'Not out of the woods': Fire-scarred LA braces for another round of dangerous winds

In a new quick-turn analysis, UCLA climate scientists found that climate change could be responsible for roughly a quarter of the extreme vegetation dryness present when the Palisades and Eaton fires began. But they say the fires would still have been extreme even without that moisture deficit.

"We believe that the fires would still have been extreme without the climate change components noted above, but would have been somewhat smaller and less intense," the team noted.

The climate scientists at UCLA's Climate & Wildlife Research Initiative considered what contributed to the fire "to quantify how unusual these factors are, in the context of the natural weather and climate variability."

The researchers examined the intense summer heat, drought and extreme precipitation that impacted the region in recent years. They concluded that the unusually warm temperatures during the summer and fall of 2024 are the most likely way climate change could have helped intensify the wildfires by lowering fuel moisture in the region.

However, the analysis found that this stretch of unusually warm weather was likely not the primary driver of the extreme vegetation dryness that was in place at the time of the wildfires.

Researchers point to the lack of early wet season precipitation as the main contributor of the extremely dry fuels, estimating that about 75% of the dryness was due to lack of rain and roughly 25% attributed to the stretch of anomalous warmth. They say the current rain deficit is more likely due to California's highly variable natural climate rather than human-amplified climate change.

"As I've often said, no one claims that climate change directly causes natural disasters. Instead, we highlight that human-caused climate change amplifies these events. As this issue becomes more pronounced, it's essential that we focus on mitigation, adaptation, and planning for the warming that is already inevitable," explained Ginger Zee, ABC News chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent.

Based on their findings, the research team recommends aggressively suppressing fire ignitions when extreme fire weather is forecast, making homes more fire resistant, and building new units in low wildfire risk zones.

The analysis has not been peer-reviewed and additional findings are likely to emerge as new studies are completed.

One week after the Palisades Fire erupted, the cleanup along Pacific Coast Highway has begun.

Federal and state teams have started removing hazardous waste from city streets. By mid-morning on Tuesday, workers had filled more than four dumpsters with debris.

One week after the Palisades Fire erupted, the cleanup along Pacific Coast Highway has begun.

A buffer zone has been established along the roadway, creating two lanes of workable space for crews to park and clear debris.

Dumpsters are dotted along the now naked coastline in those buffer lanes. There has been a steady parade of trucks, bulldozers, and electric crews all along PCH.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order Tuesday to prioritize cleanup efforts.

"This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response," Bass said in statement.

"This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy," she added, saying the city will do everything to get Angelenos back home.

ABC News' Christiane Cordero contributed to this report.

More than 7,000 structures, mostly homes, were damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, and as officials continue to inspect the area, some evacuees were finally able to go home.

Several residents in the Kinneloa Mesa community, located close to Eaton Canyon, returned home Tuesday for the first time in a week.

Some of their homes had little damage, but there's plenty to clean up.

More than 7,000 structures, mostly homes, were damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, and as officials continue to inspect the area, some evacuees were finally able to go home.

"Everything was pretty much covered with ash, so we had to clean that, [we've got to] clean the sheets, basically clean everything," said Joseph Murad, who was forced to evacuate. "Threw the food out and you know, that's the next
step."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced a soft closure of the Kinneloa Mesa area, meaning only residents were allowed.

Jillian Pelentay said the past week has been emotional, but she's thankful to find her childhood home still standing.

"It is a bittersweet feeling," she said. "It's a mix of, you know, relief but also survivor's guilt just because you know ... I've seen my family, friends and friends have lost everything."

As of Tuesday, the area is still without power, gas and clean water.

Pelantay, who works in real estate, said she's already starting the daunting task of completing the necessary inspections.

"Inspections are being done by the environmental company, but that's separate from insurance inspectors, so there's two sets of inspections they need to confer with each other and then they'll come up with a solution or how much you're approved for."

Now that residents - and even wildlife - begin to return home, many are simply reflecting on the catastrophic week.

"What can you do? I think it's an act of nature. If you don't see it as an act of God, it's nature," said evacuee Shin Yang.

A group of residents impacted by the Palisades Fire is suing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, alleging the city and its agency were unprepared.

"The Palisades Fire has been a traumatic event for its victims, who through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours," according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.

Palisades Fire victims are suing the LADWP over water shortage issues, alleging the city and its agency was unprepared.

The plaintiffs allege the water supply system servicing the Pacific Palisades area failed on the day of the fire and played a "substantial factor" in causing devastating losses.

The Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water storage complex that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system, had been empty for nearly a year, according to the lawsuit.