Photo: AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP / Getty Images
PACIFIC PALISADES (CNS) - Containment of the deadly Palisades Fire rose to 63% Tuesday as fire crews again braved gusting Santa Ana winds as they worked to fully surround the burn area and authorities looked to possibly lift more evacuation orders and allow some residents to return home.
A "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning of critical fire danger was in place for much of the region until 10 a.m. Tuesday. But standard red flag conditions were anticipated through 10 p.m., followed by a fire weather watch in many areas that will be in place until Thursday night, thanks to continued gusty winds and extremely low humidity.
Firefighters are making steady progress, Cal Fire reported Tuesday. Crews were working with utility providers to repair infrastructure and address hazards like fallen trees and downed power lines.
The Palisades Fire has scorched 23,713 acres and killed at least 10 people since erupting Jan. 7. Authorities said they anticipate the number of fatalities to rise as crews continue sifting through the ash and rubble.
More evacuation orders were lifted Monday, affecting neighborhoods in the Topanga area, generally east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the area of Colima Drive and south of Encina Road. The area was opened for residents only.
Evacuation warnings were lifted Sunday for more than a dozen other fire zones, including
-- north of Mildas Drive/Loma Metisse Road and south of Baynes Road/Stunt Road;
-- north of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road/Malibu Canyon Road;
-- north of Sweetwater Mesa Road and south of Costa del Sol Way; and,
-- north of Sweetwater Mesa Road and West Carbon Canyon Road.
Santa Monica officials said Saturday that all evacuation orders have been lifted within that city, and Pacific Coast Highway is now accessible for local residents, businesses and patrons. Access to PCH north of the Santa Monica city limits is being managed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
A curfew continues to be in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. Only firefighters, utility workers and law enforcement personnel are allowed in those areas.
A man and a woman from Oregon were arrested Saturday for impersonating firefighters and entering an evacuation zone, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities said the pair claimed to be from the Roaring River Fire Department in Oregon, which deputies found was not a legitimate agency. Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were found wearing Cal Fire T-shirts under turnout gear, helmet and radios in a fire truck purchased at an auction, sheriff's officials said. The relationship of the two was not disclosed.
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 Palisades and Altadena broke out on Jan. 7.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said it would re- open most of its parks outside of the Santa Monica Mountains. MRCA-managed parks and trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and in the fire evacuation zone, including Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, are still closed until the fire emergency is over.
The closures include Temescal Gateway Park, King Gillette Ranch, all Topanga Canyon Parks, parking lots and beach accessways in and directly adjacent to Malibu including Escondido Canyon Park, Fryman Canyon Park, Wilacre Park, Franklin Canyon Park and Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.
As of Sunday, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews had restored electric service to customers in the Brentwood, Encino and Bel-Air areas that were previously without power to protect public safety.
The LADWP had approximately 8,000 customers remaining without power in the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Canyon 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 3,492 of those customers, and was continuing restoration efforts in the northwest areas of Malibu beyond Pepperdine University.
The Gas Co. has established an information booth for residents that will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pavilions store at 29211 Heathercliff Road in Malibu, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W Pico Blvd., to provide information for customers.
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.
Malibu campuses in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were scheduled to reopen Tuesday, but a lack of electricity forced the continued closure of Malibu Elementary, Middle and High schools. Webster Elementary School reopened as scheduled.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will "probably" travel to California this week to view the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
"I will be, probably, at the end of the week," he told NBC's "Meet the Press."
At least 6,207 structures have been destroyed in the blaze, according to Cal Fire, and another 821 have been damaged. Those numbers may rise as property assessments continue.
Some 5,677 personnel were committed to the firefighting effort.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Palisades Fire erupted 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 mph. It continued to grow exponentially Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, driven by heavy fuel loads and powerful Santa Ana winds.