As fire containment improved and winds eased, some residents were allowed to return to neighborhoods devastated by the Eaton and Palisade fires.
Officials estimate the fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures, including many homes, making them two of the most destructive and deadly wildfires in California history. More than 8,600 firefighters are battling the blaze, with the focus in the coming days being on building containment lines and extinguishing hot spots to prevent the blaze from spreading.
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In the Palisades Fire area, officials have reopened areas north of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and south of Mulholland Drive; north of Old Topanga Canyon Road and south of Summit to Summit Highway; north of Mulholland Highway and Stokes South of Canyon Road, north of Red Rock Road and south of Calabasas Peak Highway.
In the Eaton Fire District, residents living in the Meadows neighborhood along Canyon Crest Road and east of El Prieto Road are allowed to return starting at 3 p.m.
"A soft closure means the area is closed to the public," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "It remains open to disaster response personnel, public safety personnel and residents with identification. Only residents with valid proof of residency (driver's license , registration certificate, utility bill, etc.) can enter and exit the soft closure area.”
The following areas are now open to residents only:
city of los angeles
Los Angeles County
For the Eaton Fire, Altadena residents who live along Canyon Crest Road to the Meadows east of El Prieto Road can also re-enter the area with identification.
The specific areas are as follows:
The entrance and exit are located at the intersection of Canyon Crest Road and Lincoln Avenue.
Winds are expected to continue to weaken this week, but there will be a brief reprieve in the area. There is an increasing risk that Los Angeles and Ventura counties could experience significant fire weather again starting early next week. The region also faces ongoing dangers of extreme drought and lack of rain.
The Eaton Fire, which has devastated Atadana and surrounding communities, was 65% contained as of Friday morning. The fire has not grown in size since Jan. 10, when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection listed the fire at 14,117 acres. Since then, crews have been working to surround the fire, strengthen defenses and prevent it from spreading beyond their perimeter.
Likewise, since Sunday, the Palisades Fire remains at 23,713 acres, with crews from all directions swarming into the fire area and establishing a perimeter around it. Containment of the fire had increased to 31% as of Friday morning, up from 11% on Sunday, meaning firefighters were confident nearly a third of the fire would not breach their defences.
The confirmed death toll from the fire has climbed to at least 27 as the search for rubble continues.