Containment of Los Angeles-area Eaton and Palisades fires increases as weather improves
Firefighters continue to contain and suppress both the Los Angeles-area wildfires Friday, as winds that battered the region earlier in the week have subsided.
All red flag warnings of critical fire danger expired Thursday evening, bringing relief for firefighting work. The National Weather Service said Thursday that the "nine-day wind siege has finally ended."
Just over a week ago, on Jan. 7., destructive Santa Ana winds fueled the Eaton Fire in the northeast portion of the county near Pasadena and the Palisades Fire in the coastal community of Pacific Palisades.
The fires have resulted in 27 confirmed deaths, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Entire neighborhoods are decimated and as of Friday, 10,694 structures have been confirmed destroyed, making the two fires the most destructive and deadliest in the state's history.
In the Eaton Fire area, some residents have been able to return to select neighborhoods since Monday, and in the Palisades Fire area, a group of residents were able to return Thursday afternoon.
"Please be assured that our firefighters continue to work 24/7 to achieve full containment of these wildfires as fast as we can. We continue to plan for the repopulation of evacuated areas, when safe," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Eaton Fire
By Friday morning, the 14,117-acre Eaton Fire had reached 65% containment. Cal Fire reported that firefighters continue to work on establishing and improving containment lines in steep, inaccessible terrain near Winter's Creek. The fire is expected to stay within its current footprint.
Urban Search and Rescue teams have completed 8,856 inspections, covering 1,100 miles in grid searches. Utility companies continue to restore infrastructure damaged by the fire.
Los Angeles County reported Friday that 14,518 structures were threatened in the Eaton Fire, 805 have been damaged and 7,193 are destroyed. Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said earlier that many of them were homes.
The LA County Medical Examiner confirmed 17 deaths are tied to the Eaton Fire, and there are 24 active missing-person cases related to the fire.
A Eaton Fire Virtual community meeting takes place at 4 p.m.
Palisades Fire
The 23,713-acre Palisades Fire is 39% contained Friday. The Santa Ana wind event that hit the region earlier in the week died down, sparing the Palisades Fire area of any wind-generated flare-ups.
"We are very fortunate that this last wind event did not cause any expansion to the Palisades Fire," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said.
On Friday, Cal Fire said crews continue to establish and improve containment lines to minimize fire spread around structures within controlled areas.
At least 10 people have died in the fire and the number of fatalities is anticipated to rise as search and rescue crews continue to sift through the ash and rubble. Seven people remain missing in the Palisades Fire area.
Los Angeles County reported Friday that 12,250 structures were threatened in the Palisades Fire, 603 were damaged and 3,501 are destroyed. That number is expected to rise as more assessments are done in the burn area.
A Palisades Fire virtual community meeting takes place Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Evacuation orders and curfew
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for thousands in the Eaton Fire area, but each day since Monday, residents in areas deemed safe have been allowed to return to their neighborhoods. More evacuation orders were lifted Thursday afternoon on the outskirts of the burn area near Altadena and Pasadena for the Eaton Fire.
For the Palisades Fire, about 11,000 residents returned to their homes Thursday afternoon after evacuation orders were lifted.
The widespread mandatory evacuation zone stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the west, the 405 Freeway to the east, San Vicente Boulevard to the south and the Encino Reservoir to the north. Some of those orders were lifted on Thursday.
A 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew continues nightly in the mandatory evacuation areas in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. Only firefighters, utility workers and law enforcement personnel are allowed in those areas.
The latest updates on evacuation orders and resources for those affected in the Palisades Fire can be found here, and for the Eaton Fire, check here.
--
Have a tip about the Southern California wildfires? Send it to CBS News Los Angeles and KCAL News.