Before-and-after satellite images show destruction in Malibu and Altadena
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The Palisades and Eaton fires have forced tens of thousands of residents to flee this week, leaving many wondering what may remain of their homes in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and surrounding areas.
New satellite images give a look at the neighborhoods most impacted as the smoke clears.
In Altadena, the Eaton fire had killed at least five people and burned thousands of structures as of Friday afternoon.
The image below shows homes and businesses on Lincoln Avenue before the fire, and after the flames had mostly moved through the area.
The satellite image shows dozens of structures destroyed on Friday.
The Eaton fire, which broke out Tuesday night, had burned more than 13,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena as of Friday afternoon.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Southern California Edison notified the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday that it had received notices from attorneys to preserve evidence related to the fire, though the utility noted, “To date, no fire agency has suggested that SCE’s electrical facilities were involved in the ignition.”
The image above shows a large area in Altadena against the San Gabriel Mountains on Jan. 6 and Jan. 10. In just a few days, much of the area had been leveled by fire.
As fire resources were stretched thin, residents of Altadena found themselves battling the flames.
Although the cause of each blaze has yet to be determined, they all burned in or near foothill communities amid gusty winds and dry air and vegetation.
The toll from the Palisades fire, which began Tuesday, was similarly devastating. That blaze had burned more than 5,000 structures as of Friday.
The image below shows a famous strip of Malibu homes sandwiched between Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean just west of Topanga Beach.
Most structures of the strip near Tuna Canyon Road were gone by Wednesday, according to infrared satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies.
The Palisades fire spared few homes in this stretch of PCH.
The Palisades fire erupted on Tuesday morning and quickly consumed over 17,000 acres and thousands of buildings. Aircraft sensors captured the explosive growth.
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