Eaton fire 3% contained; evacuation orders remain

More explanation about the false emergency alerts

L.A. County Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan responds to a FOX 11 question about the alert system, which draws a frustrated response from L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger.

The deadly Eaton fire has burned almost 14,000 acres and was only 3% contained as of Friday morning.

At last check, the fire has extended to 14,117 acres. A separate Friday update from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group says the number of structures damaged is estimated to be more than 7,000.

The fire was first reported Tuesday near Altadena and Midwick drives just after 6:15 p.m. in Altadena. By noon Thursday, the fire had reached the summit of Mt. Wilson, but officials said Friday that no structures on Mt. Wilson have been damaged.

Burned-out cars and homes reduced to rubble by the Eaton Fire are seen in Altadena, California, on January 10, 2025. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Expand

At least six people have been killed in this fire. Multiple injuries have been reported, including a firefighter who suffered a "significant injury from a fall" Thursday morning. That firefighter is stable and expected to make a full recovery, officials said Friday.

The Eaton fire is one of five major fires burning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. By Friday, a total of 11 deaths were attributed to the California wildfires. Six deaths were reported from the Eaton Fire and five from the Palisades Fire.

Eaton Fire flares up at peak of Mount Wilson

In an update Thursday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that in addition to the fatalities, 1,000 structures were damaged, and several injuries have been reported. Four firefighters are injured, officials confirmed.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he expects the death toll to climb based on the devastating damage he’s observed, saying in some areas, "it looks like a bomb went off."

During a press conference Friday, Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Myron Johnson said 18 more arrests were made since yesterday in the burn areas for offenses such as burglary and identity theft.

Eaton fire evacuation orders and warnings

Eaton fire boundaries as of 8:30 a.m. Jan. 10 (Cal Fire)

Evacuation orders and warnings remained in place Friday morning. Some communities under evacuation orders include Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Others are under evacuation warnings.

There's a 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew in place for all areas under mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings in the Eaton Fire.

Family returns to home destroyed by Eaton Fire

An Altadena family returned to see the wreckage of their home, which was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, at the insistence of their oldest son. The family says the children are struggling to grasp what happened.

Residents north of Woodbury to the 210 Freeway and east of JPL Laboratories are under evacuation orders. An evacuation order was also in effect for those in the following areas:

East of Altadena Drive
Kinneloa Cyn Road
Outpost Lane
Glen Springs Road
Coolidge Avenue
Roosevelt Avenue
Veranda Avenue
Kengary Lane
Fox Ridge Drive
Canyon Close Road
North Grand Oak Avenue

Pasadena Do-not-drink water order issued for Eaton fire

CA wildfires: Is LA running out of water?

In addition to battling strong winds, firefighters are now also dealing with a lack of water.

Officials in Pasadena are warning residents in the area of the Eaton Fire not to use their tap water. A do-not-drink order remains in effect for the evacuation zones.

According to the city, the blaze has damaged Pasadena Water & Power pump stations and contaminated reservoirs, "potentially impacting water quality."

The order is in place until tests show that the water is safe, but there is no timeline for when conditions will allow that to happen. Learn more about the do-not-drink order here.

Wildfires Altadena