Additional Coverage:
Southern California wildfires declared fully contained
After burning for over three weeks, the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires are finally under control. Cal Fire announced full containment on Friday.
The wind-driven blazes began on January 7th. The Palisades fire ignited near Malibu, rapidly spreading through the dry brush. Later that day, the Eaton fire erupted in the Angeles National Forest foothills, fueled by months of dry vegetation and hurricane-force winds.
Tragically, the fires claimed 29 lives: 17 in the Eaton fire and 12 in the Palisades fire. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed the fatalities.
The Palisades fire scorched over 23,000 acres, destroying nearly 7,000 structures and damaging over 1,000 more.
The Eaton fire ravaged nearly 10,000 structures and damaged over 1,000, impacting the Altadena community, known for its historic homes and diverse population. Many architectural landmarks were lost. Approximately 4,000 acres of the 14,000-acre Eaton fire burned through residential areas.
A combination of drought and extreme Santa Ana winds created dangerous fire conditions. The region experienced historically low rainfall leading up to the fires.
The National Weather Service issued rare “particularly dangerous situation” warnings prior to the fires igniting. Governor Newsom preemptively deployed state fire resources to Southern California.
Despite the devastation, some smaller fires were successfully contained. Recent rainfall significantly aided firefighters battling the blazes and reduced fire risk across the region.
Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler acknowledged the rain’s crucial role in containing the fires. The causes of both the Palisades and Eaton fires remain under investigation.