Firefighters battling deadly California wildfires reach critical milestone on road to recovery
The fires began on Jan. 7 in northern Los Angeles County during one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events to hit the region in more than 10 years, with winds in some areas reaching nearly 100 mph.
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Southern California's recent wildfires have exacerbated the housing crisis, causing rental prices and home values to skyrocket. This surge is making it extremely difficult for families displaced by the fires to find stable housing as they try to rebuild their lives. FOX Weather is joined by Laura Adams, senior analyst at AceableAgent.com.
LOS ANGELES – The three-week-long fight to battle two deadly wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and countless lives reached an important recovery milestone over the weekend as officials announced that the Palisades and Eaton fires are now 100% contained.
The containment means that though flames are still smoldering, firefighters have surrounded the entire footprint of the wildfire with fire breaks that should prevent any further spread. But although the flames are another important step closer to eventually meeting their demise, their devastating impact will live on for years to come for Southern California.
The fires began on Jan. 7 in northern Los Angeles County during one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events to hit the region in more than 10 years, with winds in some areas reaching nearly 100 mph.
Such powerful winds, along with dry conditions, caused the flames to spread at break-neck speed, burning through entire neighborhoods and causing mass evacuations. So far, the death toll remains at 29 people.
Strong winds blow embers from homes burning in the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025 in Pasadena, California.
(David McNew/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Eaton Fire, located north of Pasadena, ended up burning over 14,000 acres. It destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, businesses, schools and other structures and caused at least 17 confirmed deaths.
Southwest of the Eaton Fire, the Palisades Fire burned almost 24,000 acres between Malibu and Santa Monica. It destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, including historic sites, and caused at least 12 confirmed deaths. The two fires now both rank as the worst wildfires in Southern California history.
BEFORE-AND-AFTER IMAGES OF CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Officials open portion of Pacific Coast Highway
The fire also led to the closure of parts of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), a critical transportation artery that runs through the Palisades neighborhood, the namesake of the Palisades Fire. Areas of the roadway were engulfed in flames and smoke, leading to road closures by law enforcement officials.
'Like driving through hell': Palisades Fire engulfs homes along Pacific Coast Highway
The Palisades Fire erupted Tuesday in Los Angeles, fueled by strong winds gusting between 50-80 mph. Video from the Pacific Coast Highway shows homes and power poles on fire as the fire continues its rapid spread.
City officials reopened one lane in each direction of the PCH at reduced speeds on Monday, and only local traffic is encouraged.
The Palisades and Eaton fires shed light on another type of infrastructure – the Los Angeles water system. As firefighters worked to combat the fast-growing flames, they experienced low water pressure and limited access to water, hindering their efforts to extinguish the fires.
L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said that in the Palisades, where water pressure for fire hydrants is fed by three water tanks containing 1 million gallons each, the tanks had run out of water the morning after the fires began.
Orange County and Los Angles County firefighters work to save homes within the Palisades Fire zone in Pacific Palisades, California on Thursday January 9, 2025.
(Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)
This was one example of how the Los Angeles water supply was impacted by the wildfires. However, on Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that five out of nine water systems impacted by the wildfires are fully operational.
"We're working closely with local water systems to get clean water back to our communities as quickly and safely as possible," Gov. Newsom posted on X, formerly Twitter.
LOS ANGELES WATER SYSTEMS STRAINED AS FIREFIGHTERS STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN WILDFIRES
The road to recovery will be a long one for those affected by the California wildfires.
Drone video shows apocylaptic scenes in Malibu after wildfire
Malibu was ravaged by the Palisades Fire, and now, remnants of the homes along the Pacific Coast Highway are left behind. Drone video shows the destruction in the daylight.
Many residents have been displaced, as they no longer have homes in which to return.
Pets, livestock and other animals were also affected, with some lost or left behind during evacuations and having experienced serious burns and other injuries from the wildfires.
MEET HOPE: STRAY CAT SINGED BY CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
In terms of property, global data analytics company Verisk estimates that insured losses will reach at least $28 billion, making the fire disaster the costliest event in U.S. history.
Khaled Fouad, left, and Mimi Laine embrace as they inspect a family member's property that was destroyed by Eaton Fire on January 9, 2025 in Altadena, California.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Wildfire victims and their neighbors will also have to contend with other elements of Mother Nature.
As seen in a rainfall event last week, mudslides, debris flows and flash flooding have been triggered in burn-scar areas, as they were unable to absorb the moisture brought by the storm.
While rain is much-needed in parched Southern California, it may continue to present other hazards as the area recovers from the wildfires.