Firefighters Persist in Containing Wildfires in California as Winds Diminish
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Synopsis
As winds diminish, thousands of firefighters continue their efforts to combat major wildfires in Southern California, with containment lines being established and evacuation orders being lifted for some residents.
Key Takeaways
- Firefighters are battling two major wildfires in Southern California.
- Palisades Fire has burned over 23,000 acres and is 31% contained.
- Eaton Fire is now 65% contained after burning over 14,000 acres.
- Many residents are beginning to return home as evacuation orders are lifted.
- Firefighters are working in challenging terrain to build containment lines.
Los Angeles, Jan 18 (NationPress) Thousands of firefighters are still diligently combating the two significant wildfires in Southern California as the winds begin to subside in the region.
Local officials have reported that devastating wildfires throughout Southern California have resulted in the loss of at least 27 lives and have obliterated over 12,300 structures after more than a week, according to the Xinhua news agency.
The Palisades Fire, which is the largest ongoing wildfire in the Los Angeles area, has charred 23,713 acres (95.96 square km). This fire ignited on January 7 and is currently 31 percent contained, a rise from 22 percent early Thursday.
"During the night and into this morning, cooler temperatures, mild winds, and favorable humidity levels were noted," stated the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in a Friday morning update, adding that "Crews are actively working to establish and enhance containment lines to limit fire spread around structures within controlled zones, ensuring the safety of the public and incident personnel."
Another significant active fire, the Eaton Fire, was reported to be 65 percent contained as of Friday morning, up from 55 percent the previous day. This dangerous fire has consumed 14,117 acres (57.1 square km) near Altadena and Pasadena.
Cal Fire indicated that firefighters are continuing to work on building and enhancing containment lines in steep and hard-to-reach areas.
The containment efforts are progressing, and the fire is anticipated to remain within its current boundaries, according to Cal Fire.
Local authorities announced that around 11,000 residents would be permitted to return to their neighborhoods after some evacuation orders were lifted on Thursday. However, individuals must provide proof of residency to access these areas, while certain other zones that have been severely impacted by the wildfires will remain closed to the public.
