Firefighters slowly make progress against L.A. wildfires

With firefighters slowly making progress against a series of devastating Los Angeles wildfires that have claimed at least seven lives, Santa Ana winds will buffet the region for one more day.

The deadly Eaton Fire that has destroyed nearly 1,000 structures in Altadena and Pasadena was 3% contained today as Santa Ana wind conditions diminished slightly in many areas.

There is an anticipated weekend drop-off, but another round of powerful gusts is expected to blast the area again early next week.

On Friday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone announced that the fire's size was 13,956 acres but was 3% contained by lines to keep the fire from spreading. 

Some 1,603 personnel were assigned to the firefighting effort, with Friday's priority structure protection and fire line construction to increase containment on the east, north and west flanks.

The Los Angeles 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. Also destroyed in the blaze was The Bunny Museum in Altadena.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Palisades fire is over 20,000 acres and left at least two dead, including one body that was removed from the rubble of a home along Pacific Coast Highway. It was 8% contained by Friday morning. 

Kenneth fire

A brush fire that erupted in the West Hills area and consumed nearly 1,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties was 35% contained today, and the spread of the flames has been halted.

The Kenneth Fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. in an area north of the Ventura (101) Freeway near Valley Circle Boulevard. Initially reported at 20 acres, it quickly expanded to 50 acres, and within 90 minutes it exploded to 791 acres, pushed by continuing Santa Ana winds.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the people between Vanowen and Burbank Boulevard, from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but shortly before 5:30 p.m., that mandatory order was reduced to an evacuation warning as the fire burned its way primarily into Ventura County. 

All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted as of 8 p.m. Thursday and deputies were checking people’s IDs moving through the area to be sure they were residents.

More red flags

Red flag warnings of critical fire danger will be in place for much of the Los Angeles area through 6 p.m. Friday, affecting the Santa Clarita Valley, Malibu Coast, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, San

Gabriel Valley and the Golden State and Antelope Valley freeway corridors.

Forecasters said northeast winds of 20 to 25 mph, with gusts to 35 mph, would decrease to between 12 and 15 mph in the afternoon. The winds were expected to be weakest in the early evening before seeing an increase of 10 to 15 mph after midnight.

About 400 members of the California National Guard are being deployed in the Los Angeles area. Sheriff Robert Luna says the guardsmen will be stationed around the region to help with traffic control and to restrict entry into the fire zones. 

Luna announced on Thursday that 20 people had been arrested on suspicion of looting in the various burn areas.