Pacific Coast Highway reopens months after devastating California wildfires in time for Memorial Day
The highway closed in early January after the Palisades fire spread, engulfing both sides of it in massive flames. Homes and businesses along the highway were destroyed, and the road itself was in ruins.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the reopening on Thursday, saying: "In California, we get stuff done, period. We're opening the PCH back up early, with more lanes before Angelenos hit the road this Memorial Day."
The highway is now open between Santa Monica and Malibu.
Newsom thanked the work of construction and road crews, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, for getting the road back into drivable shape.
Watch: Malibu Beach Footage Shows Rows Of Homes Destroyed By Palisades Fire
Video from Jan. 8 showed flames burning through buildings as cars raced along the highway to evade the fires.
"All of PCH is on fire right now," Alexandra Datig said in the video as she drove down the highway. "It is like driving through hell."
The Palisades fire burned for over three weeks before firefighters reached complete containment on Jan. 31, according to CAL Fire data.
How Did The Los Angeles-area Wildfires Rapidly Spread?
After the fire had been extinguished, back-to-back atmospheric rivers brought flooding rain and mudslides to the burn scars of the Palisades and Eaton fires, including along the PCH.
Rainfall rates in the area were estimated to be at least an inch per hour, far more than what areas burned by the wildfires could absorb. The result was floods and debris flows.
Mapped: What A Barrage Of 56 West Coast Atmospheric River Events Looks Like
Datig again was there, showing the aftermath of a Feb. 13 storm on the highway near the Malibu city limits as mud and debris from burn scars swept across the road.
How To Watch Fox Weather
After the storms subsided, clean-up began. The famous highway was only open to residents, construction workers and emergency personnel as mud and debris were removed and the highway was repaired.
In April, Newsom set a goal to have the highway reopened by the end of May, ahead of summer.
"The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step forward in our recovery effort in the Palisades, which is on track to be the fastest in state history," said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Security will remain in place at the neighborhood level of the highway to protect the safety and security of the Palisades neighborhoods, Bass and Newsom said.
More than 100 crews continue working to remove debris from the Palisades neighborhood each day.Original article source: Pacific Coast Highway reopens months after devastating California wildfires in time for Memorial Day
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
Massive wildfire in central California threatens homes, injures 3 people as it burns out of control
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A massive wildfire on Monday was threatening hundreds of homes in central California after injuring at least three people as it tore through Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire scorched more than 100 square miles of coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and was still burning out of control, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire. A motorist was hospitalized with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames, said Flemming Bertelson, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service. Two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned. The blaze threatened about 450 structures and forced the closure of the highway in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara County. About 65 miles northwest of Santa Barbara and 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the hilly agricultural region is dotted by sprawling California live oaks and Sycamore trees and is known for its wine industry. The blaze grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. 'That gave us multiple fronts, and the flames started fanning out in many directions,' Bertelson said. 'The fire is gobbling up chapparal and brushland and running up very steep slopes.' Ranchers evacuated cattle as aircraft made water drops on the encroaching flames. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling hot, dry weather and erratic winds to make progress against the blaze before winds were forecast to whip up around dusk. The causes of the fires are under investigation.
UPI
3 hours ago
- UPI
Nearly 2,000 responders fighting southern California wildfire
Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A wildfire that ignited Friday in Southern California has exploded to tens of thousands of acres as nearly 2,000 firefighters work to get the blaze under control. The Gifford Fire, burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, has prompted officials to issue evacuation orders throughout both regions. "Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW," Cal Fire said in an update, adding that several other areas, mostly in San Luis Obispo County, are under evacuation warnings. Some 1,910 firefighters were on the ground, as the blaze threatened 872 structures, officials said. As of Monday evening, it had grown to 72,460 acres with only 3% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Los Padres National Forest said the blaze began shortly before 4 p.m. PDT Friday as multiple wildfires along Highway 166, west of Cuyama. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Highway 166 between Highway 101 and the southern junction of Highway 33 remains closed. Officials said it is feeding on grass fuels, which are plentiful and susceptible to spotting. Hot, dry weather, combined with the fuels, has contributed to its rapid growth, they said. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is warning the public about smoke spewing from the fire, saying it "will impact portions of southwest California." An air quality alert has been issued for the Cuyama area by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, while an air quality watch has been issued for the rest of Santa Barbara County. #GiffordFire Evening Quick Facts August 4, 2025 Size: 75, 460 acres Containment: 3% Personnel assigned: 1, 910 Los Padres NF (@LosPadresNF) August 5, 2025
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gifford Fire in California grows to more than 72K acres as firefighters battle blaze
Fire crews were battling a massive wildfire in central California on Aug. 4 as the blaze spread across the Sierra Madre mountains, injuring at least three people and threatening hundreds of structures. The Gifford Fire, which broke out on Aug. 1, is located within the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang, California, impacting residents in the coastal counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Nearly 2,000 firefighters were struggling to contain the fire that had already scorched more than 72,000 acres and was only 3% contained as of 7 p.m. local time on Aug. 4, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for areas in the two counties, and State Route 166 was closed due to flames on both sides of the road, according to Cal Fire. The agency said the blaze threatened about 460 structures, and officials have confirmed at least three injuries as a result of the fire. One person suffered burn injuries and was transported by helicopter to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County for treatment, Cal Fire said. Two contractor employees assisting firefighters sustained minor to moderate injuries in a UTV rollover incident and were also taken to Marian Regional Medical Center. The fire has affected the air quality in the region, and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an air quality alert "until conditions improve" on Aug. 3. The warning was still in place on Aug. 4. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but authorities said the blaze grew out of multiple smaller fires along State Route 166 between the cities of Santa Maria and Bakersfield. The fire is also situated just west of the Madre Fire burn area, which burned over 80,000 acres and was fully contained by July 26, according to Cal Fire. Fire crews challenged by steep, rugged terrain Cal Fire previously reported that the majority of the fire was burning south of State Route 166. The agency noted that the blaze was creating significant challenges for crews due to "active flame fronts in steep and rugged terrain." In an earlier update on Aug. 4, Cal Fire said the fire was active "well into the night" but firefighters were able to make progress to the north and constructed dozer lines that connected with the Madre Fire. Crews were also working to build containment lines to keep the fire in the Sierra Madre mountains. "Today is expected to be another active day, particularly as the fire aligns with topographical features along grass and brush-covered hillsides," according to Cal Fire. "The main priorities for today include improving containment lines on the northern flank to prevent the fire from progressing." Weather conditions on Aug. 4 were mostly sunny and smoky, Cal Fire said, adding that warm and dry conditions were expected to continue later in the week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s to mid-90s. Latest wildfire in the U.S. The National Interagency Fire Center warned in July that "fire activity is high across the country," with hot, dry, and windy weather fueling wildfire conditions. On Aug. 4, the center reported that there were 39 large fires, including five new ones, burning in the United States. In California, at least seven smaller fires erupted across the state on Aug. 4, according to Cal Fire. The largest of those blazes included two fires in Southern California. The Rosa Fire in Riverside County started at about 12:27 p.m. local time and has burned nearly 1,200 acres, Cal Fire said. In San Bernardino County, the Gold Fire began at around 9:23 a.m. local time and has scorched 348 acres. See map of Gifford wildfire Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gifford Fire in California grows to more than 72K acres: See the map
