The county medical examiner’s office said Monday that 29 people had died as a result of the wildfires that burned entire towns in the Los Angeles area this month.
According to a statement from the office, the new reported death was a hospitalized person who perished in the Palisades Fire, which broke out on January 7 and destroyed thousands of homes in the Pacific Palisades and along the Pacific Coast.
According to fire officials, the Palisades Fire started on January 7 under strong winds and has now burned 23,448 acres and destroyed 6,837 confirmed residences and other structures. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, damage assessment teams are almost done with their inspections.
As of Monday night, the fire was 95% contained.
Residents who had previously been under mandatory evacuation orders were permitted to return to certain portions of the fire zone on Monday.
On January 7, the Eaton Fire, another huge and catastrophic wildfire, also started in Los Angeles County. In addition to burning residences in the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre, the fire seriously damaged the Altadena hamlet.
Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service are part of an interagency fire information center that reports it has burned 14,021 acres and damaged 9,418 residences and other structures. On Monday, the fire was 98% suppressed.
According to Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, the fires are among the most catastrophic events in the city’s history. They happened while firefighting planes were grounded and the fires were fueled by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires.