Firefighters are capitalizing on a pause in winds to achieve steady advancement against the colossal fire that has engulfed Los Angeles since January 7.
Officials are also relaxing evacuation mandates and removing curfews in various areas as inhabitants of affected regions return to assess the harm.
As of Saturday evening, the Palisades Fire, which has scorched approximately 24,000 acres and claimed a minimum of 10 lives, was reported to be 49% controlled, as per the Cal Fire website. This marks an increase from 31% the previous morning.
The Eaton Fire, having consumed 14,000 acres and resulted in at least 17 fatalities in Altadena, is now noted to be 73% contained, up from 65% on Friday morning.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that 27 individuals remain unaccounted for, with 20 linked to the Eaton fire and seven to the Palisades.
Chilled temperatures, elevated humidity, and tranquil winds on Monday morning provided firefighters a much-needed respite for the remainder of the weekend, enabling them to extinguish ongoing blazes without excessive concern about new ignitions, remarked National Weather meteorologist Joe Szilard. Serviced office in Oxnard.
“This situation is particularly beneficial in combating current fires,” Szilard noted. “Given these winds and humidity levels, the likelihood of new fire outbreaks is minimal.”
As clearing operations progress, authorities are permitting a gradual “repopulation” of specific sections of the Palisades.
Entry will only be granted to residents, who must present an ID displaying their name, photo, and address, such as a driver’s license, to pass through checkpoints staffed by the Los Angeles Police Department and the National Guard.
On Friday, security remained stringent within the Palisades Fire Zone, with police and military personnel stationed at most crucial intersections and others patrolling on horseback and dirt bikes to keep a lookout for looters.
Shortly after noon on Saturday, Santa Monica officials declared that all evacuated residents could return home, and all road closures north of San Vicente Boulevard had been rescinded.
A curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. that had been enforced in the area was also lifted.
The Pacific Coast Highway runs through Santa Monica and is accessible to local residents, businesses, and visitors. Access to PCH and the City of Los Angeles north of Santa Monica city limits is managed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
President-elect Donald Trump, who is slated to take the oath of office on Monday, has stated that he will visit Southern California for his initial official trip to survey disaster-affected areas.
President Trump has directed much of the last 10 days in criticizing California leaders for their mishandling of the crisis that ignited when hurricane-force winds sparked flames in numerous sections of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
On January 8, President Trump posted on Truth Social: “One of the most beautiful and finest parts of the United States is blazing to the ground.” It’s entirely his fault!
According to a report by The Hill, President Trump is expected to arrive late next week.
In the meantime, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday that five significant financial institutions will implement a 90-day moratorium on mortgage payments for fire survivors.
Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo have all consented to offer “forbearance” to mortgage clients in fire zones, with fees waived even if they miss a payment. The Governor’s office stated in a release that no incident occurred, and no reports will report to credit agencies.
“After enduring so much trauma, we hope this agreement will provide some relief to thousands of survivors,” Newsom stated. “These financial safeguards will enable residents to concentrate on addressing their immediate needs without the stress of making mortgage payments.”
With so many displaced individuals seeking housing, the state attorney general’s office on Saturday reiterated its warning to property owners against price gouging. Following a declared state of emergency, it is illegal to increase rent by more than 10% from the pre-disaster listed price.
“Reports of rental bidding conflicts are exceedingly concerning, especially as some landlords seem to promote them,” Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta stated. “Our legislation has established robust protections for renters during emergencies, and I will actively ensure those safeguards are enforced and respected.”
Rough winds temporarily diminished over the weekend, but fire weather could re-emerge on Monday and continue for much of the following week, with forecasters indicating that the threat may peak on Tuesday. A red flag fire warning is likely to be issued for certain parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Alex Tardy, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in San Diego, indicated that rainfall has been scarce and “the main takeaway is that we’re navigating unprecedented circumstances in the middle of winter, or during the rainy season.”
In other troubling news regarding fire, the significant expenses of the catastrophic Los Angeles fires could force the state’s final insurance company, with merely $377 million in reserves, to seek a bailout.
To maintain financial viability, California’s Fair Plan may request financial support from member insurers and urge them to impose additional fees on policyholders.
If you are evacuated due to a fire and require assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has established two centers offering direct support.
One location is situated at the UCLA Research Park, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., and the other is at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. Both centers are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can also obtain information online at DisasterAssistance.gov.