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Particularly Dangerous Situation warning issued, Los Angeles County reopens Altadena to residents

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In a situation similar to before the Eaton and Palisades fires, meteorologists have issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation warning just before Los Angeles County officials allowed all Altadena residents to return to their neighborhoods. 

The National Weather Service issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation warning as damaging wind gusts were predicted to reach up to 100 mph in some areas. Peak winds started Monday afternoon and strengthen as the evening goes on before lessening by Tuesday evening.

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area
ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: In an aerial view, a lone Firefighter walks through a neighborhood destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 19, 2025 in Altadena, California. Multiple wildfires which were fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds have burned across Los Angeles County leaving at least 28 dead with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures, many of them homes and businesses, burned in the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Getty Images

"This is already the third Particularly Dangerous red flag warning issued in the month of January, which is 'unprecedented' for this area," said James White, an incident meteorologist at the NWS.

State and local officials have prepositioned fire crews across the region who are ready to respond if flames break out.

"I want to advise everybody and remind the public that we are in a set position in the ready, set, go lineup, that means you should be ready to go immediately," said Daron Wyatt, PIO for Unified Command of the Eaton Fire. 

Two weeks after the Eaton and Palisades fires erupted, dry weather and low humidity levels remain a concern. 

Amber Lee’s 5 a.m. forecast | NEXT Weather 02:58

"What we are expecting today is two main concerns. One is that it is going to get dry very very quickly. The second thing we are expecting is strong northeast winds," White said. 

Smoke and dust advisories have been issued and extended since the start of the fires. Public health officials warn that strong wind gusts could spread harmful ash and debris through communities. 

The Palisades Fire broke out on Jan. 7 in the Pacific Palisades area and was quickly spread by a "life-threatening and destructive" windstorm. Strong Santa Ana winds carried embers which ignited new hot spots. A few hours later, the Eaton Fire sparked in the northeast portion of the county near Pasadena and Altadena.

Flames from both fires engulfed structures forcing residents to leave their homes. Officials quickly issued mandatory evacuation orders which affected thousands of residents. 

Search and rescue crews have found human remains in debris from the fire zones. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed 28 deaths in relation to the fires. It is not confirmed if all the deaths are a result of the fires.

Repopulation has begun for the Palisades and Eaton fire zones with most evacuation orders downgraded to warnings.

The cause of both fires remains under investigation. 

Eaton Fire

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area
ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 9: Khaled Fouad, left, and Mimi Laine, right, embrace as they inspect a family member's property that was destroyed by Eaton Fire on Jan. 9, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.  Getty Images

The Eaton Fire has burned 14,021 acres and is 89% contained, as of Monday morning. The weaker wind activity allowed air and ground operations to monitor and extinguish hot spots.

Cal Fire reported Monday morning, over 10,000 structures were destroyed or damaged during the fire. Crews have completed 98% of inspections and assessments in the fire zone. 

Residents are able to view real-time maps of the damage assessments and see if their home is still standing, or what level of damage has occurred.

The LA County Medical Examiner has confirmed 17 deaths tied to the fire. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating 24 active missing persons cases. Over the weekend, a vigil was held to honor the victims. 

The city of Pasadena declared a local public health emergency due to the widespread impacts of the Eaton Fire. Harmful ash and debris could circulate through the community by strong winds. 

Evacuation orders and curfew 

Several areas remain under evacuation orders and warnings but repopulation has begun. 

In a post on X, LA County officials announced that all Altadena residents were allowed to return to their neighborhoods. However, some areas will still be under an evacuation order with "soft closures."

"These are open only to residents with valid proof of residence (driver's license, registration, utility bills, etc.)," LA County officials posted. 

Click here to see a full list of evacuation orders. 

An estimated 331,335 people were affected by evacuation advisories because of the fires when taking into account U.S. Census Bureau figures combined with information from local fire authorities. For perspective, 331,335 people can fill SoFi Stadium three times over.  

Officials issued a curfew a few days after the fires broke out to prevent looting and other crimes while residents were evacuated from their homes. The curfew is from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. and it remains in effect for areas under mandatory orders and warnings. 

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna called for the assistance of the National Guard to enforce the curfew. 

The sheriff's department has arrested several individuals for impersonating firefighters in the fire zones. Last week, Luna said 36 people had been arrested in or near the Eaton Fire zone. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has made it clear his office will not take any crimes committed in the fire-impacted zones lightly. He said anyone arrested in those areas will be prosecuted and charged to the full extent of the law.   

Palisades Fire

Pacific Palisades homes after wildfire in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: A view of burned houses and cars in Pacific Palisades neighborhood during Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, California, United States on January 11, 2025. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

The 23,713-acre fire is 63% contained, as of Monday morning. Firefighters have seen minimal fire behavior in the past few weeks and have stopped growth. 

Amid the Particularly Dangerous Situation weather warning in effect for Monday and into Tuesday, fire crews are strategically positioned across the city to respond, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley said. Crews will be augmented at the Palisades Fire site, while resources like fire patrols and fire engines are strategically positioned in the high-risk areas across the city. 

She said regional and state partners have prepositioned fire engines and aircraft across Southern California, anticipating any new fires that may ignite, during the PDS warning.   

Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass named civic leader Steve Soboroff — a former police commissioner and advisor to late former Mayor Richard Riordan, who was a driving force in the development of the STAPLES Center and Playa Vista — leader of the city's rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire as chief recovery officer.   

Late Monday, Cal Fire confirmed that more than  6,200 structures were destroyed. Firefighters have finished roughly 75% of their damage assessments. 

Within hours the wildfire spread by thousands of acres. About 30 vehicles were abandoned on Sunset Boulevard, near PCH. Footage from drivers showed people getting out of their cars to flee the area. Dozers came by moving the vehicles allowing emergency crews access. 

At least 10 deaths have been confirmed by the LA County Medical Examiner in connection to the fire. The sheriff's department is actively investigating seven missing persons cases from the Palisades Fire. Search and rescue crews are using cadaver dogs to locate any human remains in the area. 

Search and rescue teams have completed 95% of their recovery operations. 

Evacuation orders and curfew

Some residents in the impacted Palisades Fire zone remain under vacation orders and warnings, even though many have been downgraded or lifted. Officials said during a Monday news conference that more than 24,000 remain evacuated.

Click here to see a full list of evacuation orders and warnings. 

Santa Monica lifted all of its evacuation warnings on Saturday and opened Pacific Coast Highway for local access within city limits. 

A curfew remains in effect for areas under mandatory evacuation orders and warnings from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

Several individuals have been arrested for impersonating firefighters in the fire zones. Last week, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced charges against people who had been arrested near the fire zones. 

After dozens of arrests, Hochman said he plans on making looting a felony crime punishable by prison rather than county jail. 

Road closures 

State and federal responses to the fires

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the wildfires. President Joe Biden also approved a Major Disaster Declaration securing additional aid for the region.     

FEMA offers resources for residents in fire-affected areas, visit disasterassistance.gov to apply.

Newsom has signed multiple executive orders to help residents affected by the fires and to help the Los Angeles area rebuild.

California insurance commissioner issued a one-year moratorium on non-renewals and cancelations for homeowners in the impacted areas. Commissioner Ricardo Lara extended the protections of his moratorium to cover residents affected by other wildfires that broke out during the same time as the Eaton Palisades fires. 

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