LOS ANGELES − After almost a month filled with devastation, smoke, and ash, the Eaton and Palisades wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles have been completely contained, as confirmed by Cal Fire.

The fires ignited on January 7 during a significant wind event and spread through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, resulting in at least 29 fatalities, burning over 37,000 acres, and leaving a trail of destroyed homes and affected lives.

“The conditions that night were unbearable,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated in a 60 Minutes interview. “There was a fierce devil wind, the kind that occurs during extreme Santa Ana winds.”

These wildfires are now cited as the second and third most destructive in California’s history, according to Cal Fire, and are currently under investigation.

Pacific Coast Highway to Reopen, Checkpoints in Palisades to Continue

Beginning Monday, the Pacific Coast Highway will see a limited reopening, allowing one lane of traffic in each direction and a lowered speed limit, as stated by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Checkpoints in the vicinity will stay in place, transitioning responsibilities to the California Highway Patrol and National Guard from the Los Angeles Police Department.

The decision to maintain the checkpoints was made in response to community concerns about safety in the burned areas. The city initially planned to remove these checkpoints on Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“This approach secures the Palisades area while lessening the burden on LAPD, whose ability to respond across Los Angeles has been compromised for nearly a month,” Bass said in her announcement. “My main focus remains on the prompt and safe rebuilding of the Palisades.”

Challenges in Cleanup Efforts

The relief felt by Southern California as the fires were contained was short-lived, as the rebuilding process faces several hurdles due to the toxic debris left behind in the affected areas.

“Residents should absolutely refrain from digging through the debris at home,” warned Katie Arrington, a disaster recovery expert involved in managing the aftermath of a 2021 wildfire near Denver that destroyed around 1,000 homes. “The debris is highly toxic, resulting from combinations of burned materials. It’s not just the remnants of your home, but also those from your neighbors and your vehicle in the driveway.”

Arrington, who is part of Boulder County’s Recovery and Resiliency Division, previously informed YSL News that clearing away the debris from homes destroyed in the 2021 Marshall Fire took half a year and needed contractors who were qualified to handle such hazardous waste.

Contributing: Trevor Hughes,