Final evacuation orders lifted as LA wildfire risk eases amid cooler weather
![LA fires](https://usa.inquirer.net/files/2025/01/AP25028848619108-scaled.jpg)
Tim Bearer walks in the rubble of his mother’s fire-ravaged property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES – With the Los Angeles area’s major wildfires all nearing full completion, cooler and drier weather will dominate for the next few days — with no signs of any immediate return of dangerous Santa Ana wind conditions or precipitation that could spark debris flows.
The Palisades Fire was 95 percent contained after burning 23,448 acres, and evacuation orders and warnings have all been lifted.
As of Tuesday morning, the Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena areas was 99 percent contained after burning 14,021 acres, with repopulation efforts completed.
The Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake has burned 10,425 acres since breaking out last Wednesday, but it was 98 percent contained as of Tuesday.
The fires have thus far claimed 29 lives — 12 in the Palisades Fire area and 17 in the Eaton Fire.
The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner has positively identified 18 of the 29 people confirmed dead in the two wildfires.
National Weather Service forecasters said cooler temperatures “will remain over the next several days with daytime temperatures remaining below normal for this time of year.”
A warming trend is anticipated by the weekend, pushing temperatures back into the 70s for most coastal and valley areas, thanks to a “weak offshore flow” between Saturday and Monday.
Forecasters said there is a potential for some rain by the middle of next week, but it was still too early if it will actually develop and how strong the system might be.
The county Department of Public Works was continuing to work on fire-debris removal efforts with the US Environmental Protection Agency — which is handling the first-phase removal of hazardous wastes — and the Army Corps of Engineers, which will oversee physical debris removal from the Palisades and Eaton burn areas.
LA County Board approves $32 million Fire Recovery Fund
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal Tuesday to create a Fire Recovery Fund to provide direct cash aid to wildfire victims, with an initial bankroll of $32.2 million.
The motion calls for the county to initially allocate the $32.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars, with the departments of Economic Opportunity and Consumer and Business Affairs directed to report back in a week with an implementation update, including details on a process for people to apply for relief funds.
The county CEO was asked to find additional county funding to be re-purposed for fire recovery.
The board also approved a related motion directing all county departments to take expedited recovery actions.
The motion identifies dozens of emergency actions aimed at assisting recovery efforts, including expedited repair of county roads, bridges and other infrastructure destroyed in the fires and authorizing the county CEO to seek and accept a wide array of grants any available state, federal or local sources, including private entities to help fund repair and recovery projects. (With CNS report)