Jan. 18 (UPI) — Firefighters said Saturday they are making significant progress in containing the two biggest wildfires in the Los Angeles area as the first displaced residents were being allowed to return to their charred neighborhoods.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday local time, the 24,000-acre Palisades Fire in West Los Angeles was listed as 43% contained while the 14,000-acre Eaton Fire near Pasadena was considered 73% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Along with two other recent fires contained, the Kenneth Fire and the Hurt Fire, the total is 39,681 acres charred, or 62 square miles. The total death toll is at least 27.
With slightly warmer temperatures and moderate humidity expected for Saturday, the Palisades Fire saw “minimal fire behavior” and no further growth during the overnight hours, Cal Fire said in an update…