Latest Guides

Community News

All Mandatory Evacuation Orders Lifted in Pasadena

It could still be some time before residents can return to Altadena

Published on Friday, January 17, 2025 | 6:25 am
 

All mandatory evacuation zones in Pasadena have been downgraded to warning levels.

But local residents must remain vigilant as there is still a chance of critical fire weather.

“There is a chance of red flag warnings again next week on Monday and Tuesday with critical fire weather, low humidities and increased winds as projected right now,” Fire Chief Chad Augustin told the Pasadena City Council in an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

3,400 firefighters are still battling the blaze.

Containment lines held Thursday night holding the burn area to 14,117 acres.

The City has also started working with the County for future mud and debris flow incidents which could happen after the first major rainfall.

Although conditions have improved dramatically, authorities said it could still be more than a week until most evacuated residents are permitted to return home.

According to City News Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he understands the desire for people to return, especially if their homes are undamaged and habitable, but he expects to be “at least another week, and that’s an estimate, but I believe it’s going to be longer than that.”

While much of the active fire has been doused, Luna and County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone noted that there is extensive work still going on in the fire zones, including securing utilities to ensure safety, removing hazardous wastes from the area and — most delicately — searching for human remains.

“Our search and rescue efforts continue,” Luna said. “There are areas we are holding because we believe there may be deceased victims there.”

He said the process is “going to take a little while. Please be patient with us.” He added that while he is empathetic to people anxious to return home, he is more empathetic to people waiting to learn about missing loved ones who may have died in the fires.

Luna also noted that in many of the severe burn areas, “It literally looks like a bomb dropped. There are things everywhere.”

Marrone also estimated that it could be a week or more for many residents to return, saying authorities have to ensure the areas are safe to reoccupy.

“The last thing we want as public safety and the County and City leadership, we don’t want people going back to an area and getting injured,” he said. “We know there’s a lot of conversation about when we can come back, they want a date. We don’t have a date.”

Red flag warnings of critical fire danger expired in most of the region at 6 p.m. Wednesday, although a red flag warning will remain in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday in the western San Gabriel Mountains.

According to the National Weather Service, the region will see a “significant cooling trend through the weekend.” And more importantly, for firefighters, humidity levels will rise, alleviating the dry conditions that helped fuel the spread of wildfires over the past week.

Cooler temperatures are expected on Friday as the cool onshore flow off the ocean will prevail.”

Forecasters warned, however, that Santa Ana winds are likely to return early next week, “especially later Monday into Tuesday,” but it was too early to judge how strong that event might be.

As of Thursday, the nearly 24,000-acre Palisades Fire was 22% contained, and containment of the 14,117-acre Eaton Fire was at 55%.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday that with the latest wind event ending, crews were focused on locating “hot spots and putting them out.”

Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.

Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

 

 

 

 

buy ivermectin online
buy modafinil online
buy clomid online
buy ivermectin online