January 2025 Southern California wildfires

January 2025 Southern California wildfires Part of the 2025 California wildfires
GOES-18 satellite image of the Palisades, Lidia, and Eaton fires, January 8, 21:51 UTC
Date(s)	January 7, 2025 – present
Location	Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County, California, United States
Statistics
Burned area	roughly 36,685 acres (14,846 ha; 57 sq mi; 148 km2)
Impacts
Deaths	24
Non-fatal injuries	"Several" burn injuries
Missing people	16+
Evacuated	180,000
Structures destroyed	12,401 destroyed or damaged
Ignition
Cause	Under investigation, exacerbated by severe Santa Ana winds, windstorm, and drought conditions
Map
An overview of the major wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area

From January 7, 2025, an ongoing series of catastrophic wildfires have affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The fires have been exacerbated by drought conditions, low humidity, and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, which in some places have reached 100 miles per hour (160 km/h; 45 m/s). As of January 13, 2025, the wildfires have killed at least 24 people, forced nearly 180,000 to evacuate, and destroyed or damaged more than 12,401 structures. Most of the damage has been done by the two largest fires: the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, and the Eaton Fire in Altadena. They are likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California's history respectively, according to Cal Fire.

Background

Storm Prediction Center fire weather outlooks from January 7 to 10

The windstorm and resulting fire danger was well-forecast. On January 2, the National Interagency Fire Center warned that conditions in Southern California fostered "above normal significant fire potential." That same day, local National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts noted the potential for intense fires and issued a Fire Weather Watch. On January 3, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) forecast a critical risk of fire weather that would occur on January 8, and by January 7, on the first day of critical fire weather in the area, the SPC forecasted an extremely critical risk for Fire Weather for January 8. Subsequent days since January 9 have had a critical fire weather risk issued for Southern California.

For Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the NWS issued a red flag warning, denoting the most extreme fire danger, and calling it a "particularly dangerous situation" that threatened high risk to life and property. The warning emphasized that fires could rapidly grow because of powerful winds and low humidity. Southern California had become increasingly arid since late summer 2024, as storm systems predominantly affected the Pacific Northwest and Northern California instead, due to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) changing from El Niño to La Niña, which had emerged by January 2025, as a weak La Niña. By late December 2024, most of Los Angeles County had entered moderate drought status, creating heightened fire vulnerability due to desiccated vegetation in what was traditionally the region's wet season.

Drought

See also: Climate change in California

Dry vegetation exacerbated the dangerous conditions, with many parts of Southern California experiencing severe drought, the driest start to the rainy season on record, and the driest nine-month period on record before the start of the wind event and subsequent fires. According to a study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, climate change in the region has both increased temperatures and created volatility in rainfall levels. Droughts punctuated by periods of heavy rain, such as the rainy seasons in 2022–23 and 2023–24, result in the sudden growth of grasses, shrubs, and trees that rapidly dry out and remain as fuel for wildfires.

Climate change, according to research published in Environmental Research Letters, has made the hot and dry weather more likely to overlap with the offshore wind season, creating favorable conditions for wildfires. Lengthy dry seasons also reduced local water supplies and the number of safe days to carry out controlled burns—which reduce fuel before fire season starts—creating additional challenges for firefighting.

Winds

Toppled tree and lamp post in Pasadena

The events included Santa Ana winds of exceptional intensity, with forecasted gusts reaching 50 to 80 miles per hour (80 to 130 km/h; 22 to 36 m/s) in populated areas of the Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles Basin which in prior wind events had been protected due to their lower elevations. Higher elevations were predicted to experience even more extreme conditions, with wind speeds anticipated between 80 to 100 mph (130 to 160 km/h; 36 to 45 m/s). As the jet stream crossed mountain ranges in Southern California from north to south, mountain waves developed, accelerating wind speeds as air descended into the Los Angeles Basin and other nearby lowlands.

The NWS Los Angeles office described the windstorm as potentially "life-threatening", predicting that winds would "accelerate to dangerous levels" beginning on the afternoon of January 7, and would last through early January 8 for Southern California. The NWS warned that the "destructive" winds would likely result in widespread power outages and downed trees. It predicted that it would be the region's "most destructive windstorm seen since 2011".

By the morning of January 7, the NWS reported wind speeds of 84 mph (135 km/h; 38 m/s) on Magic Mountain Truck Trail in Santa Clarita, 62 mph (100 km/h; 28 m/s) in Escondido Canyon and 55 mph (89 km/h; 25 m/s) at the Van Nuys Airport. The NWS reported at 6:19 p.m. that the windstorm could become Southern California's strongest wind event of 2025, especially in its valleys. The NOAA anticipated that wind speed would be between 35 and 50 mph (56 and 80 km/h; 16 and 22 m/s).

