Photo: DAVID PASHAEE / AFP / Getty Images
PACIFIC PALISADES (CNS) - With the burn area nearly fully contained, final evacuation orders stemming from the deadly Palisades Fire were lifted, allowing residents to return to their properties, but nightly curfews are still in place Wednesday in fire areas.
The orders for the final two neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles portion of the fire area were lifted shortly after noon Monday. Only residents will be permitted into any of the repopulated areas.
Fire officials said residents will no longer need escorts into the area, but they must obtain an access pass by checking in with law enforcement at the Lot 3 Beach Access, 1150 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.
County public health officials are distributing personal protective equipment to residents returning to their homes.
Nightly curfew orders remain in effect, barring any unauthorized people from entering the fire areas.
The sheriff's department and other law enforcement agencies have reported dozens of arrests for alleged looting, burglaries and curfew violations since the fires in ignited in Altadena and the Palisades, the latter of which started around 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7 in the area of Piedra Morada and Monte Hermoso drives as the area was under a red flag warning for critical fire danger due to a historic wind event that saw gusts of 80 to 100 mph.
The Palisades Fire scorched 23,448 acres and has killed at least 12 people. It was 96% contained Wednesday. The 12th death was reported Monday by the county Medical Examiner, which said the unidentified victim died at a hospital.
As of Tuesday, 6,837 structures had been destroyed by the blaze, and another 1,017 damaged. One firefighter was injured, along with three civilians, according to fire officials.
Rain that fell over the weekend raised concerns about mud and debris flows, and some roads were blocked Monday due to small slides.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District closed its four Malibu schools Monday due to dangerous road conditions and challenges with access to schools. Those schools are Malibu and Webster elementary schools, Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School. All four reopened on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has reported that many customers are without power in the Pacific Palisades area, mainly in areas where workers cannot safely access homes or in areas where it is unsafe to re- energize power lines. Customers with questions about the status of their service can call 800-342-5397.
Southern California Gas Co. had shut off service to about 13,600 customers in the Palisades Fire area for safety reasons, but the utility reported Tuesday that it has restored service for 5,316 of those customers.
A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is operating at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 Pico Blvd., to provide information for residents. Mayor Karen Bass said Monday that residents from 4,000 households have already sought assistance at the center.
Los Angeles County officials said its damage assessments can be viewed at recocery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire. They will be updated daily in real time.
The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner has positively identified 18 of the 29 people confirmed dead in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires. The list can be found at me.lacounty.gov/2025/press- releases/wildfire-update-18-victims-identified-by-medical- examiner/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_te rm=.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
