California fires updates for Wednesday, Jan. 29
Firefighters are in the home stretch of taking down three of the major fires in Los Angeles County – Eaton, Hughes and Palisades.
All three of the major fires from Jan. 2025 are expected to reach 100% containment at any moment.
Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided on the Jan. 2025 fires in SoCal:
Newsom's new executive order for businesses
3:33 p.m.: Gov. Newsom signed an executive order aimed at helping businesses impacted by the wildfires by extending license and permit renewal deadlines and waiving fees for obtaining duplicates of license certificates destroyed in the blazes.
According to the governor's office, the order:
- extends by one year the deadline for businesses to pay for renewing licenses, certificates and permits that have renewal dates between Jan. 1 and July 1;
- waives fees for businesses and workers seeking duplicate or replacement license certificates destroyed by fire;
- extends deadlines for businesses to appeal license-related proceedings; and
- eliminates requirements ``that make it more difficult to relocate certain businesses impacted by the fires.
Additional information on available resources for fire-impacted businesses is available online.
Tenant protections
2:30 p.m.: The Los Angeles City Council has decided to send back to committee a proposed package of tenant protections, including a proposal for a one-year freeze on rent increases, following a heated debate that left several members concerned about the unintended consequences of enacting such a policy.
Culver City schools open for displaced students
2:03 p.m.: The Culver City Unified School District has opened its schools to students displaced by the wildfires and has currently enrolled 8 students and is working with four additional families who have inquired about enrollment. Families seeking to enroll students can contact CCUSD’s enrollment office for assistance.
Mountain Fire debris removal update
12:50 p.m.: The Mountain Fire erupted in Nov. 2024 in Ventura County. On Wednesday, officials announced crews have started Phase 2 of the debris removal process.
Honoring heroes
11:50 a.m.: LA County sheriff's deputies are being recognized for saving a 100-year-old woman from a nursing home during the Eaton Fire.
Town Hall meeting over Eaton Fire waste site
11:00 a.m.: A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon after residents and local officials opposed the EPA's plan on where Eaton Fire waste would be disposed.
Town Hall meeting set for Eaton Fire waste site
Fire debris, including lithium electric vehicle batteries, oils, paints, propane tanks and other possible hazardous materials, will be brought into Lario Park daily, processed into appropriate waste streams, packaged for shipment and sent out to be disposed, federal officials said.
LA County recovery plan
9:48 a.m.: Los Angeles County officials provided an update on wildfire recovery plans.
Pacific Palisades residents return
9:25 a.m.: With the burn area nearly fully contained, final evacuation orders stemming from the deadly Palisades Fire were lifted, allowing residents to return to their properties.
Full press conference
9:05 a.m.:
Causes of fires under investigation
8:20 a.m.: LASD Sheriff Robert Luna said the investigation is ongoing into the cause of both the Palisades and Eaton fires.
"I have no doubt based on the expertise of the teams that we brought in on a national level that the investigation will be thorough and we will get to where we need to get to, but it is still ongoing," he said.
Phase 1 timeline shortened
8:17 a.m.: EPA's Phase 1 started at a projected 3 months and is now shortened to 30 days, according to Sup. Lindsey Horvath.
The debris removal program depends on how fast the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gets the opt-in right of entry forms.
"We are pleased to see the residents of these communities have already started to submit these forms," officials said.
No government permission is required for Phase 1, the EPA said.
Debris removal program applications
8:00 a.m.: LA County has received over 600 applications for the opt-in right of entry program for debris removal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, since its launch Tuesday, according to Sup. Kathryn Barger.
EPA addresses hazardous material concerns
7:55 a.m.:
Residents, local leaders push back on Eaton Fire waste site
6:35 a.m.: Over 150 residents attended a meeting Tuesday night and expressed their opposition and concerns about disposing waste from the Eaton Fire at Lario Park.
Newsom unveils ‘LA Rises’ initiative
6:00 a.m.: The cost of recovery won’t be cheap, but help is on the way. Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a plan to get those impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires back on their feet.
Pacific Palisades residents return to what's left of their homes
5:30 a.m.: After evacuation orders were lifted, Pacific Palisades residents began returning to what's left of their homes.
The Hughes Fire
The Huges Fire was first reported in the Castaic area on Wednesday, Jan. 22 along Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake. Within an hour, the fire exploded from 50 to 500 acres. Officials quickly issued evacuation orders and warnings, including students who were taken to other schools and locations.
The first day of the firefighter also caused a temporary closure of the Grapevine along the 5 Freeway.
By the next day, several evacuation orders and warnings were downgraded.
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.
Quick Resources
- California Fires Maps: Zones under evacuation orders and warnings
- Shelters, road closures, health alerts, evacuee assistance and more