As the devastating Eaton Fire reaches 95% containment, recovery efforts are ramping up across Southern California.
The blaze, fueled by ferocious Santa Ana winds, scorched over 14,021 acres, claimed at least 17 lives, and left a trail of destruction with more than 9,418 structures obliterated and another 1,073 damaged, according to Cal Fire reports.
With firefighting teams executing mop-up operations, Southern California water and power services are slowly being restored. Pasadena Water and Power has lifted the “do not drink” notice, while the Foothill Municipal Water District plans to fully pressurize its systems by the weekend. Southern California Edison has restored electricity to 12,422 structures, but 6,961 remain powerless.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has established a Disaster Recovery Center in Altadena at 540 W. Woodbury Road, operational daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., to offer help to individuals impacted. The center will replace the current one at Pasadena City College Community Education Center, which will shut down after Friday.
“We’re here to help with both federal and state resources for rebuilding lives,” a FEMA spokesperson said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has announced a safety measure to preserve vacant properties. Deputies will conduct home checks for any signs of forced entry or suspicious activity. Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized the importance of these measures after multiple arrests were made for looting during these recent fire incidents.
Cal Fire confirms that on Friday, nearly 1,837 personnel were on-site battling the remnants of the fire, which has also resulted in nine firefighter injuries. Meanwhile, evacuation efforts persist with 571 individuals across six shelters.
With the power still out in many areas, SoCalGas shut off gas services as a precautionary move, impacting three communities. As of Saturday morning, the company has restored gas to 5,126 structures.
Authorities still have not determined the cause of the fire, which ignited near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive.
“While the state is working towards recovery, the protection of life and property remains paramount,” Cal Fire emphasized.
Amid these developments, there is an urgency to clear burn scars and repopulate the neighborhoods, though a significant number remain without basic services. Los Angeles County’s initiative to offer detailed damage maps is a step towards assisting displaced residents in understanding the scope of damages.
As cleanup efforts continue, a new threat looms with a cold front expected to bring rain, which could potentially affect fire-damaged areas, creating further challenges for recovery teams.
