Palisades Residents Denied Access to Fire Site, Until Possibly Thursday

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Members of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were going house to house to shut off water and take care of electrical poles and lines.

This editor was in Pacific Palisades in the upper Alphabet Street area, there were three trucks of DWP workers, working to clear the streets of wires, broken poles and fallen trees and to shut off the water.

“We want to get this done as fast as possible, so that residents can come in and safely get to their properties,” the crew said.

The gas company had a worker on almost every street in the Huntington and Alphabet Streets area, when this editor went though those streets.  He explained that they have to individually inspect every property to make sure the gas is turned off.

The gas company is going to each property to make sure gas is turned off.

A fire company from Anaheim was among the many fire companies, some as far away as Oregon, who were putting out spot fires. The different companies were in sections of the Palisades and on Chautauqua, there was a small wisp of smoke coming from a pile of debris of a completely burned house. One of the firefighters from a crew from Roseburg, Oregon, took an ax, climbed down, pulled parts of the pile up, and then they hosed the spot.

Firefighters from Roseburg put out a spot fire on Chautauqua.

That process was being played out all over the Palisades. If even a bit of ember is not out, it could start a fire and winds could sent it into the homes that had not burned in the initial fire.

It was announced during a news conference today, January 12 that residents would not be allowed into their homes in Pacific Palisades, most likely until Thursday.

There is another Santa Ana expected to blow through the area on Tuesday and Wednesday and officials do not want people in the area in case of more fire.

Generally speaking, about half the homes in the Huntington Palisades and the homes on the El Medio bluff areas are burnt. The Alphabet Street homes and the homes on the Via de las Olas bluffs are almost completely destroyed.

Marquez Knolls and the Marquez area are about half gone. The Highlands fared better than many areas, although the condos on the left side of Palisades Drive as one drives north were totally destroyed. Castellammare also had about half of its homes destroyed.

There is still debris on some roads, such as in the Castellammare area of Palisades.

A new interactive map launched on the Los Angeles County website offers real-time updates on the status of  homes. The map allows users to input their address to see photos and a detailed assessment of their property’s condition click here.

People, and I know, this editor is one, just want to go through the ashes, wood and debris of their homes to see if there is anything that can be salvaged. The ashes are so thick, there are nails, and other debris, so there is little likelihood one will walk up to a burned home and see something that can be salvaged.

There are people worried about looters, because their homes are still standing. Give the Los Angeles Police Department, the LA County Sheriff and District Attorney Nathan Hochman credit, and a shout out, for not only upping security, but instantly booking people who not legally on the site and might have criminal intentions.

There was security at every entry point to the Palisades. It included not only LAPD, but also members of the National Guard. Media were allowed to enter, but had to present credentials before they were waved through the checkpoint. The credentials were examined, and this editor was told that earlier at least one group had been turned away and not allowed in because they seemed suspicious.

Checkpoints are at all of the entrances to Pacific Palisades to ensure only first responders and media have access to this community.

This editor, who was looking at the area with Jamie Paige, the editor of the Westside Current, were stopped at least twice by police who were patrolling the area and requested to see credentials.

As we were leaving the area, the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot was filled with National Guard Trucks and personal, they were setting up sleeping quarters. It appears they will be patrolling the streets of the Palisades to keep them safe until residents can return.

Short summary:

1.There are still fire trucks on many streets putting out spot fires, and residents  returning would hinder those efforts.

2.All gas needs to be turned off at individual properties.

3.All streets need to be cleared of wires, fallen trees and other debris, so it is safe for vehicles.

4.The water needs to be turned off in individual homes. As of 5 p.m. on January 12, LADWP had shut off more than 4,200 residential and commercial connections to home and businesses.

Residents MAY be allowed in on Thursday after the next Santa Ana winds. Hopefully everyone entering will have to show a valid identification, so “lookie-loos” and looters are kept out.

The tall building (right) had been damaged by fire and little fires kept popping up. Firefighters, hooked a hose to a water tanker and doused the building next to it, with hopes it would save it.

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