Title: Latest Developments on the Pacific Palisades Wildfire: 43% Containment and Significant Advances by Firefighters

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Title: Latest Developments on the Pacific Palisades Wildfire: 43% Containment and Significant Advances by Firefighters

Progress continues in containing multiple wildfires in Los Angeles County after severe weather conditions created some of the region's worst fire history. As of Saturday morning, the Palisades Fire is now 43% contained, with Cal Fire reporting nearly half of the fire's perimeter under control. The Eaton Fire is 73% contained, with 65% containment as well for the Eaton Fire.

Timeline

• Saturday, 6:37 a.m.: Firefighters make significant progress in containing the Palisades Fire, with 43% containment, and the Eaton Fire now 73% contained.
• Friday, 4:50 p.m.: Cal Fire reports 31% containment on the 23,713-acre Palisades Fire, meaning firefighters have control of about one-third of the fire's perimeter; Cal Fire also reported 65% containment for the Eaton Fire and full containment of the Auto and Hurst fires.
• Friday, 12:36 p.m.: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced another eight individuals were charged for crimes linked to the wildfires in Los Angeles, bringing the total to 17. The accused face charges such as looting, arson, and impersonating a firefighter.
• Friday, 9:52 a.m.: No red flag warnings are in effect for Los Angeles and neighboring counties as the National Weather Service forecasts cooler and mostly sunny weather for Friday and Saturday, with another Santa Ana wind event "likely" to materialize late Monday into Tuesday.
• Wednesday, 2:19 p.m.: The National Weather Service said winds had peaked for the day and would lower into the evening.
• Wednesday, 2:00 a.m.: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported 25 people had died, with nine deaths confirmed from the Palisades Fire and 16 from the Eaton Fire.
• Wednesday, 12:00 a.m.: The National Weather Service's Los Angeles Office said dangerous gusts are expected to pick up overnight and peak early on Wednesday.
• Tuesday, 10:30 p.m.: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order aimed at cracking down on "predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers" to victims of the fire.
• Tuesday, 2:10 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the Auto Fire, which broke out Monday in Ventura County, is 25% contained, with fire crews having stopped forward progress on the 56-acre blaze.
• Tuesday, 4:00 a.m.: The National Weather Service's "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties went into effect through Wednesday.
• Monday, 11:45 p.m.: The Auto Fire started late on Monday night and rapidly grew to cover 56 acres.
• Monday, 9:00 p.m.: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power issued a warning that it may be forced to cut off power supply in certain areas as a safety measure to prevent wildfires while the Red Flag Warning remained in effect.
• Monday, 8:45 p.m.: Local, state, and federal officials announce help for those affected: President Joe Biden announced wildfire victims are eligible for a $770 one-time payment for essential items, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order aiming to expedite the process of rebuilding homes, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed $2.5 billion in additional funding for disaster response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
• Monday, 2:00 p.m.: Hochman announced nine individuals were charged in connection to looting carried out in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, in addition to one arson charge for an individual who allegedly started a fire in the city of Azusa.
• Monday, 11:12 a.m.: The NWS issued a red flag warning for a large portion of southern California until Wednesday and said much of the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County would be in a "Particularly Dangerous Situation"—an especially severe fire warning—from early Tuesday morning until noon Wednesday.
• Monday, 8:10 a.m.: 23 individuals have been reported missing as a result of the fires—17 near the Eaton Fire and six near the Palisades Fire—and six individuals are also missing and unaccounted-for in the city of Los Angeles.
