Reopening LA: Latest wildfire recovery updates for Feb. 1

Rebuilding efforts are in full swing across Southern California as the Jan. 2025 Los Angeles wildfires have finally been contained.

This comes as both Eaton and Palisades fires have both reached 100% containment.

Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided on the Jan. 2025 fires in SoCal:

Rain predicted next week

5 p.m.: Another storm system is moving into Southern California next week. While some forecasts call for moderate rain in some areas, the National Weather Service says a lot may still change.

"Unfortunately, there is still a range of outcomes which means an uncertain forecast. It still looks like a mostly moderate-type rain event with generally minor impacts, but a few projections remain which favor a more significant event," the NWS said.

Beach cleanup

2:30 p.m.: Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath submitted a motion to work towards cleaning the toxic debris that stretches on the beaches near the Palisades Fire burn area.

No Burn Order extended

12:30 p.m.: The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a No Burn Order for Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties through Sunday, Feb. 2.

PCH to reopen

10:30 a.m.: Pacific Coast Highway is expected to reopen to the public on Sunday, officials announced Friday. The checkpoints will be removed at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb.2, but there will be limitations. Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace, and the speed limit will be lowered to 25 mph.

SUGGESTED: PCH to reopen on Sunday with some conditions

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.