With heavy winds leading to small blazes elsewhere in Southern California, fire crews battling the Palisades and Eaton fires were able to make small gains in containment of both fires overnight into Tuesday morning, Jan. 21.
The Palisades fire was 63% contained, while firefighters inched further on the Eaton fire, achieving 89% containment, according to Cal Fire.
Crews battling both fires continued to address hot spots within the fires’ perimeters, officials said.
The most dangerous of the winds, which triggered a rare “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” by the National Weather Service, signaling especially perilous fire conditions, were anticipated to subside about 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. But dry conditions and Santa Ana winds were expected to continue through Thursday.
“Firefighters are making steady progress and officials are reassessing evacuation orders to ensure safe returns,” Cal Fire officials said of the Palisades fire. “Crews are working with utility providers to repair infrastructure and address hazards like fallen trees and downed power lines.”
The fires have combined to damage or destroy more than 17,000 structures, according to the latest estimates from Cal Fire and the Angeles National Forest.
On Monday, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said that 11 deaths have been tied to the Palisades fire, up one from previous days’ reporting, pushing the death toll to 28 for the two fires. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office had yet to confirm the additional death.