On January 11, at 1:06 p.m. PST, the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard office issued a red flag warning for most Los Angeles and Ventura counties effective from 6 p.m. January 11 to 6 p.m. January 15, citing the re-intensification of Santa Ana winds and continued dry humidity. The office also issued a wind advisory from 7:04 p.m. PST to January 12 at 2 p.m., predicting sustained 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h; 8.9 to 13 m/s) northeast winds with 45 mph gusts and isolated 55 mph gusts.

On January 12, the NWS announced a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning from 4 a.m. on January 14 to 12 p.m. on January 15 for several regions in the Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The PDS warning was issued due to predicted damaging northeastern and eastern wind gusts between 55 to 70 mph with continued low humidity conditions, which the report stated could lead to "extreme fire behavior" and "long range spotting".

Other contributing factors

The budget for the Los Angeles Fire Department, one of several departments fighting the fires, was reduced by $17.6 million, or two percent, for the fiscal year 2024‍–‍2025. On December 4, 2024, LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said that the reduction has "adversely affected the Department's ability to maintain core operations" and that the $7 million reduction in overtime hours "severely limited the Department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies" and affected inspections of residences and brush clearance. After the budget was passed another $111 million was added, thereby increasing the operating budget from the previous year.

Prior to the first wildfires, the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a large 117,000,000 US gal (440,000,000 L; 97,000,000 imp gal) component of Los Angeles' water infrastructure located in the upper Pacific Palisades, had been completely emptied due to ongoing maintenance to repair a tear in its cover. The reservoir was scheduled to resume operations in February 2025. Former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) General Manager Martin Adams stated that the repair operations had been going on "for a while", and that officials typically maintained lower water levels in the reservoir during winter months to prevent water stagnation and associated issues with chemical concentrations and bacterial growth.

Preparation

On January 6, California governor Gavin Newsom stated he would delegate 65 fire engines, seven helicopters, seven water tenders, and 109 workers to fighting wildfires that arose. Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass warned residents that the windstorm could become one of the harshest in more than a decade, and cautioned them to avoid wind-downed power lines. As Bass was out of the country for the inauguration of Ghanaian president John Mahama, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson filled in as acting mayor.

Southern California Edison, the area's primary electricity provider, proposed to cut off power to some customers to prevent faulty equipment from starting fires; officials anticipated that up to 400,000 of its 5 million customers could see power disruptions. San Diego Gas & Electric also stated that it would cut power before the onset of extreme weather.

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District stated that it would close all its schools in Malibu for January 7 "due to worsening weather conditions and safety concerns." Los Angeles Unified School District stated that it would temporarily move several Pacific Palisades schools and limit outdoor activities to protect against wind. Sections of Pacific Coast Highway were closed because severe winds threatened traffic.

In advance of the potential wildfires, all 114 tanks making up Los Angeles' water infrastructure were filled. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) raised its National Preparedness Level to 2, allowing for the initial deployment of federal assets.

Lead-up

As the winds began to blow on January 7, the City of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency in anticipation of heightening winds. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a dust storm warning for several counties in Southern California, warning that the harsh winds could blow dust and soil into the air, allowing it to be inhaled.

A news conference held by United States President Joe Biden in Coachella Valley to sign proclamations for the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument was cancelled due to excessive winds. Dozens of trees were downed throughout the San Gabriel Valley, including in Pasadena.

At midday, the event left more than 20,000 customers without power. For the third time in three months, Southern California Edison shut off power to certain areas to reduce the chance that electrical equipment might ignite additional fires. These preventative measures left thousands more without power.

Several flights were delayed due to the intensity of the winds, with pilots being warned not to fly close to terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary stop to ground activities at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, following strong wind gusts forcing multiple go-arounds. Southwest Airlines diverted or cancelled several flights due to strong winds present at Ontario and Burbank airports.

