Deadly Eaton Fire containment at 3%, threatens Mt. Wilson

The deadly Eaton Fire that has destroyed thousands of structures in Altadena and Pasadena was 3% contained Friday, with crews hoping to take advantage of slightly diminished winds before more power gusts that are anticipated to return over the weekend and next week.

Gusty conditions persisted in the mountains Thursday, hampering aerial firefighting efforts as flames crawled through treetops and thick vegetation toward the peak of Mount Wilson, threatening the observatory and a series of broadcast towers critical for local television and radio outlets.

Sheriff's officials had called for immediate evacuations of any people on the mountain, and authorities said none of the major infrastructure on the mountain had been damaged despite the encroaching flames, despite the limitations on aerial firefighting.

On Friday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone announced that the fire's size was 13,956 acres but was 3% contained by lines to keep the fire from spreading. Some 1,603 personnel were assigned to the firefighting effort, with Friday's priority being structure protection and fire line construction to increase containment on the east, north and west flanks.

A red flag warning will remain in effect until at least 6 p.m. Friday. Forecasters said northeast winds of 20 to 25 mph, with gusts to 35 mph, would decrease to between 12 and 15 mph in the afternoon. The winds were expected to be weakest in the early evening before seeing an increase of 10 to 15 mph after midnight.

Another strong Santa Ana wind event was possible early next week.

The Eaton Fire was reported at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena amid hurricane- force Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire.

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of five people in the Eaton Fire.

The Associated Press reported Thursday night that a total of 10 people had died in the various Southland fires, but as of Friday, authorities have only confirmed two deaths in the Palisades Fire and five in the Eaton Fire.

Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Luna declined to give any specific updates on deaths, saying he was awaiting more definitive information on more thorough searches of the burn areas.

Luna said the sheriff's department was working with the county medical examiner, and investigators will eventually make a more thorough search of the Eaton Fire and other fire areas.

He noted that some of the burn areas "look like a bomb was dropped on them."

One of the people who died was identified by his daughter as Rodney Nickerson, 82, of Altadena. His daughter Kimiko told NBC4 that her father died in his bed while he was home alone at 352 Alta Pine Drive. She said her father bought the house in 1968 and she was raised there.

She described her dad as "funny, the life of the party," adding that he "loved sports, people, (and was a) very intelligent man. He loved to read."

Relatives identified two other Eaton Fire victims as Anthony Mitchell, 67, and Victor Shaw, 66.

The county fire department reported Thursday that four firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze, though no specifics were released. Marrone said Thursday afternoon that another firefighter had suffered a "significant" injury in a fall, but he was expected to recover.

Marrone said earlier there were "a number of significant injuries" due to the fire, adding that many injuries that occurred in the various fires occurred among people who failed to heed evacuation orders.

Among the structures destroyed in the fire was the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center.

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation reported that the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, Farnsworth Park's Davies Community Center, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Altadena Golf Course Club House and adjacent buildings were destroyed.

Also destroyed in the blaze was The Bunny Museum in Altadena.

"Open 26 years. The world's only museum about everything bunny," museum officials posted on Facebook. "Guinness World Record certified -- 1999, 2011, 2023. Saved only a few bunny items. Saved the cats and bunnies. The museum was the last building to burn around us..."

Thousands of residents continue to be under evacuation orders in the region. Residents of La Cañada Flintridge were ordered to evacuate by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Tuesday for the area north of New York Drive, east of Altadena Drive and west of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, U.S. Forest Service officials reported.

As the fire grew, other evacuations were mandated in the area, including all Arcadia residents north of Orange Grove Avenue.

Evacuation orders were also issued by Glendale city officials in Chevy Chase and Glenoaks canyons on Wednesday morning. Those orders were lifted early Thursday.

Pasadena officials ordered evacuations for residents north of Orange Grove/Rosemead Boulevard, east of Lake Avenue and west of Michilinda Avenue. An evacuation center for those residents and others affected by the blaze was established at the Pasadena Civic Center, 300 E. Green St.

Small animals were being accepted at 361 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena, while large animals were evacuated to the Industry Hills Expo Center at 16200 Temple in the city of Industry.

A city official said about 1,200 people stayed overnight at the shelter Wednesday, and about 500 more stopped by on Thursday to pick up supplies. On Thursday, people could be seen at the Pasadena center carrying pillows, food and other items being distributed to fire victims.

Veronica Osborn, 64, said she lost her Ventura Avenue home in Altadena.

"I've been there for 14 years," she said. "I was fixing up my bathroom, (doing) a renovation, and now it's all gone. I thought I was going to cry. Now I am going to cry. I'm going to rebuild, but I say to myself am I going to be anxious every time the wind blows?"

The entire Angeles National Forest was closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources through at least Jan. 15.

The U.S. Forest Service, L.A. County Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, Arcadia Fire Department, Sierra Madre Fire Department, Pasadena Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department were working under a unified command.

As he did earlier with the Palisades Fire, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced late Tuesday that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover costs of battling the Eaton Fire.

As a result of the fire, the Glendale, Pasadena and Burbank unified school districts canceled classes for the remainder of the week. Classes were also canceled in the Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada, Arcadia and Monrovia districts.

The Pasadena City College campus will be closed through at least Sunday.

Caltech advised online that it was closed Thursday, but intended to re- open campus Friday, with classes resuming Monday.