Current Fire Status
- Palisades: 23,700 acres, 19% containment, estimated 5,000+ structures burned, evacuations still in place.
- Eaton: 14,100 acres, 45% containment, estimated 7,000+ structures burned, evacuations still in place.
The Eaton Fire, which has burned over 14,000 acres and destroyed more than 7,000 structures is likely to be the second-most-destructive fire in California history in terms of structures lost, after the Camp Fire, according to CalFire.
The Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures, will likely be the fourth-most-destructive. Because of the high property values in the Palisades and Eaton damage footprint, these fires could rise to the top of the list in terms of total loss.
Source: CalFire
Firefighters are actively engaged in damage assessments, fire suppression, and building and strengthening containment lines for both the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Aircraft are using infrared technology to detect isolated heat pockets within the fire perimeter in an effort to completely extinguish the burning. There are still active resources positioned strategically in areas where the fire could spread due to the ongoing Santa Ana wind threat. Diminishing Santa Ana winds later today will be helpful in containment and suppression efforts for the wildfires burning in Los Angeles, however, low humidity levels will still be in place.
Evacuation orders for the Palisades fire are being lifted in some areas. As of January 14, Santa Monica residents were allowed to return home after the final evacuation order in the city was lifted. However, evacuation orders remain in place for areas near the Encino Reservoir and Mandeville Canyon, due to ongoing fire threats.
Evacuation orders for the Eaton fire remain in place for multiple zones near Altadena and Pasadena, including areas such as Eaton Canyon and Mount Lowe. Firefighters have made progress but due to the continuing critical fire weather conditions today, no official announcements have yet been made about lifting evacuation orders.
Palisades Fire footprint on January 15. Source: CalFire.
Eaton Fire footprint on January 15. Source: CalFire.
Ongoing Impacts
Damage and infrastructure assessments, along with search and rescue efforts and hazardous materials response is ongoing in the fire impacted areas. Approximately 96,000 customers are without power Wednesday morning, with the majority split between Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Air quality remains at a Moderate hazard for particulate matter. Local officials in Los Angeles have declared a Local Health Emergency and temporarily banned the use of leaf and power blowers during wildfire recovery efforts, as their use may kick up toxic ash and particulate matter that has settled on the ground.
Current Weather Conditions
Red Flag Warnings and critical fire weather conditions remain in effect throughout the Los Angeles area on Wednesday. Wind gusts are expected to peak between 40-55 mph in the mountains, with isolated gusts of up to 65 mph. A Particularly Dangerous Situation is in effect for areas largely northwest of the current fires between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time.
Source: NWS Los Angeles.
Source: NWS Los Angeles.
Looking Ahead
By Thursday, a weakening pressure gradient in the area will see wind speeds relax, reducing the threat of Santa Ana winds. However, elevated conditions will remain in effect on Thursday, especially where terrain favors fire spread. This will also coincide with the wind direction shifting, with winds expected to weakly blow from the ocean onshore and raising the relative humidity. Taken together, better conditions for fire containment are anticipated heading into the later portions of the week.
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook. Source: Weather Prediction Center.
Additional links of interest:
National Interagency Fire Center
SPC Fire Weather Outlook
CalFire
NWS Los Angeles