Thousands remain evacuated as crews work to contain Los Angeles County wildfires

Dennis Chapman said he lost his best friend Ed Cridland in the Eaton Fire.

"He was a kind soul," Chapman said of his friend.

Man remembers best friend who died in Eaton Fire

The night of the fires when Chapman last spoke to Cridland, they thought he would be fine in his home, the same home he was raised in.

But Cridland's home burned to the ground and the vintage vehicles he collected were completely singed.

"Kind of makes things full circle. That everything, you know, started and ended right there. Everything about his life," Chapman said.

He believes on Tuesday night, Cridland took out his hearing aid and was sound asleep in his own bed.

Chapman hopes his friend died peacefully in his sleep from the carbon monoxide before the flames engulfed the home.

"I think that when my time comes if I can be half the man he was and go to the same place, then I will be ok with it," Chapman said.

The Pasadena Public Health Department on Thursday declared a local public health emergency due to the impacts of the deadly Eaton Fire.

Officials say the widespread impacts include the presence of toxic ash and particulate matter in the air.

"Being around ash may irritate your eyes, nose, or skin; and can cause coughing, asthma attacks, difficulty breathing, headaches, and other health effects," city officials said in a press release. "Prevent exposure by wearing protective gear in areas affected by the fires, especially while cleaning up ash. Wear a tight-fitting respirator that filters ash particles from the air you breathe, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, and goggles to avoid skin and eye contact."

Additionally, officials said the use of power air blowers, including leaf blowers, are prohibited until further notice so they don't stir up the ask and debris, further worsening air quality in the area.

The department is distributing free personal protective equipment at 450 N. Lake Avenue, which is also a water distribution site, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For the third day in a row, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are searching for any clues that could lead them to what caused the destructive Palisades Fire, focusing on an area near the Skull Rock Trailhead in Pacific Palisades.

Residents who live nearby believe the destructive Jan. 7 fire could have been a re-ignition of a brush fire that occurred in the early morning hours of New Year's Day.

The ATF, however, has not confirmed whether they believe the Palisades Fire was a re-ignition.

For the third day in a row, investigators are searching for any clues that could lead them to what caused the destructive Palisades Fire.

"We are not leading towards anything right now. We're taking everything in evaluating all the evidence we received, but it's too early on in the investigation to make any determination," said ATF's Jose Medina during a press conference Wednesday. "We are looking into everything. We will leave no stone unturned."

The ATF told Eyewitness News they have received over 150 leads and tips from residents so far, and that their investigation will take time because of the size and scope of the fire.

"We have certified fire experts up there. Certified explosive experts up there. Accelerant detection K9's with us trying to narrow down the origin of the fire," said Medina. "The other half of the team are going door to door asking for that video surveillance, what people saw, what people didn't see at certain dates and times."

Many residents who decided to stay put and not heed to evacuation orders during the deadly Eaton Fire are struggling to get basic necessities.

Residents said a pop-up donation site that was set up in their neighborhood was a vital lifeline after the devastating Eaton Fire, but they've been told donations can no longer be left there.

"I'm wondering why you would cut off the supply line," said Carlos Mostacero, one of the Altadena residents that is staying put.

He had been relying on the donation pop-up set up on Allen Avenue and New York Drive to get what he needed to survive without power.

Altadena residents who defied evacuation orders struggling to get essentials after Eaton Fire

"I wish somebody would come up here with a podium here and talk on the news about what is going on," said Mostacero. "What would you cut citizens off from water and food for if all of these places are donating and trying to be helpful?"

Jose Bugarin said he loaded his truck up with food and necessities after first responders that were manning the checkpoint flagged the new mandate, donations and supplies could no longer be left nor picked up there.

"My little truck is a pantry," Bugarin said. "They knew this was a terrible decision - and we pushed 'where is this call coming from?'

Despite supplies harder to come by, Bugarin said he'll still stay at his home in the evacuation zone.

So will his neighbor across the street, Becky James.

"I am feisty. I am not leaving. This is my house," said James.

Bugarin is helping James feed her canaries and koi, as well as powering up her generator.

"I would love for them to understand we are not here to make the job of the utility workers any harder. We are here to help the people that need help who they obviously didn't know are here," said Bugarin.
ABC7 reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Board of Supervisors office for the area to ask what the actual rules are.

The Board of Supervisors referred us to law enforcement - and the Sheriff's have not responded to our request.