California fires updates for Friday, Feb. 7

Friday marks one month since the horrific fires devastated Los Angeles County.

While the Eaton, Hughes, Palisades are fully contained, thousands continue the long road to recovery.

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

FireAid extends on-demand streaming deal

1:30 p.m.: Multiple artists came together for a night of music and solidarity for the FireAid concert, with proceeds going to those impacted by LA's recent wildfires. On Friday, it was announced streaming services have been extended and that Steve and Connie Ballmer will continue matching every donation dollar-for-dollar. 

More rain expected next week

1:00 p.m.: While the latest storm began tapering off just in time for Super Bowl weekend, FOX 11's Maria Quiban said forecast models show rain is expected for most of next week. 

Consumer Watchdog opposes State Farm's emergecy rate increase

11:50 a.m.: Consumer Watchdog has submitted letters to Insurance Commissioner, RIcardo Lara, to State Farm's proposal for a 22% emergency interim rate increase."Consumers who are struggling to rebuild their lives after the wildfires should not be forced to pay higher premiums to prop up State Farm’s bank accounts," said Carmen Balber, Executive Director at Consumer Watchdog. "State Farm has failed to demonstrate that an emergency rate increase is necessary."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State Farm looking to increase rates for homeowner policies by 22% following LA fires

Power restoration in the Palisades 

10:46 a.m.: As of Thursday, February 6, power has been restored to 5,718 customers in Pacific Palisades, according to LADWP. Crews hope to restore power to an estimated 1,200 remaining customers by Sunday, February 9. LADWP reports that since restoration efforts began, crews have removed approximately 700 burned and destroyed poles, installed more than 50,000 feet of new 4.8 KV cable, and replaced more than 2,000 feet of secondary wire.

Disaster Recovery Centers new hours 

10:25 a.m.: Beginning Feb. 10, FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will operate with new hours. They will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Their locations include: UCLA Research Park West (10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064) and Altadena Disaster Recovery Center (540 West Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91001). 

EPA making progress 

10: a.m.: According to Mayor Bass, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has over a thousand personnel on the ground working. They have inspected 3,100 properties and cleared toxins from 800 properties. The EPA's process of debris removal and clean up was projected to take 90 days, but they are now reporting that Phase 1- Hazardous removal should be completed by the end of this month. 

Mayor Bass issues emergency executive order for students

8:20 a.m.: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she issued an emergency executive order to make sure that students, schools and child care facilities impacted by the fires could continue getting services without barriers. She said this will be accomplished by having facilities take on more students. 

The order includes the following:

• Enrollment caps of schools and child care centers are increased by 20 percent, to allow displaced children and youth to transfer to schools or child care facilities unaffected by the fires for three to five years
• Schools or child care facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by the fires shall be able to immediately receive a 180-day permit allowing them to relocate and operate anywhere in the City. Currently, such permits are for 90-days.
• Relocating schools and child care facilities that wish to operate beyond 180 days in a new location will be approved through an expedited review process that eliminates hearings and appeals.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass provides an update on recovery efforts: ‘We have more work to do’

8:15 a.m.: A month after Eaton, Palisades and Hurst Fires first erupted, LA Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference and provided updates on recovery efforts. She thanked first responders for their hard work, as well as President Donald Trump for his commitment to help rebuild communities devastated by the fires. 

She also talked about the LA Disaster Relief Navigator, which was created to help fire victims find proper resources. 

Click here for more information on the LA Disaster Relief Navigator. 

She also announced the city is working to open one-stop centers to help fire victims with rebuilding efforts. 

"We have more work to do," Bass said. She again emphasized she's been working with local, state and federal authorities to help expedite services for residents and businesses impacted by LA's wildfires. 

"We are going to build Los Angeles back to being the number one city in the country," she concluded. 

Stretch of Pacific Coast Highway remains closed

8:00 a.m.: Crews responded to a mudslide at Pacific Coast Highway and Big Rock Drive. Also, following this week’s storms, the Pacific Coast Highway remains closed indefinitely between Chautauqua Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. 

Crews monitoring hillsides in recent fire zones

6:00 a.m.: Crews were monitoring hillsides in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones for mud and debris flow, as well as possible mudslides. 

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.

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