Photo: DAVID PASHAEE / AFP / Getty Images
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ALTADENA (CNS) - More evacuation orders were lifted on the outskirts of the deadly Eaton Fire burn area near Altadena and Pasadena, with containment of the blaze increasing to 55% Thursday and Santa Ana winds finally backing down.
As of Thursday, the Eaton Fire had burned 14,117 acres, with containment at 55%, up from 45% Wednesday night.
The break in the winds is expected to be a major boon for the firefighting effort, which was hampered over the last three days due to escalating winds, even though the Santa Anas never reached the previously anticipated strength.
A red flag warning of critical fire danger expired in the San Gabriel Valley, but it will remain in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday in the western San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors, with winds of 15 to 25 mph anticipated, along with gusts of up 40 mph.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday reported 16 deaths tied to the Eaton Fire. The office on Tuesday had reported 17 deaths, but a further investigation of remains being examined in one of those cases determined they were not human.
Sheriff Robert Luna said the sheriff's department has 24 active missing-person cases -- 18 in the Eaton Fire area and six others in the Malibu area near the Palisades Fire.
Crews spent much of Wednesday working to mop up hot spots and reinforce containment lines around the Eaton Fire as Santa Ana winds continued to buffet much of the region -- although at a lesser strength than originally anticipated. Incident commanders said they were confident the fire would be held within its "current footprint." Crews were targeting hot spots within the burn area that were located with the use of infrared imagery.
Mandatory evacuation orders remained in place for thousands of residents in the Eaton Fire area, although on Wednesday afternoon, evacuations were lifted in a large area stretching from the western to southern flank of the fire. On Tuesday afternoon, orders were lifted for an area south of Canyon Crest Road and west of Lincoln Avenue in the Altadena area, according to the sheriff's department.
On Monday, evacuations were lifted in the Altadena Kinneloa Mesa community, in an area south of Heights Road to New York Drive, and east of Outpost Lane to Sierra Madre Villa.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said earlier that more than 7,000 structures are believed to have been destroyed or damaged - - many of them homes -- and nearly 40,000 structures were said to be threatened. Those numbers were expected to rise after further evaluation.
Damage assessments in the Eaton Fire area were about 92% completed as of Thursday morning. As of Thursday, 5,718 structures were officially listed as destroyed, and 679 damaged.
Cal Fire reported that detailed damage inspection maps for properties within the Eaton Fire footprint showing damaged or destroyed homes -- as well as homes that are not damaged or destroyed -- can be found at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire.
Los Angeles County officials said its damage assessments can be viewed at recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire. They will be updated daily in real time.
There were about 3,400 personnel assigned to the firefighting effort as of Wednesday morning.
Six firefighters have suffered undisclosed injuries fighting the blaze, according to the county fire department.
SoCalGas officials said they had temporarily shut off natural gas service to 16,700 customers Saturday in the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities as a safety measure. As of Wednesday afternoon, the utility had restored service to 782 of those customers. The Gas Co. has established an information booth for residents at the Santa Anita Mall, Gate 8, at 400 S. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia to provide information for customers.
An evacuation center was set up at the Pasadena Convention Center at 300 E. Green St. The Humane Society is on-site to accept small pets for boarding. Small animals were also being accepted at Baldwin Park Animal Care Center at 4275 Elton St., while large animals were accepted at Industry Hills Expo Center at 16200 Temple Ave., city of Industry.
A curfew was in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones. Luna said Monday more than 30 people had been arrested in both the Eaton and Palisades burn areas, some for alleged looting and others for offenses including narcotics or weapons possession. Two people were arrested for allegedly operating a drone in the area.
The Pasadena Unified School District, which includes Altadena, closed its campuses until at least Friday. The Glendale Unified School District reopened Monday with the exception of Rosemont Middle School, where a tree fell on campus.
The entire Angeles National Forest has been closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources through at least Sunday.
A few miles to the east, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia canceled racing over the weekend due to the ongoing wildfires. The track property was being used to support several relief efforts, including a large charity drop-off that had been established at the Rose Bowl and relocated to Santa Anita Park's south parking lot Friday afternoon. Thousands of people flooded the parking lot over the weekend with supplies, prompting officials to announce they no longer needed clothing or shoes.
Southern California Edison was using the entire north parking lot as its base camp to restore power to those in the affected areas. Santa Anita Park was working with additional response organizations that have requested space.
The Eaton Fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. Jan. 7 in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena amid hurricane force Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Among the structures destroyed in the fire was the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation reported that the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, Farnsworth Park's Davies Community Center -- listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- the Altadena Golf Course Club House and adjacent buildings were also destroyed. Also destroyed was The Bunny Museum in Altadena.