homes, businesses and other structures in Altadena, Sierra Madre and Pasadena have been damaged or destroyed by the wind-driven flames, based on aerial imagery. Crews have not yet officially confirmed the vast majority of that damage.

Six people died in the Eaton fire, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said. Authorities have identified one victim. Victor Shaw, 66, who died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries Wednesday in the 3400 block of Monterosa Drive in Altadena.

Shaw’s sister, Shari, told KTLA Channel 5 she had urged her brother to evacuate, but he insisted on staying. She said Victor was found dead at the home, with a garden hose still in his hand.

The blaze is already believed to be the fourth most destructive fire in state history, just behind the Palisades fire burning elsewhere in Los Angeles County.

But in Pasadena, there was some relief on Friday. Most evacuation orders were lifted in that city, Fire Chief Chad Augustin announced at a town hall in the afternoon.

“We are at the point where there is no immediate danger but still need the community to be vigilant and aware as they repopulate,” said Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for the city of Pasadena.

Evacuation orders remained in many other areas in the Eaton footprint.

With the winds that prevented aerial water drops earlier in the week decreasing, crews have been able to substantially slow the fire’s progression. The estimate of destroyed acreage released by fire officials on Friday morning was about 250 acres more than the day prior — a far slower growth rate than when fierce and erratic Santa Ana winds fueled the flames on Tuesday and early Wednesday.

The 3% figure was the first time fire officials have reported any containment number, the percentage of the fire’s border where officials believe flames will not jump.

Overnight, fire crews extinguished hot spots near structures in the burn area, while water-dropping aircraft deployed to the northeast perimeter of the blaze, near Chantry Flat. Officials said their focus on Friday was continuing to protect structures and increasing containment on the blaze’s East, North and West flanks. As of Friday evening, the fire remained active on the western edge, up to Mount Lowe.

Large-scale evacuation orders remained in many places, along with a newly instated 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in those neighborhoods. Law enforcement officials warned that anyone caught breaking that curfew — or attempting to loot homes or businesses — would be arrested and prosecuted.

Not everyone in Pasadena could return home. Some areas in Upper Hastings Ranch, as well as some near the Hahamongna Watershed Park, remained under evacuation orders.

On Thursday afternoon, the fire made a push toward Mount Wilson, a peak above the San Gabriel Valley that is home to key communications towers and equipment, but no buildings were destroyed.

Fire officials during a Friday afternoon update indicated they were making good progress along the fire’s edge in Santa Anita Canyon, coming into Sierra Madre, and hoped to make significant containment gains after the red flag warning ended on Friday evening.

There was still a lot of firefighting activity — including fire suppression and damage assessments — along the 210 Freeway corridor into Altadena, officials said. Crews were using aircraft to hold the fire line near the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, officials added, and had so far succeeded in holding a defensive line in the Mount Wilson area.

With decreased winds, fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns said the fire could move upslope toward the Mount Lowe and Mount Wilson areas.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger described the area where the fire burned as looking “like a war zone.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Barger said. “You can go blocks where there are no homes, then you have a block where there is a little bit of smoldering on a tree but none of the homes have been impacted.”

Near Fair Oaks Avenue and Altadena Drive, the destruction stretched for block after block.

Law enforcement blockades keeping people from heading north had been fortified Friday with tanks and National Guard or California State Guard members in military-style uniforms.

Residents appeared to be outnumbered by first responders and gas and power company workers. Vehicles traversing nearby roadways had to travel over downed or sagging power lines.

Along Mendocino Street, between Lake and Allen avenues, dozens of large homes were partially or completely destroyed, while a handful of homes appeared untouched by the flames.

Corina Goss, 21 and her sister Julia Goss, 26 lost the two homes their family have owned for three generations in the Eaton fire. Located next to the other at the corner of Holliston Avenue and Mendocino Street, the homes were built around 1916, Corina Goss said.

Julia Goss and her dad stayed behind Tuesday night attempting to save the properties but both homes were lost.

“A lot of memories in that home,” Julia Goss said.

Less than two miles from where they lost everything, the sisters set up a donation and pick up location for people who also are now in need. At a relative’s house on New York Drive the front lawn was filled with clothes, blankets and towels.

On the sidewalk and driveway were water bottles, Gatorade and other nonperishable food items.

Corina Goss said the word spread through social media and people as far as San Diego have dropped off supplies.

“This has been amazing,” Corina Goss said.

She said they were raised to — no matter the circumstances — give back to their community and help those in need, even if they are the ones now in need.

“This is the only way we can keep going,” Julia Goss said.

The Goss sisters asked that no other donations be dropped off but that those who need supplies can come to 2308 New York Drive from between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Friday to Sunday.

One firefighter was injured in a “significant fall” while battling the blaze on Thursday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. The firefighter’s injuries were not life-threatening, the chief added. Four other firefighters have also reportedly been injured in the course of battling the Eaton fire.

Marrone, during a news conference on Friday morning, said that when it comes to weather, ” the region is in a much better posture than we were earlier this week.”

But officials are preparing for strong winds and red flag warnings to return early next week, Marrone acknowledged.

The chief warned drone users to stay away from the burn areas. On Thursday, an illegal drone reportedly collided with a Super Scooper flying over the Palisades fire, grounding the aircraft until it can be repaired.

“If you fly a drone at one of these brush fires, all aerial operations will be shut down,” the chief said, referencing the water drops that have been a key part of battling the blazes.

At least six people have been killed by the fire, which forced evacuations in Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and La Cañada Flintridge. Countywide, more than 150,000 people were under evacuation orders on Friday as a result of the fires burning across Los Angeles County, and more than 160,000 were subject to evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during the news conference.

Around 2,832 fire personnel were assigned to the Eaton fire as of Friday, along with 203 engines, 17 dozers and 39 water tenders.

Staff writer Sierra van der Berg contributed to this report.