Some evacuations lifted as crews make progress on Los Angeles County wildfires

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday announced the appointment of former police commission President Steve Soboroff Steve Soboroff as a "chief recovery officer" to oversee the city's rebuilding of housing and infrastructure after the devastation of the recent wildfires.

Soboroff "will recommend a comprehensive city strategy for rebuilding and for expediting -- expediting is a very important word," Bass said at an afternoon news conference. "We want to expedite the safe return of residents, businesses, schools, nonprofits and parks. So Steve has agreed to give himself to Los Angeles once again."

Soboroff is a businessman and longtime civic leader who served on the Board of Police Commissioners for a decade before stepping down in 2023.

Mayor Karen Bass announced the appointment of Steve Soboroff as "chief recovery officer" to oversee the city's rebuild after the devastating wildfires.

As firefighters continued to battle the two largest fires, which have killed more than two-dozen people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, heartbroken families and burned-out business owners began to confront another monumental task: rebuilding what was lost.

The scale of the effort will be vast - the area scorched by the major fires is equal to three times the size of Manhattan. It is one of the most devastating natural disasters in Southern California history.

Additionally, the runup to the city hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, in addition to World Cup matches in 2026 and a Super Bowl in '27, will coincide with massive rebuilding of housing and infrastructure. That seems cruelly ironic after Los Angeles organizers sold the Games as a no-build event.

None of the Olympic venues have been damaged by the still-burning fires.

More evacuation orders were lifted or downgraded Friday for the Palisades Fire burn area, including the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood, making way for many residents to return to their neighborhoods after more than a week.

You can also view the Cal Fire map for the Palisades Fire here.

In addition, you can visit protect.genasys.com and type your address into the search bar to locate your zone.

More evacuation orders were lifted or downgraded Friday for the Palisades Fire burn area, including the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood, making way for many residents to return to their neighborhoods after more than a week.

The following are evacuation orders reduced to resident-only access:

Los Angeles city zones:

LOS-Q0762-A
LOS-Q0767-B
LOS-Q0767-C
LOS-Q0782-C

Los Angeles County zones:

TOP-U003
TOP-U004
TOP-U005
TOP-U006
TOP-U007B
TOP-U008A
TOP-U009B
DRY-U026C
RRC-U027B
MNT-U028B
SDP-U029B

Evacuation orders were also reduced to warnings for:

Los Angeles city zones:

LOS-Q118
LOS-Q0765
LOS-Q0778-A
LOS-Q0798
LOS-Q0781-A
LOS-Q0782-A
LOS-Q0782-B

Los Angeles County zones:

RMB- U030D
RMB-U030E
TOP-U001
TOP-U002
DRY-U026A
RRC-U027A

Here are the evacuation warnings reduced to normal:

Los Angeles City zones:

LOS-Q0751
LOS-Q0764
LOS-Q0772
LOS-Q0783
LOS-Q0800
LOS-Q1089
LOS-Q1119
LOS-Q1163

Los Angeles County zones:

DRY-U026-B
RMB-U030-C

City of Calabasas zones (for residents only):

CAL-C407
CAL-C411
CAL-C413

Road closures are still in place in the fire area. Check here for the latest information.

Some residents who've been evacuated since last week due to the Palisades Fire were finally allowed back into their neighborhoods, but some encountered confusion at the checkpoints.

There are strict guidelines to follow at re-entry checkpoints, such as one at Sunset Boulevard and Kenter Avenue in Brentwood. Residents must provide a photo I.D. and proof of residency to be granted access into the evacuation zone.

Some residents who've been evacuated since last week were finally allowed back into their homes last night but there is some confusion at the checkpoints, however.

Residents must also know which evacuation zone they are in. Some were being seen turned away Friday morning.

More evacuation zones are tentatively expected to reopen at noon Friday.

Hundreds of Pacific Palisades residents attended a community meeting Thursday, hoping for information about what to do amid the Palisades Fire devastation. However, many left frustrated and angry.

Representatives from the Los Angeles city and county fire departments, L.A. police department and the sheriff's department were at the meeting to give updates on the fight against the 23,000-acre blaze.

Residents said they wanted information on when they could return to their neighborhoods.

During the meeting, tensions were high as some residents expressed their frustration and anger. Several people walked out because they were not satisfied with the responses they were receiving.

Hundreds of Pacific Palisades residents attended a community meeting Thursday, hoping for information about what to do amid the Palisades Fire devastation. However, many left frustrated and angry.