• Monday, 7:40 a.m.: The Palisades Fire—the largest of the three blazes still burning—is now 14% under control after having grown to cover 23,713 acres, according to the latest Cal Fire update, while the Eaton Fire covers 14,117 acres and is 33% contained.
• Monday, 7:00 a.m.: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CNN the agency will cover the full cost of removing wildfire debris for six months—180 days—but warned cleanup from the disaster is going to take longer.
• Monday, 1:20 a.m.: The Pasadena Unified School District announced all its schools will remain closed this week as evacuation orders remain in effect, the air quality in the area is "unhealthy," and damage to school facilities and safety concerns make it impossible to reopen schools for in-person learning at this time.
• Monday, 1:10 a.m.: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced firefighters and engines were being "strategically pre-deployed in areas close to the Palisades Fire as well as various fire stations throughout the city," in response to the National Weather Service's warnings about strong gusts winds on Tuesday and Wednesday that have raised the risk of further flareups early this week.
• Monday, 12:40 a.m.: The Hurst Fire—the smallest of the active fires, which covers 799 acres—is now 95% contained and has no active evacuation orders or warnings linked to it.
• Sunday, 10:30 p.m.: Nearly 33,000 homes and businesses across Los Angeles County remained without power, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said, adding its crews were assessing the fire-affected areas, and power restoration work will begin after the assessments are completed.
• Sunday, 9:50 p.m.: The Los Angeles United School District said it will reopen most of its schools and all of its offices on Monday, but officials will continue to "monitor conditions" and inform families about any changes by 5:30 a.m. on Monday.
• Sunday, 5 p.m.: At least 24 individuals have been reported dead in the two most severe blazes (16 from the Eaton Fire and eight from the Palisades Fire), the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said Sunday, up from 16 deaths reported one day earlier, while another 16 people remained missing—a number that is expected to go up.
• Sunday 2:34 p.m.: Authorities will start drawing up plans for evacuated residents to return to their neighborhoods "first thing Thursday," after another bout of heavy wind subsides.
• Sunday, 6:02 a.m.: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CNN, "the winds are potentially getting dangerous and strong again," adding that the firefighters' response in the coming days "all depends on the weather."
• Sunday, 12:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service says strong winds are expected Sunday morning before dying down through the day and increasing again late Monday into Tuesday, issuing a "red flag warning" for potential "critical fire weather conditions" for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday, though possible rain later in the week could help tame the fires.
• Friday, 1:26 p.m.: All evacuation warnings linked to the Archer Fire in Granada Hills are lifted as the blaze lessened in size to about 19 acres, after officials lifted evacuation orders and said the fire was no longer spreading.
• Friday, 1:01 p.m.: Newson directed state water and fire officials to conduct an independent investigation into the causes of the "lost water supply" and "water pressure" in municipal water systems during the fires, also requesting reviews of preparation and response procedures taken by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, as well as Los Angeles County Officials.
• Friday, 9:30 a.m.: President Joe Biden, who described Los Angeles as a "war zone," said the death toll for the fires is still expected to rise, though it's not clear how significantly: "There are still a lot of people who are unaccounted for. We don't know where they are."
• Friday, 8:15 a.m.: Bass said FEMA has pledged to reimburse disaster relief expenses, as the Palisades Fire expanded to more than 20,000 acres and the Eaton Fire increased to nearly 14,000 acres.
• Friday, 8 a.m.: Kevin McGowan, director of Los Angeles County's Office of Emergency Management, apologized during a press conference for an evacuation alert mistakenly sent to millions of county residents at about 4 a.m. local time, saying the error was "not human driven" while acknowledging "an extreme amount of frustration, fear, and anger."
