California wildfires recovery updates: Thursday, Feb. 20
PCH reopening for residents, businesses
The Pacific Coast Highway is reopening to residents, businesses and schools on Thursday, February 20.
As Los Angeles wildfire victims scramble for help and resources after losing everything in the Eaton and Palisades fires, some are waiting for roads to reopen so they can go back to their homes or businesses.
Such was the case for Palisades Fire survivors as the Pacific Coast Highway is reopening for residents, businesses and schools on Thursday, February 20.
Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided on the Jan. 2025 fires in Southern California:
97-year-old woman left behind
10 p.m.: FOX 11's Laura Diaz shares a story of a 97-year-old woman being left behind behind when the Eaton Fire was raging outside the elderly woman's assisted living facility.
Debate over dump site
9 p.m.: Residents in Sylmar and Granada Hills vehemently reject the controversial Sunshine Canyon Landfill as being the proposed dump site for wildfire debris.
PCH reopens
6 a.m.: A nine-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway has reopened. However, it comes with restrictions. FOX 11's Mario Ramirez explains.
PCH reopens with restrictions
Pacific Coast Highway reopened on Thursday, Feb. 20. However, it comes with some restrictions.
The Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 7 near Altadena and Midwick drives.
Some residents did not survive the flames and at least 7,000 structures were destroyed.
Authorities have implemented a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all areas that remain under mandatory evacuation orders in the Altadena area. This comes after more than 30 looting arrests were made by the LA County Sheriff's Department.
What caused the Eaton Fire?
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but they were fueled by extreme drought conditions, combined with the supersized Santa Ana winds that whipped flames and embers at 100 mph – much faster than usual.
A lawsuit filed Monday claims Southern California Edison equipment sparked the Eaton Fire.
The lawsuit alleges that Southern California Edison failed to comply with essential electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain power lines and overgrown vegetation.
The Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 7 as parts of Southern California were hit by powerful Santa Ana winds – the strongest to hit the area in over a decade, officials said. The piercing winds not only intensified the spread of the fire, it also prevented helicopters and planes from dumping water or fire retardant onto the burning scene as it was too dangerous to fly during the first day of the massive fire.
The fire extended well over 23,000 acres in seven days, destroying homes and businesses across the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The fire also forced evacuations across parts of LA County, including Bel-Air, Brentwood and Santa Monica.
The fire also destroyed the Pacific Palisades Charter High School and other schools in the fire's path.
What caused the Palisades Fire?
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, a popular hiking destination, Skull Rock – an area north of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades – is at the center of an investigation "as a possible starting point for the Palisades fire."
Meanwhile, local authorities have announced multiple rounds of arrests taking place from the Palisades Fire scenes, but none of which are explicitly related to the cause of the fire. Over the weekend, there was an announcement of a man arrested for impersonating a firefighter. The alleged "fake firefighter" was accused of trying to break into one of the evacuated homes.
Other people have also been accused of arson across Southern California.