LAPD Provides Updates Regarding Search and Rescue Efforts, Future Re-Entry for Residents

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

As evacuation orders have remained in place across Pacific Palisades for more than a week, Los Angeles Police Department provided updates on Palisades fire—including ongoing efforts to make sure “it is absolutely safe for people to re-enter the area.”

“There is a joint search and rescue effort being conducted in the area,” Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin explained. “The search for missing persons and possible fatalities needs to happen prior to the hazardous materials and civil engineers to come in a make sure the areas are safe for utilities to come in a clear up a lot of debris (downed power lines, downed trees etc.) There is no time frame but understand the Unified Command wants to make sure it is absolutely safe for people to re-enter the area.”

The Palisades fire—which first started on January 7 at 10:30 a.m. near The Highlands—has since grown to 23,713 acres with 19% containment, as of Wednesday, January 15, at 12 p.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While some evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings, an evacuation order remains in place across the Palisades.

“When it is safe, we will begin to let residents back in,” LAPD Sergeant II (Officer in Charge, Community Relations Office) Scott Alpert wrote, confirming water and power, gas, and other utilities have begun their process for surveying for repairs.

“I know this continues to frustrate many community members,” Alpert wrote. “However we do not want anyone to get hurt, and we need all the authorities (federal, state and local entities) to be able to complete their missions. As all of you know, this is going to be a long process.”

“Aerial imagery overlays show approximately 5,000 structures may have been damaged or destroyed,” according to CAL FIRE. As of its most recent update, 397 structures (residential, commercial and other) were damaged and 2,191 were destroyed.

There have been eight confirmed fatalities (fire personnel and civilian), as well as three injuries.