Evacuated residents wait hours for a chance to return to burned LA neighborhoods
Evacuated residents wait hours for a chance to return to burned LA neighborhoods
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Residents anxious to see what had become of their properties after the Palisades Fire ignited on Jan. 7 waited in their cars for hours Tuesday to return to their neighborhoods after officials lifted the last remaining evacuation orders. A line of vehicles snaked along the Pacific Coast Highway and motorists inched into a beachside parking lot in Santa Monica, where they must show ID to receive a permit that allows them to drive into the burn zone and sift through what's left of their charred homes. They have to be out of the area by nightfall because a curfew remains in effect.
Officials had been letting residents of select neighborhoods return starting last week, though police escorts had been required. On Monday afternoon, the city lifted all remaining evacuation orders and dropped the escort requirement. The sun was out after the first significant storm of the season brought rain that helped fire crews but loosened scorched hillsides and caused ash and mud to flow across streets. No major problems were reported. Firefighters were close to full containment of the Palisades Fire and the nearby Eaton Fire, which also ignited Jan. 7 during powerful Santa Ana winds.
Returning residents were urged to wear protective gear. Health officials warned that neighborhoods are filled with toxic ash that's a mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. It contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead.
Los Angeles city and county officials last week expedited cleanup efforts and other measures aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants, and a White House statement said President Donald Trump has directed federal officials to help local authorities.
