporter: at least two victims tried to protect their homes from flames where they raised families and lived for decades. like victor shaw and rodney nickerson. >> great person. funny. the life of the party. loved people. very intelligent man. loved to read. >> reporter: and there is randy, a malibu sur officer who lived on the pacific coast highway in his well known red crab shack. he was found there according to hi mom who said his last words were, pray for the palisades and pray for malibu. i love you. >> the sad reality is that officials say the death toll could rise in the coming days? >> reporter: that's right, tom. and some areas they say are still too dangerous to go into. authorities say it will

. —— rory sykes. ijust can't believe my baby is not going to be here.it will stretch on for months. there have been promised by officials that the rebuilding process will be made as quick as possible. by cutting red tape, to help people put their lives back together. but there is frustration, that in many places it is still too dangerous to start. and the job of rehousing people will take time. it will take months if not years, i know that in hawaii it took at least temporary housing for a year, so we don't know what the situation will be here. all around, signs of the triplet ma the city has suffered, as the fires overwhelmed communities. as people tried to escape from the oncoming flame information this mart of pacific palisades many abandoned their cars and you can imagine the sense of panic, many appearing to have crashed into each other as they tried to flee. you can see why they ran. because here is what is left, after the fire reached this spot not long after. 23 people are still missing. and many addresses are still to be searched for human rema

one of the victims of the palisades fire was 32—year—old rory sykes, a child actor from the �*90s britishow, kiddy kapers. he lived with cerebral palsy, and his mother says she escaped but could not save him. the biggest fear i had was that it might burn and hurt, because i think burning must be the most painful death, and the fire department chiefs said "no, "he will have died of carbon monoxide poisoning first." ijust can't believe my baby's not going to be here. the clean—up task is so vast, it will stretch on for months. there have been promises by officials that the rebuilding process will be made as quick as possible, by cutting red tape, to help people put their lives back together. but there is frustration that in many places it is still too dangerous to start, and the job of rehousing people will take time. it will take months, if not years. i know that in hawaii it took at least temporary housing for a year, so we don't know what the situation will be here. all around, signs of the trauma the city has suffered, as the fires overwhelmed communities. as people tried to escape from

nickerson was 82. 32-year-old rory sykes overcame so much in life. blind and with cerebral palsy. but after numerous surgeries, he regained partial eyesight and learn to walk with help. his mother, shelley, wrote, "despite the pain, he is still enthused about traveling the world with me." geoff: our thoughts are with those families and all of those who suffered losses in the fires. that is the news hour. i am geoff bennett. amna: on behalf of the news hour team, thank you for joining us. >> major funding for the pbs news hour has been provided by -- >> in 1995, 2 friends set out to make wireless coverage accessible to all. with no long-term contracts, nationwide coverage, and 100% u.s.-based customer support. consumer cellular, freedom calls. >> carnegie corporation of new york, working to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for education, democracy and peace. more information at carnegie.org. ♪ >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions. this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting, and

this is 32 year-old rory sykes. he died in his cottage on his family's malibu property.se mother says he even born blind and has cerebral palsy. but he went on to achieve amazing things. she says she frantically tried to help. she couldn't get through to 9-1-1. she also she tried to use a hose on the property, but the water was turned off. >> when fire department brought me back. these cottages the to the ground. it was my and he died needlessly. >> she says her son died from carbon monoxide poisoning. democratic assembly speaker robert reavis has announced a new bill aimed at trying to help fire victims. meantime, you have republican lawmakers, they want a new special session on fire systems and prevention. capitol correspondent eytan wallace has that story. >> thank you for your service and thank you for protecting our communities. >> the state senate beginning the day with a standing ovation for first responders on the front lines of the fires in southern california. i think the residents. >> la county need to hear the state senate loud and clear. we have your back. a

motivational speaker unfortunately one of the people who died in the palisades fire. 32 year-old rory sykes died in his cottage his family's malibu property. his mother says he'd been born blind and has cerebral palsy. she says she had frantically tried to get help but couldn't get through to 9-1-1. that day. the fbi has released photos showing a civilian drone. the damage i should say, caused by a civilian drone against what's called a super scooper firefighting plane. it happened at the scene of the palisades fire. the impact left a hole in the plane's wing forcing it to be grounded. and as people fled the flames in southern california, many pets were left behind in the san francisco spca is among the many organizations helping in that effort to find care for them to create space for any rescue pets. the shelter is waiving adoption fees right now for their current inventory. puppies. there are also plenty of cats available too. all are spayed and neutered. they're microchipped and they've all been vaccinated. >> samtrans new and improved at for the ride. plus service is available now. fre

