36 people still missing in wake of Palisades, Eaton fires
Three dozen people remain missing in the wake of the Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles area police agencies said on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Thirty-one people are missing in connection with the Eaton fire in Altadena in communities covered by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lt. Mike Gomez said.
Thirty-eight people were reported missing since the Palisades fire began. As of Thursday morning, Los Angeles Police Department’s Chief McDonnell said, 30 were found safe, three were presumed dead and five remain missing. Descriptions and information about the missing persons in the LAPD jurisdiction were not available.
In the Sheriff’s jurisdiction, information on only five of the missing people was available:
- Roosevelt Pullem, 86, 5’6” tall, 165 lbs, brown hair and brown eyes. Last contact with family was on Jan. 10 near the 2800 block of Highview Ave, Altadena
- Antron Jamal Wallace, 49, 6’1” tall, 165 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes, and a goatee. Last seen on Dec. 31, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Wallace resides at the 70 block of Mountain View St. in Altadena
- Timothy George Hanley, 88, 5’6” tall, 200 lbs, gray hair and hazel eyes Last seen on Jan. 10 at an unknown time. Hanley resides on the 1000 block of E. Palm St. in Altadena. He is on dialysis and requires medication.
- Kevin Joseph Devine, 54, 5’10” tall, 175 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes. Last contacted on Jan. 7 at an unknown time on the 900 block of Boston Street in Altadena
- Martha Ann Howard, also known as Joyce Ann Taylor, 86, 5’3” tall, 155 lbs, gray hair and brown eyes. Howard was possibly picked up by a family friend on the 200 block of Mariposa Street Altadena, but it is unconfirmed. She has a heart condition and requires medication.
Descriptions and information of the other 26 missing were not immediately available, but will be disseminated as quickly as possible, Gomez said. Search and rescue teams are conducting grid searches to locate any potential victims in the fire-affected areas.
Those who need assistance locating a loved one can visit the American Red Cross website and fill out an inquiry form.