Eaton Canyon Fire: New wildfire threatens homes near Altadena
ALTADENA, Calif. (KTLA) – A new wildfire, dubbed the “Eaton Fire,” ignited Tuesday evening in the Eaton Canyon area near Altadena, prompting evacuations as Southern California grapples with a destructive windstorm.
The fire was first reported around 6:30 p.m. and has since scorched over 400 acres, according to officials with the Angeles National Forest. Crews from the Pasadena Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and U.S. Forest Service are actively working to contain the blaze.
Mandatory Evacuation Areas:
East of Altadena Drive
Kinneloa Canyon Road
Outpost Lane
Glen Springs
Coolidge
Miranda
Roosevelt
Veranda
Kenclare
Foxridge
Canyon Close
Grand Oak
North of New York Drive
East of Altadena Drive
West of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue
Evacuations are currently underway, but officials have yet to confirm how many homes or structures are under threat.
Ongoing Challenges
The Eaton Fire comes as Southern California faces a life-threatening windstorm, with peak winds expected late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. Earlier in the day, the Pacific Palisades fire forced the evacuation of over 30,000 residents as it burned more than 2,900 acres and threatened 10,000 homes.
L.A. County Fire officials have classified the Eaton Fire as a “significant threat to life or property,” urging residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately and take essential items in preparation for an extended evacuation period.
“If you are in the evacuation area, please take all necessary items with you to be prepared to leave for an extended period of time,” Pasadena Fire officials said in a statement.
Local Impact
Meteorologist Kaj Goldberg, who lives near the fire zone, described the unprecedented intensity of the windstorm: “I’ve been forecasting in this city for 21 years, and I’ve never witnessed winds like this before. Huge oak trees, 80 to 90 years old, are just falling down. People are leaving, packing up. The whole house is full of smoke right now.”
Fire officials continue to emphasize the importance of following evacuation orders and staying off roads to allow emergency crews access to affected areas.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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