Evacuated Residents Return Home as Palisades Fire Contained in Topanga, California

Los Angeles police have identified the arson suspect arrested in connection with the Palisades Fire which reached 1,158 acres and was at 32% containment on Tuesday, May 18.

Suspect Ramon Santos Rodriguez, 48, has been in custody since May 16 after police identified him as a suspect in several additional fires, local media reported.

As of Tuesday morning, the Palisades Fire had threatened 710 structures and injured one firefighter, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD).

The LACoFD lifted all evacuation orders in Topanga at 6 pm on Monday after making “significant overnight progress” on the blaze. Topanga Canyon Blvd was opened to the public at 1 pm on Tuesday, fire officials said.

Footage filmed by Instagram user @moohahcrew shows hazy orange skies in Topanga on Monday evening as helicopters and Culver City firefighters continued to combat the fire.

“This fire was way too close for comfort,” @moohahcrew wrote in a caption. “How do I even unpack my feelings & emotions on this one?” Credit: @moohahcrew via Storyful