First residents allowed back to communities ravaged by Palisades Fire

Some residents affected by the Palisades Fire are being allowed to return home and begin taking the first steps on a long road to recovery. 

Repopulation began Friday afternoon in communities where evacuation orders had been issued and have since been downgraded by officials.  

Several neighborhoods under evacuation orders are now under evacuation warnings, while others have been cleared for resident-only access. Additional neighborhoods returned to “normal” on Friday, a CalFire release stated.  

Neighborhoods cleared for partial repopulation for residents only include: 

• Area off Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Viewridge Road to Grand View Drive 

• Area off Old Topanga Canyon Road from Topanga Canyon to Tuna Canyon and Saddle Peak roads 

• Monte Nido and Las Virgenes Road 

And while some areas may be accessible via multiple routes during normal times, officials have designated three partial repopulation entry and exit points: 

• Cold Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway 

• Old Topanga Canyon and Dry Canyon Cold Creek Road  

• Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Viewridge Road 

Residents must present proof of residency in the form of a photo ID that displays their name, photo, and physical address in order to be let back in, officials stated.

A full list of areas that officials are allowing residents to repopulate can be found here. For a map detailing where each evacuation zone is, click here.

More resources for affected residents can be found at www.recovery.lacounty.gov. 

As of early Saturday morning, the Palisades Fire was 43% contained. Since erupting on Jan. 7, it has scorched more than 23,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures in the Pacific Palisades and led to the deaths of ten people. 

Simultaneously, the Eaton Fire, which was 73% contained as of publication, reduced thousands of structures to ash and rubble further east in the Altadena area after breaking out on the same day as the Palisades Fire. A total of 17 people have died as a result of that blaze, and dozens more remain missing in relation to both of the devastating wildfires.