Warning about winds issued as Los Angeles County reopens Altadena to all residents
All residents in Altadena are now being allowed to go back to their homes while firefighters continue to make progress with the Eaton Fire.
The Los Angeles County government's post announcing the return on X, formerly Twitter, came Monday afternoon as the National Weather Service issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation Warning, in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday, for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Meteorologists said winds could reach 100 mph in some areas.
In addition, conditions are expected to remain dry with low humidity, Cal Fire said.
Los Angeles fire crews quickly extinguished a small brush fire that broke out Monday near Griffith Observatory. The Los Angeles Police Department said it took into custody a man suspected of causing the fire.
LA fires containment percentage: Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire, which has burned 14,021 acres since it started Jan. 7, is 89% contained, according to Cal Fire’s report at 7:14 a.m. Tuesday.
The agency added that firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots within the perimeter of the blaze.
Crews have finished 98% of their inspections of the fire zone, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Cal Fire said Tuesday that the fire has destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures and led to the deaths of 17 people.
Curfews are in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Cal Fire said.
While all residents can return to their homes in Altadena, some areas in the unincorporated community north of Pasadena are opened only to people with proof of residence such as a driver's license or a utility bill with their address, the Los Angeles County government said in its post on X.
LA fires containment percentage: Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,713 acres since it began Jan. 7, is 63% contained, Cal Fire reported at 6:47 a.m. Tuesday.
The blaze, which hit areas such as the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and nearby Malibu and Topanga Canyon, has destroyed 857 structures, Cal Fire said.
The fire led to the deaths of 11 people, Cal Fire said.
“Firefighters are making steady progress, and officials are reassessing evacuation orders to ensure safe returns,” the agency said in its status report.
Visits by Harris and Trump
After attending President Donald Trump's inauguration, former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff flew Monday to Los Angeles and visited Fire Station 12 in Altadena, Los Angeles Fox TV station KTTV reported. Harris thanked firefighters and passed out food to residents with World Central Kitchen.
Harris said her and Emhoff's Brentwood home, which was impacted by evacuations from the Palisades Fire, is still standing.
Trump, who has blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom for the fires and criticized California for its response to the blazes in his inauguration address, earlier announced he would visit Los Angeles Friday.
Newsom said in a statement that he welcomes Trump's visit.
Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.