Eaton, Palisades Fires Slow as Containment Grows, 16 Dead; Firefighters Prepare for New Winds

Firefighters Make Significant Gains

Growth of the Palisades fire slowed significantly overnight into Sunday while crews made significant gains in containing the Eaton fire, as firefighters entered their sixth day of battling the deadly, wind-driven blazes that have raged across Los Angeles County. Crews — aided by aerial water drops — were taking advantage of relatively lesser winds, before the return of dangerously gusty and dry weather is expected to once again increase the fire danger over the next several days.

Palisades Fire

The Palisades fire — which had forced a new wave of evacuations as it lit up the ridge line in Mandeville Canyon — grew by less than 100 acres overnight, according to Cal Fire estimates. It is currently estimated at 23,707 acres and 11% containment, the percentage of a fire’s border officials believe the flames will not jump.

Eaton Fire

The Eaton fire also remained about the same size — an estimated 14,117 acres — while the containment estimate jumped overnight from 15 to 27%.

Evacuations and Death Toll

Countywide, the number of ongoing evacuations — which on Sunday morning stood at 105,000 under mandatory evacuation and 87,000 under evacuation warnings — has dropped over the last few days. “Which is some good news,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna noted at a Sunday morning news conference. “But it is still a fluid situation and that could change.”

There have been 16 confirmed deaths from the fires, including 11 attributed to the Eaton fire and 5 attributed to the Palisades fire, according to a County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner update released on Saturday evening.

Firefighting Efforts

As of Sunday morning, there were more than 3,150 fire personnel assigned to the Eaton fire and more than 4,700 assigned to the Palisades fire. Luna and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell acknowledged at the Sunday news conference that evacuated residents were angry at not being able to access homes in the burn areas to get medication or other essentials they left behind.

Returning to Burn Areas

Officials explained that it was dangerous for residents to return to many burn areas, even as the frontlines of the blazes have moved on. “There are still active fires that are burning, making it extremely dangerous to the public,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said. “There is no power. There is no water. There’s broken gas lines. And we have unstable structures.”

Search and Rescue Efforts

Luna and McDonnell said search and rescue teams are searching the Palisades and Eaton fire areas for bodies, with the assistance of cadaver dogs. When bodies are found, it requires them to set up a crime scene and begin recovery efforts for the remains.

Curfews and Arrests

Law enforcement — aided by National Guard members — have instituted 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfews in the burn areas and have kept a lookout for people trying to loot homes or businesses in those communities. Luna said at this point there have been at least 29 arrests, including 25 at the Eaton fire area and 4 at the Palisades fire.

Winds and Fire Danger

With more firefighters arriving from out of state — and even out of the country — officials said the additional resources are allowing them to free up firefighters to help prepare for the return of stronger winds. Those winds are currently expected to last until Wednesday. “These winds, combined with low relative humidity and low fuel moistures, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County very high,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Containment and Progress

As they prepared for the winds to pick back up, fire crews made significant progress related to other blazes that ignited over the last week. The Kenneth fire — which erupted int he West Hills area and charred an estimated 1,052 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties — was announced to be 100 percent contained on Sunday morning. The Hurst fire — which ignited late Tuesday night in Sylmar — was 89 percent contained after burning nearly 800 acres by early Sunday. More than 300 firefighters were still battling that blaze.

Rebuilding Plans

Faced with countless residents left displaced by the fire, city and county officials said they plan to release more information in the coming days about rebuilding plans. Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday announced that he had signed an executive order suspending environmental laws for wildfire victims looking to rebuild their homes or businesses. “We need to cut through the red tape,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “That has always been a problem. Now that is over.”

Community Efforts

Community efforts to assist in the aftermath of the fires continued on Sunday. In Pasadena, a large crowd at the corner of Lake Avenue and Villa Street on Sunday, comprised of volunteers with masks on their faces, rakes and shovels in hand. They were all ready to take part in a community clean up, led by the Pasadena Job Center, after winds toppled trees and left trash strewn about.

Conclusion

The fires have had a devastating impact on the community, leaving many displaced and grieving. While containment efforts continue, the danger is far from over, with stronger winds expected to return soon. It is crucial that residents remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders to ensure their safety.

FAQs

* What is the current containment estimate for the Palisades fire?
+ 11% containment
* How many acres has the Eaton fire burned?
+ Approximately 14,117 acres
* How many people have been arrested in relation to the fires?
+ At least 29
* When are the winds expected to return?
+ Until Wednesday
* What is the current death toll from the fires?
+ 16