California fires updates for Saturday, Jan. 25

Southern California is about to get some much-needed rain after nearly three weeks of nonstop fires.

The bad news, however, is that residents in the burn scar areas will need to be ready for possible mudslides and land movements. Even with the highly-anticipated rain, survivors in Altadena – who were devastated by the Eaton Fire – and residents in the Pacific Palisades – who were hit by the Palisades Fire – will still need to face the long road to recovery. 

FOX 11 is also keeping tabs on a storm system moving into Southern California.

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Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided on the current fires burning in SoCal:

Hughes Fire 90% contained

6 p.m.: According to Cal Fire, the Hughes Fire is now 90% contained.

Palisades containment at 84%

5:30 p.m.: The Palisades Fire is now 84% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Clay Fire fully contained

3 p.m.: The Clay Fire in Riverside County has been fully contained, according to Cal Fire.

More evacuation zones open to residents

3 p.m.: Another evacuation zone in the Palisades Fire burn area has been reopened to residents. The area north of Alma Real Drive, Pacific Coast Hwy, south of W. Sunset Boulevard, east of Temescal Canyon Road and west of Ocampo Drive, Chautauqua Boulevard and Toyopa Drive has reopened. Officials will be escorting residents back on Saturday until 5 p.m. 

FOR THE LATEST EVACUATION MAP TAP OR CLICK HERE

Free Sandbags Available

1:05 p.m.: To help residents whose homes were spared by the Eaton and Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County opened sandbag distrubution sites in Altadena, Pasadena and Malibu. Click here for locations.
 

Flood Watch in Effect for Burn Scar Areas

12 p.m.: Flood Watch for the fire burn scar areas is in effect beginning 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 through 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27. 

Rain is expected Saturday, Jan. 25, though Monday, Jan. 27 in Los Angeles. The latest forecast calls for a quarter to a half inch of rain with 10-20% chance of thunderstorms.

For more weather information from the National Weather Service, click here.

Mental Health Resources Available

11:45 a.m.: If you or a loved one are experiencing distress after the wildfires, you are not alone. Here are some resources to help you navigate through this difficult time.

  • 24/7 Help Line – (800) 854-7771
  • Disaster Distress Helpline - 1-800-985-5990 National hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling
  • 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline provides support by call, chat, and text - Dial 988

Shelters Available for Communities Impacted by Fires

11:40 a.m.: As of January 25, 2025, the following shelters are open:

  • Pasadena Convention Center 300 E. Green St, Pasadena CA 91101
  • Westwood Recreation Center 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • Cuyamaca College – D Building Gym 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy, El Cajon, CA 92019
  • Van Nuys Recreation Center 14301 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA 91405

Palisades Fire 81% Contained

10 a.m.: Containment of the deadly Palisades Fire rose to 81% on Saturday morning, with a chance of rain expected through Monday and a flash flood watch warning expected from 4 p.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday.

The Palisades Fire has scorched 23,448 acres and killed at least 11 people since erupting Jan. 7. As of Friday, 6,822 structures had been destroyed by the blaze, and another 1,005 damaged. One firefighter was injured, along with three civilians, according to fire officials.

Mandatory evacuation zones MAL-C111-A, MAL-C111-B, and MAL-C112-B have reopened for resident-only access. Residents must check in at the Malibu Pier with proof of residency and will be escorted to repopulated areas by sheriff deputies between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

A Do Not Drink Notice remains in effect for areas impacted by the fire, with bottled water available at 23533 West Civic Center Way from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Los Angeles County Waterworks District is working to address potential contaminants in the water system.

Heavy rain could trigger debris flows over burn scar areas, particularly near the Franklin Fire and Palisades Fire regions. Residents are urged to monitor weather updates and prepare sandbags if necessary.

For more details, visit LA County Recovery for Malibu Residents.

Angeles National Forest Closure

8:54 a.m.: As a result of the Hughes Fire, the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will remain closed until Friday, January 31, 2025. These areas are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Eaton Fire 95% Contained

8 a.m.: The Eaton Fire was 95% contained Saturday as mop-up operations continued and repopulation efforts were completed while a cold front is expected to bring at least light rain this weekend.

Pasadena Water and Power lifted the do not drink water notice for the remaining areas in its service territory Friday.

The fire has burned 14,021 acres in Altadena and Pasadena since Jan. 7, leaving at least at least 17 people dead, according to Cal Fire. Nine firefighters have been injured battling the blaze. It has destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged another 1,073.

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.

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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