Photos: Latest updates on the L.A. fires

Photos taken on Friday, January 10, 2025, in Altadena, where CALÒ News reporters documented some of the aftermath of the Eaton Canyon fires. 

It has been a week since several fast-moving wildfires began in different places throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. 

The Palisades Fire, Eaton Canyon Fire and Hurst Fire have burned a combined 38,600 acres in Los Angeles County, leaving thousands of people homeless and hundreds of others housing insecure. 

The fires, fueled by the powerful Santa Ana winds that began last Tuesday and began picking back up Sunday night, continue to expand and triggering a cascade of evacuation orders and school and business closures. 

According to the National Weather Service, critical fire weather conditions are expected to begin in the early hours of Tuesday and continue through Wednesday. “Significant weakening of the winds [is] expected Thursday, and in fact many areas will receive an onshore wind by afternoon, which should also bring some increasing humidities to the area to aid in the firefighting efforts,” NWS stated in their forecast discussion.

As of Monday, at least 24 people have died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, according to the latest update from the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. A large number of those victims are still unidentified. 

On Monday afternoon, Eaton Canyon Fire officials and the Los Angeles County Fire Department held a virtual community meeting streamed live on YouTube to give more updates and talk about recovery efforts. 

Mark Pestrella, the director of Los Angeles County Public Works, said the agency will continue to lead the maintenance of streets, sidewalks, sewers, streetlights and street trees in the communities affected by the fires. Pestrella also reminded the community to not drink or use tap water in an evacuated areas. 

According to Pestrella, people should instead use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice, preparing food or feeding pets or other animals until further notice. 

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger was also present at Monday’s meeting, where she talked about the state's commitment to help rebuild communities affected by the fires and the opening up of federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), assistance that can help victims cover certain costs, including paying for essential items, finding a place to stay, replacing personal property or making basic repairs to their home.

“I am going to be advocating for innovative loans and housing solutions to bring people back to their communities,” Barger said. “People need help and they need to know what kind of support they will receive.” 

According to Barger, many of the wildfire survivors who she has spoken to have expressed their worry when it comes to the rebuilding process of their homes and neighborhoods.

During the past weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two executive orders to boost recovery efforts.

One of the executive orders suspended permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act to allow victims of the recent fires to restore their homes and businesses faster. 

The second executive order directs fast action on debris removal work to mitigate the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. With much of the winter still ahead, the risk of rainstorms creating further catastrophe in these areas remains high. 

“These executive order[s] are going to make rebuilding homes easier by cutting red tape and make it as affordable and efficient as possible for residents to clear debris,” she said. “[The executive order] will make it essential to making our community whole again.”