Palisades Fire Re-Entry Information

As of 1:00 pm on January 16, 2025 the Unified Incident Command responding to the Palisades fire announced limited re-entry to certain areas under evacuation order now open to RESIDENTS ONLY.

City of Los Angeles zones: LOS-Q0765, LOS-Q1118, LOS-Q0798, LOS-Q0782-B, LOS-Q0778-A, LOS-Q0781-A, LOS-Q0782-A, LOS-Q0780

Los Angeles County zones: DRY-U026-A, RRC-U027-A, TOP-U002, TOP-U001

Zones are viewable on the Palisades Fires Evacuation Map from CAL FIRE 

LAPD & LA County Sheriff will be at checkpoints to secure entry for residents only. Curfews remain in effect in all evacuation order zones.

ADDRESS VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT: When approaching a roadblock, residents must provide proof of residency. Acceptable forms of identification are a photo ID that displays the resident’s name, photo, and physical address. Please have these documents ready to ensure a smooth verification process.

KNOW YOUR ZONE: Knowing your zone is critical to staying safe during a public safety emergency such as a wildfire, flood, tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, or active shooter incident. Zones will be used in emergency alert notifications to communicate who is impacted by an emergency and what actions should be taken. Visit protect.genasys.com and type your address into the search bar at the top left.

SAFETY MESSAGE: Please review these safety tips for returning home after a fire. The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and evacuation orders or warnings. If you see electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact your utility provider immediately. Power may be out when you return home. For those who may be utilizing backup generators, please review the generator use safety information.

Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoldering, should be considered hazardous. Please use caution in these areas and obey all traffic control signs. Fire crews and utility companies will remain in the area to mitigate fire concerns, restore utilities, and bolster infrastructure. 

Please continue to monitor and obey all safety advisories. 

What To Know About Returning to Palisades Evacuation Areas

The Palisades Fire is 22% contained and has burned more than 23,000 acres, requiring an aggressive City emergency response and a comprehensive recovery plan to rebuild homes, businesses and communities. State, County and local officials overseeing this incident are beginning to identify zones within the evacuation area where residents can return to their homes based on environmental, health and safety standards.

What’s happening right now in the evacuation areas?

• Urban Search and Rescue Teams, including K9 units, are actively searching the area for potential human remains to ensure no individuals are unaccounted for. Search efforts are thorough and deliberate, ensuring accuracy and sensitivity during recovery operations.
• Destruction in these areas is truly unprecedented and Angelenos’ safety is the top priority as severe environmental hazards are mitigated and addressed. The Environmental Protection Agency began assessing hazardous materials in the burn area on Thursday, January 16 and will continue its assessments in the coming days. 
• Firefighters continue to monitor the area to ensure that embers and sparks don’t ignite new fires in the surrounding areas.

Criteria for Consideration Prior to Re-Opening Areas Currently Under Mandatory Evacuation Order

The following points, provided by Unified Command, outline the safety and environmental criteria that must be considered in order to allow for re-entry: 

Safety Criteria Being Considered:

• Unstable Hillsides/Foundations: Burned hillsides can experience soil erosion, landslides, or rockfalls, further compromising the stability of nearby structures.
• Downed Utility Poles: Damaged poles are being replaced to ensure road and area safety.
• Dust, Ash Particulates: Dust, ash, and particulates may contain toxic substances, including heavy metals, asbestos, silica, and combustion byproducts.
• Smoldering Structures: Hazardous fire debris and remaining hot spots are monitored to ensure complete extinguishment and prevent flare-ups.
• Septic Tanks/Basements/Pools: Hidden voids or weakened basement walls may collapse under pressure or weight. Accumulation of hazardous gases such as methane or carbon monoxide is possible.
• Hazardous Trees: Fire-damaged and unstable trees are being assessed and removed to prevent falling hazards.
• Unstable Structures: Buildings and chimneys are often unstable after a fire and may collapse without warning.
• Leaning Utility Poles: Poles at risk of collapse are being stabilized or replaced.
• Downed Powerlines: Live or damaged powerlines are deactivated and removed to ensure public safety.
• Food Spoilage: Decomposed food may release harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli, posing a serious health risk.
• Open Gas Lines: Gas leaks are being capped, and damaged lines are being repaired to prevent explosions.
• Hazardous Materials: Collapsing structures may release sharp objects, heavy debris, or toxic materials, posing injury and health risks.
• Contaminated Water: Toxic chemicals after a fire can affect water quality and pose health risks.

While thorough, this is not all inclusive. After these hazards have been satisfactorily considered and the safety of residents met, a comprehensive repopulation plan will be enacted.