Since last night, the Palisades Fire has been quite active on the NE corner, between Topanga and the 405 corridor. Also, there have been active firing operations along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains between Topanga and San Vicente Mountain Park. Tonight’s Lookout Livestream looks at today’s major events on the Palisades Fire, and also, looks at current fire activity on the Eaton Fire. Also, we talk about how to read wildfire maps, and how they are used to create a common geographic terminology for all of the people working to manage major fires or other disasters

Here is our video briefing for 1/11/2025. A summary follows, below.

Current Fire Situation – Red area is fire perimeter at 3pm, 1/11/2025. Blue outline is 11pm fire perimeter from 1/10/2025. White line is fire perimeter from 7an, 1/11/2025.

Summary of Livestream

Zeke Lunder, a wildfire analyst, discussed the Palisades Fire and its current status. The fire started near the Summit neighborhood (1/7/2025) and spread with northeast winds, reaching near Malibu but being contained by the 2024 Franklin Fire burned area. The most active area is the northeast flank, with a three-year-old burn area slowing the fire’s spread (shown in blue on map above. The fire crossed a primary control line near Sylvia Park but was slowed by air tankers and helicopters. The Eaton Fire, mostly contained on the east, by the Bobcat Fire, is also discussed. The conversation included details on fire mapping, operations, and the challenges of firefighting in steep, vegetated terrain.

Palisades Fire Overview and Initial Context

Zeke Lunder introduces himself as a wildfire analyst with 30 years of experience in fire technology and incident command teams.
The focus of the report is on the Palisades fire, with minimal mention of the Eaton Fire due to its containment status.
The Palisades fire is active in the Northeast corner, particularly between Topanga Canyon and the 405.
The fire started around the summit neighborhood and spread downhill with strong northeast winds, reaching Malibu and stopping at the 2024 Franklin Fire burn.

Fire Perimeter and Mapping Details

Zeke explains the fire perimeter mapping, using red for new areas, blue for the previous night’s perimeter, and white for the morning perimeter.
There is no new red mapping from Piuma Road to Topanga, indicating no significant spread in those areas, or a lack of new mapping.
The active part of the fire is the Northeast flank, with a three-year-old burn area slowing the fire’s spread.
A blue blob on the map represents the Palisades fire from 2021, which has helped contain the current fire.

Fire Operations and Containment Efforts

The fire crossed a primary control line near Sylvia Park, but was subdued with air tankers and helicopters.
The fire is active in Mandeville Canyon, with aggressive firefighting efforts to protect homes.
The firefighting resources on the northeast flank are significant.
The fire has not spread as much as feared to the south, today, but the primary control line on the north was crossed, complicating containment efforts.

Challenges in Firefighting and Terrain

The fire behavior in mature chaparral stands is severe, making it difficult for hand crews to work in steep, inaccessible terrain.
Retardant is effective in slowing fires, but aircraft alone don’t put out fires, and hand crews face challenges in cutting lines in dense brush.
The fire has backed down into Mandeville Canyon, with efforts to protect structures as it backs down the hill.
The potential for the fire to make a run if it gets another onshore push is a concern.

Eaton Fire and Fire History

Eaton Fire – 1/11/2025 in red. 2009 Station Fire shown in light blue. 2020 Bobcat Fire in darker blue.

The Eaton Fire shows minimal new heat on satellite images.
The adjacent Bobcat Fire burned four years ago, making the landscape less flammable.
The fire history of an area is crucial in understanding the fire’s behavior and containment efforts.
Areas with no significant fires in the last 40 years are more at risk due to accumulated fuel.

Eaton Fire Progression Map – 1/11/2025 – Source Cal Fire IMTs 3&5

Example Fire History Map – Source: Cal Fire IMT 2

Fire Maps and Operations

Pilot’s Fire Map – Eaton Fire 1/11/2025 – Source Cal Fire IMTs 3&5

Fire maps are divided into divisions and branches to manage firefighting efforts efficiently.
The black line on the map indicates contained areas, while red areas still have potential for fire spread.
Operations maps are used by division group supervisors and branch directors to coordinate firefighting efforts.
Drop points are logistically oriented locations for firefighters to meet and stage equipment.

Pilot Maps and Firefighting Coordination

Pilot maps show flight routes and other important features for air operations, including power lines and water sources.
The coordination of air tankers and helicopters in turbulent weather is a complex task.
Fire history maps help fire behavior analysts plan tactics and understand the big picture.
The operations map for the Palisades fire shows dozer lines and other containment efforts.

1/11/2025 Palisades Operations Map – Click for full-size image. Source Cal Fire IMT 2

Weather Forecast and Evacuation Concerns

A Red Flag Warning is in effect with high confidence and long duration critical fire weather conditions through Tuesday.
Strong winds and very dry conditions pose a significant threat to the Palisades fire.
Evacuation areas are still in place due to the potential for the fire to spread and cause damage.
The importance of not letting down guard at night due to critical burning periods is emphasized.

Fire Intel and Mapping Challenges

Fire Intel sites like forums.wildfireintel.org provide updates on the fire’s progress and containment efforts.
Paper maps are still in use due to internet connectivity issues in disaster areas.
The bandwidth needs of firefighting operations can strain local internet resources.
The mapping process is ongoing, with dozer lines often being put in faster than they appear on maps.