The number of deaths in forest fires that destroyed entire communities in the Los Angeles area this month has increased to 29, the county forensic doctor’s office said Monday.
The 29th person died in a hospital in the Palisades fire, which exploded on January 7 and destroyed thousands of houses in Pacific Palisades and on the Pacific coast, the office said in a statement.
It is confirmed that the Palisades fire destroyed 6,837 houses and other structures and burned 23,448 acres after it was lit during the extreme winds on January 7, firefighters said. The damage evaluation equipment is almost finished with their inspections, said the California Fire Forestry and Fire Protection Department.
The fire was 95% contained Monday night.
Also on Monday, residents were allowed to return to the areas of the fire zone that had been under mandatory evacuation orders.
Another large and destructive forest fire, the Eaton Fire, also exploded on January 7 in Los Angeles County. It caused important damage to the Altadena community and also burned houses in the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
It destroyed 9,418 houses and other structures and burned 14,021 Acres, according to a fire information center between agencies that includes Cal Fire and the United States forest service. The fire was 98% contained on Monday.
The Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley called one of the most destructive disasters in the history of Los Angeles. They occurred when the hurricane winds of Santa Ana fueled the flames and fire extinguishing planes.
The causes of both fires are under investigation.
