Eaton Fire: A rebuilding journey

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa later today intends to nominate Battalion Chief Millage Peaks to head the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to sources close to the department speaking under the condition of anonymity. Peaks, a 33-year veteran of the department will replace Chief Barry Douglas, who will retire this weekend. Currently the Chief of Battalion 4 (LAX, Venice and other Pacific coast and inland neighborhoods), Peaks joined the department in 1976 and was promoted to be a captain in 1984. Eight years later, he became a Battalion Chief in South L.A.

The fire that begun last night in Rancho Palos Verdes quickly prompted the exodus of thousands of people last night, but today firefighters got an upper hand containing the 230-acre blaze to 70 percent, as of noon, said Inspector Fredric Stowers of LA County Fire over the phone. Evacuation orders were lifted around 11:30 a.m., but residents will have to show their ID to gain entry into neighborhoods. However, some roads will be closed...

A second fire within the Angeles National Forest off the Angeles Crest Highway (2) ignited around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. It's located 5 miles north of the Jet Propulsion Lab and La Canada-Flintridge, according to KNX1070, which reports it to be around 20 acres in size. The fire is spreading rapidly within terrain full of heavy fuel, says the LA County Fire Department on Twitter. They tweet a fact, which may or may not...

Authorities with the Angeles National Forest were already dealing with a small and controllable fire this afternoon when a worse one broke out in San Gabriel Canyon north of Azusa shortly before 4:30 p.m. It has burned at least 50 acres, according to a 5:05 p.m. Twitter update from officials. Fueled by winds and hot temperatures, the fire is moving fast and has prompted campground evacuations, the LA Times alerted in a breaking news...

Officials announced this morning to take heed of the smoke pouring into the Los Angeles basin from the Morris Fire in the Angeles National Forest, but the LA Times finds that it could be sticking around throughout the hot weekend. While a lack of wind is helping firefighters battle the blaze in San Gabriel Canyon north of Azusa, it is also hindering it from blowing away.

A brush fire that broke out this afternoon in Bell Canyon [map] is located within Ventura County, but is being tended to by Los Angeles City Fire Department due to its inaccessibility from and proximity to Ventura County Fire stations. As of now, and according to an LAFD email alert, the fire "has burned 8 acres; still no homes threatened; no injuries reported."...

Shortly before 11:30, the Los Angeles Fire Department received a call of a brush fire in the hills of the San Gabriel Mountains seen from Foothill Boulevard. It is estimated to be 2-3 acres in size on the ridgeline. Temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are cool today, but winds are blowing in a southeast direction at a speed of nine, according to LAFD Spokesman Erik Scott. "It's too early to tell how much...

Authorities in Santa Barbara County have confirmed that a wildfire which has currently scorched over 75,000 acres was set within a Mexican drug operation's cooking area, according to LA Now. The blaze began on the pot farm, and it's believed "the assailants are still in the forest area trying leave the forest by foot," as the fire rages uncontrolled. The "La Brea fire" started on August 8th, but is only at about 25% contained...

Los Angeles has had some hazy and reddish smoke layer in some parts yesterday. That usually leads to brilliant sunsets, but they are a sign of nothing good. The two wildfires burning north in Santa Barbara and Shasta counties have grown to be "out of control," as characterized by the LA Times. Since last Saturday, the fire burning in the Los Padres Mountains 26 miles east of Santa Maria has burned some 40,000 acres...

An aggressive brush fire in the Los Padres National Forest has burned 10,000 acres and is showing little sign of letting up, according to the LA Times. The La Brea fire began Saturday afternoon and is over five miles away from homes on the edge of the Santa Maria and New Cuyama areas. The national forest abuts the Angeles National Forest in the Santa Clarita Valley and extend along the South Coast Ranges to...