angeles area left nothing but scorched ground and rubble to what was once shelley sykes. 32 year-old son rorylum sykes cottage in malibu. it was my and he died needlessly on ax. shelley shares that worry a british-born australian living in the u.s. who was sought out as an inspirational speaker as young as 8 years old, was born blind. and with cerebral palsy as the fire storm got close to, where is home? shelley rushed to call for help. all the phone lines were down. shelley says she tried to put embers out on her son's roof with a hose, but the water was turned off network. 10 news first in australia reported that shelley drove to the local fire station, but they also didn't have any water. they said we've got no >> and i said, oh, my god, my son money is locked in his room when she made it back to the property. >> cottage was gone when fire department brought me back. these cottages the to the as the horrific blafes spread. rufus lee, in part due to heavy winds. l a mayor says once the fires are out, officials will look at what worked and what didn't to help prevent a historic tragedy like

and finally, rory callum sykes, an australian former child star, died when wildfire ripped through his family's malibu estate. he appeared on the 1998 british tv series kiddy kapers. his mother, shelley, describes him as beautiful and wonderful. president joe biden says he and the federal government are making every effort to aid california's firefighting and provide support in what will be a difficult aftermath. cnn's julia benbrook reports from the white house. >> the biden administration says it is in constant communication with california governor gavin newsom and los angeles mayor karen bass. >> those two leaders were a part of a briefing where biden was updated on the efforts to suppress the fires across l.a., and how federal resources are being used to assist with the response on the ground. >> following that briefing, biden said that his team would continue to work 24 over seven with state and local officials. >> this promise comes as biden has just over a week left in office. >> we're going to make sure california has every possible resource to fight these fires and help survi

. >> and rory callum sykes, an australian former child star, died when the wildfire ripped through hisfamily's malibu estate. he appeared on the 1998 british tv series kiddy kapers. his mother, shelley, describes him as a beautiful and wonderful person. for more information about how you can help los angeles area wildfire victims, go to cnn.com. slash impact or text wildfires to 70 7070 to donate. tonight, a special hour on the deadly fires in los angeles and the residents facing unthinkable tragedy. join anderson cooper for the whole story tonight at 8 p.m. eastern, right here on cnn. all right. thank you so much for joining me today, along with bill weir in california. i'm fredricka whitfield. cnn newsroom continues with jessica dean and erin burnett. right now.

. >> and rory callum sykes. former child star from australia died when the palisades fire ripped through his family's malibu estate. he appeared in the 1998 british tv series kiddy kapers. his mother, shelley, describes him as beautiful and wonderful, and we turn now to what one family is calling a glimmer of hope found amid the fires destruction. while searching the rubble of a home burned by the palisades fire. these firefighters found a family heirloom a ring that's been handed down through three generations. the family says it was a miraculous moment. they thanked the firefighters, who they say helped them believe that all was not lost. and for more information about how you can help the victims of the los angeles county wildfires, go to cnn.com. slash impact. and i want to thank you all for joining us this hour. i'm rosemary church, cnn newsroom continues next with max foster and christina macfarlane. >> kobe, who's global people, felt his presence. >> kobe the making of a legend premieres january 25th on c

. >> and then there is rory callum sykes. he's a former child star from australia. he died when the palisades fire ripped through his family's malibu estate. he appeared in the 1998 british tv series kiddy kapers. his mother, shelley, described him as beautiful and wonderful. and we want to thank you for sticking around and watching those tributes. i'm polo sandoval. our breaking news coverage continues after the break. >> kobe believed in himself at the youngest possible age. >> it's one of the most remarkable history. i don't want to be remembered as just a basketball player. kobe premieres january 25th on cnn. these days, the dollar just doesn't go as far. but at red lobster, you're big shrimp and baby, it's shrimp your way. choose 2 or 3 flavors starting at just 16.99, like garlic shrimp scampi. get your shrimp on today only at red lobster. >> your wallet is always in danger. criminals can scan and hack your information without you even knowing. worse yet, it's bulky and so disorganized. but not anymore. because slim is in. introducing slim men, an ultra thin rf