LA Fire updates: Los Angeles County under red flag warning for extreme fire danger due to Santa Ana wind event
Jesus Reyes
1/20/25
4:45 p.m. – Los Angeles County has announced that “all Altadena communities” affected by the Eaton Fire “are now open for residents to return.” The county posted on X that some areas are still under evacuation order with “soft closures” — meaning they will be open only to residents with valid proof of residence.
10:00 a.m. – Red flag parking restrictions are now in the city of Los Angeles until further notice, according to the fire department. The restrictions are aimed at keeping streets clear in high fire-danger areas to facilitate evacuations and access of firefighting equipment.
8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles County will be under a red flag warning for extreme fire danger from 8 a.m. Monday morning through 2 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters say a “moderate to strong” Santa Ana wind event is expected, with isolated gusts of 80 to 100 mph expected in most wind-prone mountain locations, such as the San Gabriel, western Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains according to the National Weather Service.
7:00 a.m. – Fire Updates
Eaton Fire: The fire remains at 14,021 acres and is now 87% contained
Palisades Fire: The fire remains at 23,713 with 59% containment
1/17/25
1:05 p.m. – More residents were allowed to return to their homes in the Palisades Fire area.
6:18 a.m. – More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Officials said they understand their frustration but ask residents for patience as hazardous materials teams and cadaver dogs comb the sites block-by-block. They said it will be a week or more before people can go back.
6:07 a.m. – The Eaton Fire remained 55% contained, while the Auto Fire was 85% contained Friday morning.
6:05 a.m. – The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes that have burned in the L.A. area, was 27% contained Friday morning, according to Cal Fire.
5:45 a.m. – Aided by cooler temperatures and calm winds, firefighters extended containment of the deadly Palisades Fire to 31%
1/16/25
7:00 p.m. – Los Angeles Fire Department lists areas of partial repopulation for the Palisades fire and directs those who are uncertain of the status of their area to enter their address on the Genasys Protect website. Address verification is necessary – Acceptable form is an ID that displays the resident’s name, photo, and physical address.
4:30 p.m. – The combined death toll from the Eaton and Palisades fires is now 27, up two from yesterday, according to the county medical examiner. There are 17 deaths tied to the Eaton Fire, and 10 to the Palisades Fire.
3:30 p.m. – The sheriff’s department has announced the repopulation of more neighborhoods near the Eaton Fire burn area. The affected area is for residents along Canyon Crest Road into The Meadows east of El Prieto Road.
Eaton Fire Update for Thursday, January 16th, 2025: Repopulation and Safety Guidelines – https://t.co/p8UAy5Btxl pic.twitter.com/XoLMZ2GqLp
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 16, 2025
2:20 p.m. – Some residents in the Palisades Fire area were allowed to return home
Palisades Fire Update for Thursday, Jan 16th, 2025: Repopulation and Safety Guidelines
The following zones will be reopened to residents:- Zone TOP-U001: North of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and South of Mulholland Drive- Zone TOP-U002: North of Old Topanga Canyon Road and South… pic.twitter.com/ylyimFJwZQ
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 16, 2025
1:00 p.m. – The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Temple Station is reporting that the National Guard has been deployed in Duarte to assist the station in restricting unauthorized access to the San Gabriel Riverbed, deemed a high-risk fire area.
9:00 a.m. – Incident updates
PalisadesFire
Pacific Palisades (LA County)
23,713 acres, 22% contained
EatonFire
North Pasadena and Altadena (LA County)
14,117 acres, 55% contained
HurstFire
Sylmar Area (LA County)
799 acres, 98% contained
Forward progress stopped
AutoFire* Ventura (Ventura County)
61 acres, 85% contained
Forward progress stopped
LittleMountainFire (FINAL)
Little Mountain Drive, San Bernardino (San Bernardino County)
34 acres, 100% contained
6:00 a.m. – A hillside home in Pacific Palisades slid from its foundation and split in two in what appears to be a mud slide
5:50 a.m. – Los Angeles city and county officials are giving an update on the wildfire impacts Thursday morning at a press conference, which is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Click here to watch live.
5:10 a.m. – The strongest winds were weakening, giving firefighters a much-needed break. Conditions are forecast to continue to improve this week, but the National Weather Service said dangerous conditions are expected next week.
4:57 a.m. – As some evacuees from the Eaton and Palisades fires began returning home this week after their neighborhoods were decimated by wildfires, health officials warned there was still plenty cause for concern.
Air quality and safety are top-of-mind for returnees.
Check Out Our Resources Guide for Ways to Help Those Impacted
Palisades Fire – 23,713 acres, 59% contained
The Palisades Fire was the first major fire to start up on January 7, reported at just before noon. As of now, it has burned nearly 24,000 acres with 39% containment.
At least 10 people have died in the Palisades Fire, although authorities said they anticipate the number of fatalities to continue rising as crews begin sifting through the ash and rubble.
At least 5,000 structures have been destroyed in the blaze that has been burning since last Tuesday. That number is also expected to rise as more assessments are done in the burn area.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Eaton Fire – 14,021 acres, 87% contained
The Eaton Fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. on January 7 in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena amid hurricane force Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire.
As of Monday morning, the fire’s size was 14,021 acres with 87% containment.
Officials have completed inspections of 98% of the structures in the fire area, and so far 9,416 have been confirmed destroyed, with another 1,064 threatened.
At least 17 deaths have been attributed to the Eaton Fire, according to the LA Medical Examiner. Eight firefighters have been injured battling the blaze.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, however, on January 13, three lawsuits were filed against Southern California Edison over allegations it was started by equipment failure.
Hurst Fire – 799 acres, 100% contained
The Hurst Fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. on January 7 in the 5900 block of Yarnell Street, and within a half-hour, it had burned more than 100 acres, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.
Friday morning, officials said the fire was 100% contained.
Woodley Fire – 30 acres, 100% contained
The fire was initially reported at 75 acres just before 4 a.m. January 8, at the park located near the Ventura (101) and San Diego (405) freeways, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
CalFire reports as of 8:07 p.m. on January 8, the Woodley Fire was 100% contained.
Lidia Fire – 395 acres, 100% contained
The Lidia Fire burned 395 acres of terrain in the Acton area, threatening structures. It erupted early afternoon on January 8 in the area of Soledad Canyon Road and Bootleggers Canyon
As of 10 p.m. on January 11, the containment of the Lidia Fire was 100%, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.
Sunset Fire – 43 acres, 100% contained
The Sunset Fire started up at around 5:30 p.m. on January 8 in the Hollywood Hills. It burned approximately 43 acres between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park.
In the morning of January 9, Los Angeles city officials officials confirmed the fire was fully contained.
Kenneth Fire – 1,052 acres, 100% contained
The fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. on January 9 in an area north of the Ventura (101) Freeway near Valley Circle Boulevard. Initially reported at 20 acres, it quickly expanded to 50 acres, and within three hours, it exploded to more than 1,000 acres, pushed by continuing Santa Ana winds.
By the morning of January 12, the fire was fully contained.
The fire is being investigated as a possible arson, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A person has been detained.
LAPD investigators and deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department interviewed the man and determined there was “not enough probable cause” to arrest him as a possible arson suspect. The man was, however, arrested on suspicion of a felony probation violation.
His name was not released.
No structures were damaged by the Kenneth Fire.
Archer Fire – 19 acres, 100% contained
The fire was first reported at 10:25 a.m. on January 10 as a 2- to 3-acre blaze in the 17200 block of West Sesnon Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart.
The fire grew to 31 acres, but it was later mapped at 18.8 acres by FIRIS OES INTEL 24.
The fire was fully contained the same day.