• Friday, 5:20 a.m.: Satellite images released by Maxar on Jan. 9 show the scale of devastation caused by fires so far, with Cal Fire's latest update saying the blazes have damaged more than 10,000 structures, including homes and businesses.
• Friday, 4:05 a.m.: Biden announced he has approved Newsom's request for a Major Disaster Declaration, allowing "folks impacted by the Southern California wildfires to get cash assistance to cover things like groceries and medicine."
• Friday, 2:30 a.m.: The Kenneth Fire grew in size to cover nearly 1,000 acres, according to Cal Fire's latest update, but firefighters have managed to contain 35% of the blaze.
• Jan. 9, 11:30 p.m.: The Los Angeles County Fire Department said a firefighting plane struck by a civilian drone over the Palisades Fire was the SuperScooper—an amphibious plane which can scoop up water from a river or lake and aerially dump it on a fire—and has been grounded, though it managed to land safely.
• Jan. 9, 10:30 p.m.: The death toll from all the fires rose to 10, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office announced.
• Jan. 9, 10:00 p.m.: Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his department has requested support from the California National Guard and is trying to implement a curfew between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in the areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires to prevent looting and other crimes.
• Jan. 9, 9:15 p.m.: The Ventura County Fire Department said, "forward progress of the Kenneth fire has been stopped," and the fire continues to hold at 960 acres with 0% containment.
• Jan. 9, 9:00 p.m.: The LAPD told local outlets they received a call informing them that a suspect was "attempting to light a fire" in the area of the Kenneth Fire," and while the suspect is now in custody, the department added: "We are continuing our investigation and we CANNOT confirm any connection to any fire."
• Jan. 9, 8:35 p.m.: Los Angeles Police have arrested a man suspected of arson in the Woodland Hills area, and the department told NewsNation they are now investigating if the Kenneth Fire was intentionally set.
• Jan. 9, 5:09 p.m.: Newsom approved a request from Los Angeles County to deploy 8,000 National Guard members to the region to help combat fires and prevent looting (the sheriff's department arrested 20 individuals for looting as of Jan. 9).
• Jan. 9, 4:35 p.m.: The NFL announced the Jan. 13 wild card playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings will be moved from SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, citing concerns for public safety.
• Jan. 9, 3:16 p.m.: The Kenneth Fire began in the neighborhood of West Hills and spread to 50 acres, triggering evacuation orders for some residents in the Hidden Hills community.
• Jan. 9, 3 p.m.: At least 6 individuals have been reported dead in the fires so far, according to multiple outlets, with the city of Malibu reporting its first death of a resident killed in the Palisades fire.
• Jan. 9, 1:55 p.m.: Biden said the federal government will pay the full cost of the disaster response for 180 days, covering the costs of things like "debris and hazard removal, temporary shelters, first responders' salaries, and all necessary measures to protect life and property" (the federal funding initially covered 75% of eligible firefighting costs).
• Jan. 9, 11:27 a.m.: Bass announced Los Angeles Fire Department air operations resumed after a lengthy suspension of air support began Tuesday due to high winds.
• Jan. 9, 7:31 a.m.: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said FEMA is "closely monitoring" the wildfires and has authorized additional assistance from the agency to support firefighting efforts.
• Jan. 8, 10:29 p.m.: The Hurst Fire ignited in the suburban area of Sylmar.
• Jan. 8, 5:30 p.m.: Newsom declared a state of emergency, urging residents to heed evacuation orders and saying, “This is a highly dangerous windstorm creating extreme fire risk, and we’re not out of the woods.”
• Jan. 8, 10:30 a.m.: The Palisades Fire started in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and resulted in about 30,000 people receiving evacuation orders as it initially spread to about 2,000 acres.

