pick up outside of central Los Angeles early Wednesday morning, primarily affecting North Hollywood, Pasadena and the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist James Brotherton said.

Gusts up to 50 mph blew across the Eaton fire footprint as firefighters continued battling that blaze. Brotherton said the winds then began to die off.

Containment continued to inch upward for the Palisades fire, as firefighters had achieved 21% containment as of Wednesday, up from 18% Tuesday. That fire’s footprint didn’t grow, holding at 23,713 acres, according to Cal Fire.

In the Dirt Mulholland, Fernwood, Topanga Oaks, Sylvia Park and Mandeville Canyon areas, crews focused on putting out hot spots and strengthening the perimeter of the Palisades fire, said Christian Litz, Cal Fire operations chief.

Crews are continuing to “go direct” on the Eaton fire in the Mount Wilson area and resources remain positioned in the La Cañada Flintridge area in case of any changes, though fire personnel are confident the fire will not leave its current footprint, Jed Gaines of Cal Fire said.

The known death toll for the fires is 25 people. Sheriff’s investigators were investigating 34 missing persons cases associated with the fires.

Damage assessment teams were combing both of the blaze’s destructive paths. Combined, the fires have damaged or destroyed an estimated 12,000-plus structures, officials have said.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies have made five more arrests in the two fires’ footprints since Tuesday morning, upping the total to 44 since the blazes broke out on Jan. 7. Of those, 14 have been for burglary. One of the arrests made Tuesday night concerned a suspect accused of impersonating a firefighter. Los Angeles police had made another 14 arrests.

Officials have not said what caused either fire, although lawyers and some victims are blaming Southern California Edison for the Eaton fire, while some suspect a previous small fire might have ignited the Palisades blaze.

For its investigation into the Palisades fire, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is asking that anyone who was hiking on the trails near Skull Rock on Jan. 7 to contact the agency by texting ATFLA to 63975 to create a report and describe anything that may have been seen, smelled or heard. That area might be the origin of the blaze; it was also the scene of another fire on New Year’s Day.

It is “too early on in the investigation to make any determination,” Jose Medina, the acting special agent in charge of the ATF’s L.A. field division, said in regard to a cause.

An in-person community meeting for the Palisades fire will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., in Los Angeles.

‘Whisper of a fresh start’

Ivee and Mikey Stassi purchased their mid-century modern home on Fair Oaks Avenue in Altadena around nine years ago. What started as a fixer-upper in shambles was now their finally finished forever home.

The Stassis had evacuated multiple times over the years and returned each time. They thought this time would be the same.

It wasn’t.

The house was lost, and so was Mikey’s grandmother’s mid-century dresser that had been the first piece in their home, and Ivee’s black and white photos of her family from Malaysia.

The Stassis have secured an AirBnb, where they’ll be staying for two months. After that, they’ll have to find another long-term rental as they navigate rebuilding their home on Fair Oaks.

“There’s a whisper of a fresh start,” she said on Wednesday. “That’s what I’m holding onto.”

‘A crazy week’

At the Pasadena City College Community Center, Wendy Lopez watched her 5-year-old grandson while her daughter waited in line to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help rebuild her Altadena home.

“It’s been a crazy week,” Lopez said. “First day asking for any help.”

Lopez’ daughter, grandson, and 6-month-old granddaughter moved into her studio apartment near Los Angeles International Airport after the Eaton fire destroyed the family’s house.

She’s grateful that they’re alive. Her focus is taking the weight off of her daughter and holding everything together for the children.

“I’m trying to stay strong for them,” Lopez said. “I put all my feelings aside so I can help with the kids, food and the little things.”

William Burston was also there, to see what he could get from FEMA to rebuild the Altadena home he just finished paying off last year.

It was one of several rental properties he owns in the area. Burston was able to relocate the eight tenants to another rental home he has in Pasadena.

“I hope the Santa Ana winds don’t come,” he said.

He feels blessed that the Pasadena home he lives in is still standing and he can experience some type of normalcy, but he feels for those who don’t have such options.

Mylissa Magallanes and Brandon Haugen were on site Wednesday to inquire about their denied FEMA application, hoping that providing some missing insurance documents will get everything squared away.

The Altadena home that they lived in with Magallanes’ 93-year-old grandfather burned down last week, and the three have been living at Magallanes’ mother’s home in Temple City.

Haugen said that they’re “just getting settled into a new normal. …

“The toughest thing for us is finding the right sources of information on what to do next, how we can navigate insurance, cancelling all our utilities (and) knowing what to do next. …

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Magallanes said. “Fires are still happening, and we want to be able to help out (those) who may not have access to the resources. We’re OK, but there are so many people who are not — our whole neighborhood is gone.”

Staff writer Mona Darwish contributed to this report.