Highlands Residents Able to Return to Area

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Additional residents were able to return to Pacific Palisades following the Palisades fire, which began on January 7 and prompted evacuation orders across 90272.

Residents of the Highlands were able to return to the area starting Sunday, January 19, at 2 p.m. with proper identification. It remains an evacuation order, with resident-only access.

Residents were able to access the Riviera and Santa Monica Canyon areas as of Saturday, January 18.

For the Highlands, Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol were conducting vehicle escorts between 12 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, according to Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin.

“This will only be open to residents and business owners within Evacuation Zone Q0767-J,” he explained. “Prior to arrival, please ensure your address is located in this zone.”

Residents and business owners were told to meet at the staging area, located in Parking Lot 3 North, 1150 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, for their escort.

“A police escort is required to enter and exit this zone due to ongoing hazards in the surrounding locations,” Espin wrote. “Escorts will only be conducted during the day lights hours of 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. due to ongoing hazards in the area. There will no escorts after 5 p.m. during night hours.”

Espin wrote that about 20% of residences in the area had “completely burned down,” while “countless others have been impacted.” Some residences remain without gas and/or electricity.

“Areas that have been affected by the wildfire are impacted by smoke, soot, ash, chemicals, water and structural damage,” Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “Before entering any area heavily damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, be sure that officials have cleared the area and allowed entry. Once you can enter a burned-out area, please take appropriate precautions and be aware of hazards to your health and safety when returning to a property.”

Palisades fire had reached 56% containment as of Sunday evening, January 19. Residents can check their address here.