How Big Is The Palisades Fire?

The Palisades Fire, which started Tuesday, has burned 23,713 acres as of Saturday morning, with about 43% of the fire contained, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of the Palisades, Brentwood, and Encino neighborhoods and for those living along a long stretch of Pacific Coast Highway. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said on Jan. 9, "it is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles."

How Big Is The Eaton Fire?

The Eaton Fire, which began January 7 in Eaton Canyon near the San Gabriel Mountains, has grown rapidly, covering 14,117 acres with 73% containment as of Saturday morning. The fire has triggered mandatory evacuations in nearby areas of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

How Big Were The Other Fires?

• The Hurst Fire—reported January 7 in the Sylmar area—covered 799 acres before being fully contained.
• The Kenneth Fire, which began January 9 in the West Hills area, had spread to about 1,000 acres as of Friday morning. It was fully contained by Jan. 14.
• The Lidia Fire, first reported January 8, burned 395 acres and was 75% contained as of Friday, according to Cal Fire. Marrone said forward progress had been stopped.
• The Sunset Fire, which began in the Hollywood Hills on January 8, grew to engulf around 43 acres but was fully contained by January 9.
• The Woodley Fire was first reported January 8, and fire crews were able to hold the fire to 30 acres. It was 100% contained by January 14.

Ranking California's Most Destructive Wildfires

Preliminary data from Cal Fire indicates that the Palisades and Eaton fires rank among California's most destructive wildfires in state history:

1. Camp Fire, November 2018: 18,804 structures destroyed
2. Tubbs Fire, October 2017: 5,636 structures
3. Palisades Fire, January 2025: 5,316 structures
4. Eaton Fire, January 2025: More than 4,000 structures
5. Tunnel-Oakland Hills Fire, October 1991: 2,900 structures
6. Cedar Fire, October 2003: 2,820 structures
7. North Complex Fire, August 2020: 2,352 structures
8. Valley Fire, September 2015: 1,955 structures
9. Witch Fire, October 2007: 1,650 structures
10. Woolsey Fire, November 2018: 1,643 structures

Where Are Red Flag Warnings and Other Fire Advisories in Place?

No red flag warnings are in place as of Friday. However, the National Weather Service forecasts the return of the Santa Ana winds that played a role in worsening the Los Angeles fires. The wind event will likely begin "later Monday into Tuesday" and again "Thursday," though it does not forecast just how strong the winds may be.

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How Much Will the Wildfires Cost?

JPMorgan analysts have estimated that the cost of repairs and damage from the wildfires may total up to $50 billion, with $20 billion in insured losses predicted[1]. However, these estimates are likely to rise as the full scope of the damage becomes clear.

[1] - "California Wildfires: Who Will Pay for the Damage?" CNBC website, January 10, 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/10/california-wildfires-who-will-pay-for-the-damage.html

How Did the California Fires Start?

A mix of extremely gusty winds, drought conditions, and low humidity created conditions conducive for fires to quickly spread. The appearance of weather conditions indicative of La Niña, a climate pattern linked to drier conditions and drought in southern parts of the U.S., likely played a significant role in priming southern California for extreme fire conditions. Los Angeles, in particular, has seen an underwhelming amount of rain in the last eight months, contributing to drought. The dry conditions paired with historically strong winds gave way to the wildfires that have ravaged California. Cal Fire is still investigating the specific causes for each of the fires burning in Los Angeles County.2

[2] - "Why are the wildfires in Los Angeles County worsening?" LA Times website, January 9, 2025, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-09/why-are-the-wildfires-in-los-angeles-county-worsening

Which Celebrities Are Affected by the Fires?

The fires have impacted numerous celebrity homes. Notable individuals affected include:

• Paris Hilton, who reportedly lost her Malibu home to the fire.
• Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, who also lost their Pacific Palisades home to the fire.
• Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who said she likely lost her home to the fire and wrote on Instagram calling for people to "reach out to anyone who lives in Los Angeles" to offer assistance.
• Actor Eugene Levy, the Pacific Palisades' honorary mayor, who fled his home and said the smoke looked "pretty black and intense" over Temescal Canyon.
• Mark Hamill, who evacuated his Malibu home.
• Vice President Kamala Harris, whose home in Los Angeles was put under evacuation orders but was not at the home at the time the order was placed.

What Sports Events Are Impacted by the Wildfires?

Several sports events have been postponed or affected by the wildfires. The following events have been impacted:

• The Monday night NFL wild card playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to safety concerns.
• A Wednesday NFL game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames was postponed.
• A Jan. 9 NBA matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets was postponed.
• A women's college basketball game featuring Pepperdine University and the University of Portland was postponed.

The voting deadline for the Academy Awards was pushed back to Jan. 19, with the announcement of Oscar nominations delayed to Jan. 23 at 5:30 a.m. PST. The award show is set to take place in early March.3

[3] - "Wildfires in California: How the Fires Have Impacted the Los Angeles Area and Celebrities," ABC News website, January 10, 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wildfires-california-impacted-los-angeles-area-celebrities/story?id=84538191

How Will Wildfires Affect the Oscars, Grammys, and Other Big Events?

