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By Andrew Stanton
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The Eaton fire, one of the largest to burn in Los Angeles County over the past week, is now 45 percent contained after burning more than 14,000 acres.
Why It Matters
Los Angeles County has been devastated by a series of fires that began burning last Tuesday. At least 25 people have been killed in the fires and at least 12,000 structures have been destroyed, causing an estimated billions of dollars in damage. The Eaton fire and the Palisades fire are the two most destructive in Southern Californian history.
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What To Know
The Eaton Fire was nearly halfway contained Wednesday morning, according to California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The progress comes after firefighters spent days struggling to control the wildfires due to the powerful Santa Ana winds hindering containment efforts. Dry conditions have also contributed to the spread of the fires.
The Eaton fire has burned areas north of Pasadena.
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Meanwhile, the Palisades fire, located further south near Malibu, was only 19 percent contained after burning nearly 24,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The Hurst Fire, near San Fernando, was 97 percent contained. It has burned 799 acres.
The causes of the fires remain under investigation.
The National Weather Service warned Tuesday evening that Los Angeles is "not out of the woods yet."
"Please stay on guard for a fast-moving fire. The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow. The PDS Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the same areas, now for 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed," the service wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Local officials have warned that fire risks remain high, despite some calmer winds on Wednesday, CNN reported.
"The anticipated 70 mph winds have yet to materialize. However, this could change, and we are still at risk," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X on Tuesday: "California is working closely with the federal government to get debris removal teams quickly into the areas of Los Angeles that have been devastated by the hurricane-force firestorms. We're clearing obstacles to ensure cleanup happens as soon as it's safe for teams to move in."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on X Tuesday: "One of the first people I met at the Disaster Recovery Center today was someone who lost their home in the Palisades Fire but was there to volunteer to help others. That's the spirit of Los Angeles."
What Happens Next
Firefighters will continue working on the wildfires this week as they continue to threaten the nation's second-largest city.
The coming weeks will also see legislative efforts to pass additional aid to help Californians as the city grapples to rebuild homes and businesses ravaged by the fire.
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