California fires updates: Monday, Feb. 3
LOS ANGELES - With the Jan. 2025 wildfires in Southern California now fully contained, rebuilding efforts are underway as residents return to the Palisades and Eaton burn areas.
Pacific Coast Highway reopened Monday at 8 a.m. Traffic is being reduced to one lane in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace with the speed reduced to 25 mph.
The California Highway Patrol and the National Guard will begin patrolling the area, taking over from the Los Angeles Police Department.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency crews continue working to identify and remove hazardous waste from properties scorched by the fires.
Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided on the Jan. 2025 fires in SoCal:
Preparations for upcoming storm
5:30 p.m.: Caltrans and LA County Public Works announced that PCH will be closed from Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to the upcoming storms. The closure will begin at 3 p.m. for all but essential workers – first responders, recovery agencies, and utility companies. Palisades residents will still be able to access their homes via Chautauqua Boulevard with appropriate passes.
Tourists encouraged to visit LA
3:45 p.m.: Los Angeles is encouraging visitors to come to the city, saying tourism can be a "lifeline" for local businesses and workers.
Adam Burke, board president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention, noted more than 540,000 residents work in the tourism industry, and more than 1,000 businesses rely on travelers for their livelihoods.
In a statement shared on discoverlosangeles.com, Burke said the city's "world-class attractions and tourism-related businesses" remain fully operational.
Caruso's new coalition
3 p.m.: Billionaire developer Rick Caruso has launched a foundation dedicated to accelerating the rebuilding and recovery of communities devastated by January's wildfires in the Los Angeles region.
Caruso said the initiative, dubbed Steadfast LA, aims to bridge the gap between public and private sectors to fast-track recovery efforts in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and other fire-impacted communities.
Hazardous waste site
12:40 p.m.: According to the Malibu City Council, the EPA is looking to place another Phase 1 hazardous waste sorting site at the corner of Webb Way and Civic Center Way. The site would be used to sort, store, and pack hazardous waste material removed from burned properties as a part of the Phase 1 clean-up process.
LA firefighters honored
11:45 a.m.: Los Angeles firefighters were greeted with a warm round of applause as they were honored on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards Sunday night.
Special deal for first responders
10:30 a.m.: Universal Studios Hollywood is offering first responders complimentary one-day general admission tickets to express their "gratitude for their heroic efforts in tackling the devastating Los Angeles wildfires."
The "First Responder Heroes Ticket" offer extends to all eligible U.S.-based, active first responders within public or private agencies/entities in the following categories:
- Firefighters
- Police Officers
- Sheriff’s Deputies
- National Guard
- Paramedics
- Emergency Medical Technicians
To learn more, tap or click here.
Red Cross center
9:00 a.m.: Returning Palisades residents and authorized contractors in the Palisades can obtain an access pass by checking in with law enforcement at the parking structure of the Disaster Recovery Center in Westwood, 10850 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Passes can be obtained daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Red Cross will be stationed at the Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Monday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to distribute PPE to residents.
PCH reopens
8 a.m.: Pacific Coast Highway reopened between the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. Traffic began flowing around 8 a.m. Monday, with only one lane in each direction and speed limited to 25 mph.
Altadena recovery meeting scheduled
7:35 a.m.: LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will hold a town hall Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss the latest information on recovery sources for the Altadena community. To submit questions, tap or click here.
The town hall will be livestreamed online.
New federal action requested
7:30 a.m.: U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Laura Friedman (CA-30), and Brad Sherman (CA-32) will request new federal action to protect families from an increase in dangerous pollutants like lead, chlorine, and other dangerous carcinogens from the LA wildfires. A recent study found that airborne lead and chlorine levels skyrocketed with the fires.
Pacific Coast Highway reopens
7:00 a.m.: Pacific Coast Highway is set to reopen Monday at 8 a.m., but travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace with the speed reduced to 25 mph.
Returning Palisades residents must obtain an access pass by checking in with law enforcement at the Lot 3 Beach Access, 1150 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. Private contractors hired by residents are also being permitted into the burn area, but will also need access passes.
SUGGESTED: PCH partially reopens Monday after full containment of Palisades Fire
Fires reach full containment
6:00 a.m. Over the weekend, firefighters reached a major milestone and reported the Hughes, Palisades and Eaton fires were fully contained.
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.
The Source: Information for this story is from the National Weather Service and previous FOX 11 reports.