Eaton, Palisades fires reach 100% containment after 3 weeks
LA Fires: What caused them? How long is the rebuild?
Southern California leaders have shifted their focus to life after the Palisades and Eaton fires.
LOS ANGELES - After three weeks, crews have fully contained the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires.
According to Cal Fire, the 14,000-acre fire has reached 100% containment on January 31. The news comes as the fires ended up killing more than a dozen people.
The Eaton Fire was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 7 near Altadena and Midwick drives. The Palisades Fire also broke out on the same day. 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 Eaton Fire ended up destroying at least 7,000 structures.
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.
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.
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The Source: This report uses information from Cal Fire and previous FOX 11 reports.