Containment of Eaton Fire reaches 55%; 16 people killed

Crews on Thursday achieved 55% containment of the deadly Eaton Fire, which has killed at least 16 people and burned 14,117 acres in the northwestern San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.

Over the weekend, search and rescue crews from the LA County Sheriff’s Department made the grim discoveries in Altadena and Pasadena after searching through hundreds of fire-ravaged properties.

“As these searches continue, I unfortunately anticipate that those numbers will increase,” Sheriff Robert Luna said Sunday, adding that the department “will start a similar operation in the northern side of the county here very soon.”

Luna said Monday the sheriff’s department has received 17 missing persons reports in the Eaton Fire area and six in the area of the Palisades Fire, which has burned nearly 24,000 acres and was 22% contained Thursday. The sheriff’s department announced that family assistance centers were available for people looking for missing loved ones.

The LA County Medical Examiner Department reported Tuesday eight people have died as a result of the Palisades Fire and three were injured.

Six firefighters have suffered undisclosed injuries battling the Eaton Fire, officials said.

“Calmer overnight and early morning winds reduced fire activity allowing firefighters to make good progress in securing containment lines,” according to an Eaton Fire update from the county fire department. “Overnight, fire activity was limited to smoldering, creeping, and rollouts in heavy fuels. Crews remain focused on tactical patrols, mop-up, and addressing smoke and heat sources within the fire’s interior, particularly along the northern perimeter.”

Firefighting aircraft continue to be used to extinguish inaccessible hot spots, which has helped efforts, officials said.

Mild winds were forecast for Thursday, and low humidity will keep conditions dry. Moist marine air and moderate onshore winds will build Friday into the weekend, with dry conditions returning next week.

A virtual community meeting is set for Thursday at 4 p.m., in which officials will brief the public on the fire’s current situation, address questions and discuss recovery efforts. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

To submit advance questions, email 2025.eaton@firenet.gov. The meeting will be streamed live on youtube.com/@LosAngelesCountyFDExternal Link.

Personnel fighting the Eaton Fire totaled 3,404 on Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire.

State fire officials warned about an inaccurate social media post circulating on Facebook. The post claims individuals may travel to California to join a clean-up crew in fire-affected locations.

“This information is false, and we would like to clarify that there is no such opportunity available,” officials said. “We kindly ask that you refrain from calling in to inquire about this.”

The fire has destroyed 5,718 structures, many of them residences, damaged 679 and was threatening 37,000 structures, the LA County Fire Department reported Thursday.

Search and rescue resources have completed 8,628 inspections, with 8% still in need of assessment, according to Cal Fire on Thursday. In-progress operations include “fire suppression repairs and rapid watershed assessments to identify risks to life, property, and infrastructure from debris flows, flooding, and rockfall hazards.”

Detailed damage inspection maps for properties in the fire’s footprint are at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire under the heading “Eaton Fire Structure Status.” Damage assessments can be viewed at recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire.

An evacuation center was established at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. The Pasadena Humane Society is on-site to accept small pets for boarding.

Small animals were also being accepted at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 Elton St., and large animals were accepted at Industry Hills Expo Center, 16200 Temple Ave. in the city of Industry.

An evacuation order in Altadena was downgraded Sunday to an evacuation warning for the area south of New York Drive and east of North Hill Avenue to Altadena Drive, with residents allowed to go back to their homes.

The city of Arcadia announced last Friday an evacuation order for residents south of Elkins Avenue was downgraded to a warning, which was lifted Sunday. Also Sunday, the evacuation order for north of Elkins was changed to a warning. Arcadia evacuation info is available at arcadiaca.gov/news_detail_T41_R456.php.

The county opened Local Assistance & Disaster Resource Centers, which operate daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Westside center is at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in LA. Another location is in Pasadena at the City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd.

For updates on evacuations and other fire-related information, visit fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire.

The city of Pasadena and other authorities have issued warnings indicating that tap water in evacuation zones is not safe to drink and advised residents to use bottled water until further notice.

Health officials have also cautioned about poor air quality resulting from the wildfires.

A curfew was in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas. Only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers are allowed in those zones.

Luna said Monday more authorities have arrested over 30 people in the Eaton and Palisades burn areas for alleged looting and other offenses including possession of narcotics or weapons. Three people were arrested for allegedly operating drones in fire-affected areas, according to published reports.

Sheriff’s Capt. Jabari Williams said Sunday that deputies monitoring the fire zone had arrested another two people who were suspected of flying drones in the Eaton Fire area. Williams said the public should coordinate with law enforcement officials and keep out of the areas under evacuation.

Additional suspects were behind bars Wednesday for allegedly setting small fires in Los Angeles.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers responded at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to Glenoaks and Van Nuys boulevards, where a resident had detained an individual who allegedly set a tree on fire.

The resident was able to douse the fire and notify police. After officers arrived, the suspect admitted setting the fire, saying “he liked the smell of burning leaves,” according to McDonnell.

Also Tuesday, officers responded at 9:30 p.m. to Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, on a report of a suspect setting fire to trash piles, McDonnell said. Officers were able to douse the flames and arrest the suspect, who remarked that she “enjoyed causing chaos and destruction,” according to police.

McDonnell said three other arrests occurred Sunday and Monday in the San Fernando Valley and West LA involving people who allegedly set small blazes.

The fire was reported at about 6:20 p.m. Jan. 8 in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena during a hurricane-force Santa Ana windstorm, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire under investigation.

The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center was among the buildings destroyed in the fire. The LA County Department of Parks and Recreation reported that the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, Farnsworth Park’s Davies Community Center, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Altadena Golf Course Club House and adjacent buildings were destroyed. The blaze also consumed The Bunny Museum in Altadena.

As a precaution, the entire Angeles National Forest was closed through at least Jan. 15.

The U.S. Forest Service, LA County Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, Arcadia Fire Department, Sierra Madre Fire Department, Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were working under a unified command.

The fire prompted school districts in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada, Arcadia and Monrovia to cancel classes for the week, as did Pasadena City College.

Southern California Gas Co. officials said they had temporarily shut off natural gas service to 16,700 customers Saturday in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. The utility could take days or possibly weeks to fully restore service due to the large number of impacted customers.

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia canceled racing this weekend due to the wildfires in the county. Track and city officials said the facility was being used to support relief efforts, including a large charity drop-off that moved Friday afternoon from the Rose Bowl to Santa Anita Park’s south parking lot.

Southern California Edison is using the entire north parking lot as its base camp to restore power to those in the affected areas, and track officials are working with other response organizations in need of space.

The Pasadena Unified School District, which includes Altadena, closed schools until at least Friday.

Updated Jan. 16, 2025, 9:18 a.m.

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