The first pillar of black smoke rose from the hill above the Pacific Wall just after 10am on January 7th. Fires near your home will always alert you. But for this, Santa Ana’s winds had reached the power of a hurricane.
It was the beginning of the most important, devastating and tragic days in Los Angeles County history.
The Palisade fire carbonized 23,707 acres in the Palisade, Topanga and Malibu regions of the Pacific Ocean. More than 6,800 structures have been demolished, including many homes, iconic businesses along the Pacific Coast Highway, as well as homes on the hill above. At least 12 people were killed.
The Eton Fire, which erupted in Altadena hours later, burned 14,021 acres around Altadena and Pasadena, destroying more than 9,400 structures and claiming 17 lives. It has hit the historically black community of Altadena, where many families of color used their homes to accumulate wealth for generations.
Eton and the Palisade Fire
The catastrophic fire killed at least 28 people, leaving over 18,000 buildings worth more than $275 billion, leaving a burn zone 2.5 times the size of Manhattan.
A month later, the fire crisis gave way to talk of recovery, cleansing and reconstruction.
But questions remain as to what happened that day and what we can learn from it. Here are some important points from the Times Fire Coverage page:
The Eton Fire is on fire on January 8th on the hill above Altadena.
(Maxar Technologies)
What do we know about the cause of the Palisade fire?
The fire broke out near a popular hiking trail around 10:30am on January 7th, spreading rapidly to Palisade and Malibu in the Pacific Ocean amidst the winds of Hurricane Force.
The U.S. Alcohol Service, a team of investigators for cigarettes, firearms and explosives, are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
The ATF has not commented on the investigation. However, sources say one area of scrutiny is whether the eight-acre flame, issued on January 1 in the same area on January 1, will reignite and spread due to heavy winds.
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The Luckman fire was reported in the New Year at 12:17am on New Year’s Day by residents in the house about two blocks from the popular Skull Rock Trail on the hillside above Palisade in the Pacific Ocean. A source with knowledge of the investigation that is not permitted to speak publicly told The Times, which appears to have caused the Luckman fire.
According to the agency, the water-dropping helicopter was unable to fly first due to strong winds. However, around 1:40am, an air attack was launched to assist the ground crew. News footage has earned a charge, and walls of flames towering over homes and firefighters are rushing into the backyard.
Shortly after 3:30am, firefighters reported that the flames had stopped moving forward.
About an hour later, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the firefighters “completed a hose line around the fire, and it was completely included.” However, some firefighters remained on the scene and wiped them down to prevent the fire from flaking again.
However, sources said last week’s Times had no final resolve and that the flames could have begun on January 7th.
Bank of America’s buildings are on fire along with many other businesses on Lake Avenue in Altadena.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
What caused the Eton Fire?
The flames that burned a large strip of Altadena are being investigated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.
The early focus was on the Edison Power Line in Southern California, Eton Canyon, where the fire began after 6pm on January 7th.
Shortly after the fire, Edison was scrutinized as photos and videos taken by Eton Canyon residents showed they were burning under the power tower when the flames began.
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Last week, Edison revealed that the line over Eaton Canyon saw an instantaneous increase in current around the same time as when the fire began. In a filing with California regulatory authorities on Jan. 27, Edison said a failure occurred at the Eagle Rock Gould Line, which connects the Eagle Rock Substation to the Gould Substation in La Canarda Flintridge.
The faults occurred about five miles from the area where the fire began, increasing current across the company’s power lines.
On Thursday, Edison went a step further and acknowledged that videos and other evidence suggested that company equipment could have played a role. The company has so far “special or obvious indications supporting this association, such as broken conductors, fresh arc marks in the reserve origin area, or evidence of failures in the energized lines running through the area.” We haven’t confirmed that it has not been identified.
“We are pleased to announce that Pedro J. Pizzarro, president and CEO of SCE’s parent company, Edison International, said:
More than 40 lawsuits have been filed against Edison in Southern California from more than 600 residents, accusing them of igniting utility and flames.
Large smoke from the Palisade fire rises above the ridge line.
(Brian van der Bragg/Los Angeles Times)
What caused the Hearst Fire?
Edison of Southern California reported to state regulators Thursday that it was likely that the equipment caused the Hearst fire, which burned nearly 800 acres in Sylmer.
Read more:
What do we know about fire evacuation?
Evacuations for both the Pallisard and Eton fires have been the subject of criticism.
An investigation by the Eaton Fires Times showed that a large strip of Altadena, west of North Lake Avenue, took almost nine hours to receive an electronic evacuation order. By then, several fires had been reported in the area, so many residents say they saw it in fear as the flames quickly approached the home. Of the 17 people who died, all lived west of North Lake Avenue.
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A Times review of Palisades Fire found that the challenge of evacuating thousands of residents was exacerbated by delayed alerts and overwhelming first responders. The residents spoke at a time when they felt as if they were left to dodge for themselves. The street shook at least 40 minutes before the initial extensive evacuation order. As the flames approached, firefighters and police told the driver to leave and run. The abandoned car made the jam worse and prevented the first counterpart from passing through. Residents trapped on blocked roads said they were forced to evacuate into place.
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What do you know about preparing for a fire?
An investigation by the Times revealed that Los Angeles Fire Department officials had made the important decision to call extra firefighters and equipment scores hours before the fire.
The Los Angeles Water and Electricity Bureau is also under scrutiny. Because the main Pacific Palisade Reservoir was empty for maintenance in the event of a Palisade fire. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered an investigation into the matter.
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Water pressure is another issue, with fire hydrants drying in both Pallisad and Altadena in the Pacific Ocean. Officials said the water systems supplying the neighborhood do not have the capacity to supply such large amounts of water for hours. As fires grow larger and more intense in the West, the following important questions are raised: where? And what costs will it cost?
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This is the Times Guide for Fire Resources, Support and Conservation.
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