ALTADENA, Calif. (CNS) — The Eaton Fire was 73% contained Saturday, up overnight from 65%, with firefighters continuing to extinguish hot spots in steep, inaccessible canyons near Winters Creek, Mt. Lowe, and Mt. Wilson aided by water-dropping helicopters.
Winds are expected to remain calm through the weekend, but another Santa Ana wind event is expected to move in Monday and Tuesday, creating a high risk for critical fire weather conditions and rapid fire spread of any new fires. Isolated gusts could reach 50 to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
“Today, the incident (team) will continue infrastructure assessments, ensuring safety of personnel and equipment working in the area,” Cal Fire officials said Saturday. “The HazMat response will remain active, providing decontamination to personnel and equipment as needed. Air Operations will continue to assist firefighters in extinguishing hot spots that are inaccessible by ground. Containment continues to grow, with a total of 60 miles of control lines established around the fire’s perimeter, including 8 miles of hand lines. As repopulation efforts progress, the focus remains on ensuring that people are brought back into a safe and secure environment.”
Thousands of people remain evacuated, but some are being allowed to return to their homes. Officials have completed inspections for 90% of the structures in the fire area, and so far nearly 9,000 structures have been reported destroyed, with nearly 12,000 more threatened.
An evacuation center remained open at the Pasadena Convention Center at 300 E. Green St.
An 85-year-old woman had her home damaged in the Eaton Fire. When she filed a claim with FEMA, she found out she was also a victim of fraud.
Small animals were being taken at the Pasadena Humane Society at 361 S. Raymond Ave., and large animals were being taken at Industry Hills Expo, 16200 Temple Ave., and Pico Rivera Sports Arena, 11003 Sports Arena Drive.
On Friday afternoon, evacuation orders were lifted in areas southwest of Altadena Drive, north of New York Drive and east of Allen Avenue; an area east of Lake Avenue and south of Mendocino Lane; and south of Church Canyon Place, east of Old Toll Road and west of Sunset Ridge Road.
On Thursday afternoon, residents along Canyon Crest Road into The Meadows east of El Prieto Road were permitted to return home. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday he anticipates the bulk of the evacuation orders in the fire area will remain in place for at least another week, likely longer.
A curfew remains in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones.
The fire has burned 14,117 acres in Altadena and Pasadena since breaking out Jan. 7, leaving at least 16 people dead.
SoCalGas officials temporarily shut off natural gas service to thousands of customers in the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities as a safety measure. As of Saturday, the utility had restored service to 1,910 of those, with approximately 5,500 homes ready for potential restoration.
The Gas Co. has established an information booth for residents at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Pasadena City College’s Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The entire Angeles National Forest has been closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources through at least midnight Wednesday.
There were 2,782 personnel assigned to the firefighting effort as of Saturday, Cal Fire reported.
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