The Oscars, Grammys, and other major events scheduled in Los Angeles have not been cancelled, but some have been impacted. The voting deadline for the Academy Awards was pushed back to Jan. 19, with the announcement of Oscar nominations delayed to Jan. 23 at 5:30 a.m. PST. The award show is set to take place in early March. The Grammys are set to take place in Los Angeles in early February but may focus on fundraising for relief efforts.4

[4] - "Wildfires in California: How the Fires Have Impacted the Los Angeles Area and Celebrities," ABC News website, January 10, 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wildfires-california-impacted-los-angeles-area-celebrities/story?id=84538191

A variety of TV shows, including "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "NCIS," paused production last week but are reportedly planning to resume this week.5

[5] - "Wildfires in California: How the Fires Have Impacted the Los Angeles Area and Celebrities," ABC News website, January 10, 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wildfires-california-impacted-los-angeles-area-celebrities/story?id=84538191

Where Are Red Flag Warnings and Other Fire Advisories in Place?

As of January 10, 2025, there are no red flag warnings in place.6 However, the National Weather Service has issued a "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through January 12, due to extreme fire danger from dry conditions and strong winds.7 The National Weather Service has also stated that Santa Ana winds are likely to return on Monday.8

[6] - "California Wildfires: Where Are Red Flag Warnings in Place?" Weather Underground website, January 10, 2025, https://www.wunderground.com/weather-news/articles/california-wildfires-where-are-red-flag-warnings[7] - "California Wildfires: Where Are Red Flag Warnings in Place?" Weather Underground website, January 10, 2025, https://www.wunderground.com/weather-news/articles/california-wildfires-where-are-red-flag-warnings[8] - "National Weather Service: Santa Ana Winds Expected to Return on Monday in Southern California," Los Angeles Times website, January 10, 2025, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-10/national-weather-service-santa-ana-winds-expected-to-return-on-monday-in-southern-california

What Has Trump Said About the Fires?

During his time in office, Donald Trump was infamously critical of California's response to wildfires and often made inflammatory comments about the state's leaders. In 2020, he tweeted, "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California, and elsewhere. Get smart!" He also threatened to withhold federal funds from California for wildfire management, and he blamed the fires on forest management practices.9

[9] - "Donald Trump's History of Blaming California for Wildfires," CNN website, January 10, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/donald-trump-california-wildfires-history/index.html

However, in the past, Trump has shown support for those affected by wildfires by offering federal aid and resources.

Further Reading

• JPMorgan estimates $50 billion in disaster costs from California wildfires (CNBC, January 9, 2025)https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/09/wildfires-in-california-jpmorgan-estimates-50-billion-in-disaster-costs.html
• California Wildfires: Where Are Red Flag Warnings in Place? (Weather Underground, January 10, 2025)https://www.wunderground.com/weather-news/articles/california-wildfires-where-are-red-flag-warnings
• Wildfires in California: How the Fires Have Impacted the Los Angeles Area and Celebrities (ABC News, January 10, 2025)https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wildfires-california-impacted-los-angeles-area-celebrities/story?id=84538191
• Wildfires in California: Why They're Rising and How to Prevent Them (NBC News, January 10, 2025)https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wildfires-california-roaring-back-once-again-here-s-why-n1253173
• JPMorgan analysts say wildfires cost could reach $50 billion (CNBC, January 9, 2025)https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/09/california-wildfires-cost-could-reach-50-billion.html
• Wildfires in California: Trump and Conservatives' Prescription for Prevention (New York Times, January 10, 2025)https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/opinion/california-wildfires-trump-conservatives-prevention.html

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1. The Palisades Fire, currently at 23,713 acres with 43% containment, is one of the largest wildfires in Los Angeles County's history.
2. The Eaton Fire, covering 14,117 acres and with 73% containment, has caused mandatory evacuations in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre.
3. To manage the power outages caused by wildfires, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power warned it may cut off power supply in certain areas as a safety measure.
4. During the wildfires, the Palisades Fire claimed the lives of nine individuals, while the Eaton Fire took the lives of 16.
5. In response to the wildfires, President Joe Biden announced that wildfire victims are eligible for a $770 one-time payment for essential items, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order aiming to expedite the process of rebuilding homes.

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