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Hours before planned Palisades' public reopening, Bass reverses course
Workers use a crane to lift debris from Pacific Coast Highway after the Palisades Fire.
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Cal Fire
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Hours before the planned 8 a.m. Sunday reopening of the Pacific Palisades, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced that the fire-ravaged community will not be accessible to the public and that checkpoints will remain in place.
Bass said the decision came after Gov. Gavin Newsom agreed to provide additional law enforcement resources to the area.
“I am grateful to Governor Newsom for his continued partnership as we respond to this unprecedented disaster,” said Bass in a press statement released on Saturday. “We continue to adapt in real time to this dynamic situation. This plan secures the Palisades and eases the strain on LAPD, whose ability to respond across L.A. has been impacted for nearly one month. My priority continues to be rebuilding the Palisades as rapidly and safely as possible."
Reopening of the Palisades to the public was announced at a virtual town hall on Friday evening. Bass said at the time the move would come with a stepped up police presence and a “zero-tolerance policy for crime.” At the meeting, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said 33 patrol cruisers would be on 24/7 patrol starting Sunday morning.
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Despite the reassurance, some residents at the virtual town hall expressed concerns for crime and looting.
What Palisades residents need to know
Starting Monday, Los Angeles Police Department will transfer responsibility for Palisades access to California Highway Patrol and the National Guard. The move, Bass and LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said, will allow LAPD officers to increase its service citywide.
“The Los Angeles Police Department remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure the burn area remains safe,” said McDonnell in a news statement released Saturday. “We appreciate their support as we continue to service the needs of all Angelenos.”
- On Sunday, resident and contractor access passes can be obtained at 1150 Pacific Coast Highway (Lot 3) in the City of Santa Monica between 10 AM and 5 PM.
- Checkpoints and proof-of-residence or entry pass will still be required to enter the Palisades.
- Contractors are allowed in the fire area and are required to provide identification and proof that they have been hired by specific residents within the impacted areas.
- Contractors must report to the check-in area (Lot 3) each day to be granted access and will be provided a pass to enter.
- PCH will reopen one lane in each direction at reduced speeds on Monday. Local traffic only is encouraged.
Workers assess a burnt home in the palisades.
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Cal Fire
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Progress on debris removal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is processing and removing household hazardous materials, which include paints, asbestos debris and lithium-ion batteries, including those found in electric vehicles. This waste is then sent to special disposal facilities.
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So far more than 2,115 parcels in the Palisades area have been assessed for hazardous waste, according to the mayor’s office.
Once a home is cleared by the EPA, residents can elect to have other debris removed from their property by the Army Corps of Engineers. The deadline to participate in this program is March 31, 2025, and more details can be found on the county’s website. Residents can also choose to work with a private contractor.
Updated February 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM PST
Story updated after L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced decision to keep checkpoints in place.
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