US: Wildfire response continues in Los Angeles County, CA, as of early Jan. 10 /update 8

Emergency crews continue to work to contain two major wildfires and several other smaller fires burning in Los Angeles County, California, as of early Jan. 10. Some progress in fighting the fires was made Jan. 9 as winds eased a little, but gusts have intensified again overnight Jan. 9-10 and high winds are expected to persist in the region through at least Jan. 15. The wildfires have burned or destroyed more than 10,000 structures, including homes, schools, and businesses, and are threatening at least 60,000 other homes. Authorities have reported at least ten fatalities associated with the fires but have warned the figure will likely rise once they are able to investigate areas that have been deemed unsafe to enter in recent days. Almost 180,000 residents evacuated their homes due to the rapid spread of the fires, and another 200,000 are under evacuation warnings. The combination of large-scale evacuations and multiple road closures due to the fires caused severe traffic congestion in the affected areas. Authorities deployed more than 7,500 firefighters to tackle the blazes. The fires and strong winds also led to power outages in some areas, with nearly 100,000 people remaining without power across LA County and around 150,000 others across surrounding counties of southern California as power companies implemented emergency shutdowns. Authorities declared a state of emergency due to the fires, and President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for California.

At least 20 people have been arrested for looting in areas affected by the fires. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued a curfew order for all areas under evacuation orders and warnings for the Palisades Fire from 18:00-06:00. The Santa Monica City Council issued an emergency order, including a sunset-to-sunrise curfew in all areas where mandatory evacuation orders are in effect. Officials have issued boil water notices and advised residents to avoid drinking tap water in parts of the affected area, including Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and San Fernando Valley, due to contamination of the drinking water system by fire debris.

Air quality alerts, red flag warnings, and high wind warnings remain in place across parts of LA County and surrounding areas of southern California as of early Jan. 10; further fire growth is likely in the coming hours and days. Air quality remains at unhealthy levels in parts of the region due to smoke from the fires. Despite the smoke from the fires, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is operating normally as of early Jan. 10; however, officials advised passengers to check the status of their flights with their airlines. Multiple school districts canceled classes; all schools within LA, Pasadena, and Glendale Unified School Districts are closed through at least Jan. 10 and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is also closed.

As of early Jan. 10, the following wildfires continue to threaten homes and cause evacuation orders and warnings:

Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire broke out southeast of Palisades Drive at around 10:30 Jan. 7, impacting areas such as Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Santa Monica. As of late early Jan. 10, the fire burned to around 8,085 hectares (19,978 acres) and was six percent contained. Authorities issued evacuation orders and warnings for tens of thousands of residents across the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Topanga, and other surrounding areas; for the latest information regarding evacuation orders and warnings click here. Officials may issue additional evacuation orders and warnings in the coming hours. Authorities have set up emergency shelters at the Westwood Recreation Center, El Camino Real Charter High School, and the Pasadena Convention Center. Several roads in the vicinity of the fire are closed, including parts of the Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate-10.

Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire broke out in the hills above Altadena near Eaton Canyon the evening of Jan. 7, affecting areas such as Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. The fire burned to around 5,540 hectares (13,690 acres) and is zero percent contained as of early Jan. 10. Officials issued evacuation orders for more than 52,000 people in Altadena and surrounding areas, and evacuation warnings are in place for other surrounding areas; for the latest information regarding evacuation orders and warnings click here. Authorities have established an evacuation center at the Arcadia Community Center and Pomona Fairplex. In addition, affected residents can access evacuation shelters at the Westwood Recreation Center, El Camino Real Charter High School, and the Pasadena Convention Center, which are also open to those affected by the Palisades Fire.

Hurst Fire
The Hurst Fire broke out near Diamond Road in Sylmar late Jan. 7, affecting areas such as Sylmar and Granada Hills. The fire has grown to around 312 hectares (771 acres) and was 37-percent contained as of early Jan. 10. Authorities have reduced all evacuation orders for the fire to evacuation warnings as of early Jan. 10; for the latest information regarding evacuations, click here. Officials opened an evacuation shelter at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima.

Kenneth Fire
The Kenneth Fire broke out near Victory Boulevard west of Gilmore Street in West Hills the afternoon of Jan. 9 near the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The fire has grown to around 388 hectares (960 acres) and was zero percent contained as of early Jan. 10. Authorities issued evacuation orders for areas in the vicinity of the fire but these has been lifted as of early Jan. 10; however, evacuation warnings remain in place for Vanowen south to Burbank Blvd and County Lane road east to E Valley Circle Blvd.; for the latest information regarding evacuations, click here.

All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted for both the Sunset Fire burning in Hollywood Hills and the Lidia Fire near Acton. As of early Jan. 10, the former was largely controlled, and the latter was 75 percent contained.

Smoke from the fires could worsen air quality in the affected areas over the short term. Depending on the progression of the wildfires, the status of nearby roads could change over the coming hours and days. Authorities will probably close routes within the wildfire complexes and evacuate additional communities depending on fire activity and the needs of response operators. Further power outages are likely in affected areas. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall will probably contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region.