List of wildfires

Name	County	Area	Start date	Containment date	Structures damaged or destroyed	Notes	Ref.
Riverside	San Bernardino	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 7	January 7	"Multiple"	Several vehicles and multiple makeshift residences burned.
Sunset	Los Angeles	1.5 acres (0.61 ha)	January 7	January 7	None	Structures threatened. Distinct from the namesake fire in Hollywood Hills that began on January 8.
Palisades	Los Angeles	23,713 acres (9,596 ha)	January 7	13% contained	5,300	Evacuations; homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades, northwest of Santa Monica.
Gulch	Los Angeles	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 7	January 7	Unknown	Small fire in Santa Clarita
King	Los Angeles	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 7	January 7	None	Multiple fires in Ladera Heights
Eaton	Los Angeles	14,117 acres (5,713 ha)	January 7	27% contained	7,081	Evacuations; structures destroyed in Altadena and Pasadena.
Huntington	Los Angeles	2 acres (0.81 ha)	January 7	January 7	None	Small fire in Duarte
Bert	Los Angeles	3 acres (1.2 ha)	January 7	January 7	At least 10	Possibly involved structures Pasadena neighborhoods.
Hurst	Los Angeles	799 acres (323 ha)	January 7	89% contained	Unknown	Evacuations; homes possibly destroyed in Sylmar.
Tyler	Riverside	15 acres (6.1 ha)	January 8	January 8	2	Small fire north of Coachella
Scout	Riverside	12 acres (4.9 ha)	January 8	January 8	Unknown	Fire west of Anza
Woodley	Los Angeles	30 acres (12 ha)	January 8	January 8	None	Fire in the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve in Van Nuys
Olivas	Ventura	11 acres (4.5 ha)	January 8	January 8	At least 3	In and around Santa Clara River in Ventura
Lidia	Los Angeles	395 acres (160 ha)	January 8	January 11	Unknown	Fire south of Acton
Cantu	Riverside	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 9	January 9	Unknown	Small fire in Eastvale
Sunset	Los Angeles	43 acres (17 ha)	January 8	January 9	"Several"	Evacuations; began in the Hollywood Hills.
Sunswept	Los Angeles	0.5 acres (0.20 ha)	January 8	January 8	At least 1	Small vegetation fire with structures involved in Studio City.
Taft	Orange	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 8	January 8	At least 4	Small fire in Anaheim
Creek	Los Angeles	3 acres (1.2 ha)	January 9	90% contained	None	Small fire in Big Tujunga Creek
Kenneth	Los Angeles/Ventura	1,052 acres (426 ha)	January 9	January 12	Unknown	Evacuations; began west of West Hills; arson suspect arrested, released.
Commercial	San Bernardino	1 acre (0.40 ha)	January 9	January 10	Unknown	Tree fire which spread to buildings
Archer	Los Angeles	19 acres (7.7 ha)	January 10	January 11	Unknown
Brier	San Bernardino	9 acres (3.6 ha)	January 11	January 11	Unknown

Wildfires

False-color Aqua satellite imagery of the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton fires, January 8, 21:40 GMT/1:40 p.m. PST.

As of January 12, there are three notable fires burning throughout the region. The extreme intensity of the windstorm (peak gusts were 100 mph (161 km/h) at the Mt. Lukens Truck Trail in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains) coupled with dry vegetation due to prolonged drought conditions caused fires to spread rapidly, and airborne embers set spot fires far away.

Palisades Fire

Main article: Palisades Fire (2025)

The Palisades Fire viewed from the shoreline, January 8

Firefighters extinguishing a fire in Palisades, January 8

The Palisades Fire ignited near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, rapidly expanding to encompass 5,000 acres (2,000 ha; 7.8 sq mi; 20 km²). Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along sections of the Pacific Coast Highway and surrounding areas; the Westwood Recreation Center served as an emergency shelter. During midday, firefighters reported that strong winds were causing the fire to grow by "three football fields of land per minute". Immediate evacuation orders were issued for residents of Santa Monica living north of San Vicente Boulevard. At 12:12 p.m. PST on January 8, the City of Malibu urged all remaining residents to evacuate in the face of the uncontrolled fire. Evacuation orders were given for the LA neighborhood of Brentwood. Human remains were found in a destroyed house in Malibu during a welfare check. As of 11:26 a.m. PST on January 9, the fire had burned 17,234 acres (6,974 ha; 26.928 sq mi; 69.74 km²). On January 10, evacuation orders were extended into Tarzana and Encino in the San Fernando Valley.

Eaton Fire

Main article: Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire viewed from Woodland Hills, Los Angeles

Shortly after January 7 at 6:15 p.m. PST, a brush fire in Eaton Canyon in the Altadena–Pasadena region, dubbed the Eaton Fire, was first reported with an area of 20 acres (8.1 ha; 0.031 sq mi; 0.081 km²). According to Pasadena Now, residents next to the canyon told emergency services that a nearby electrical tower was on fire. By 7:12 p.m., the fire had grown to at least 200 acres (81 ha; 0.31 sq mi; 0.81 km²) in size. Los Angeles County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher said the winds would continue to cause the fire to grow rapidly. Within six hours, the Eaton Fire had grown to 1,000 acres (400 ha; 1.6 sq mi; 4.0 km²). The Terraces at Park Marino evacuated 95 senior citizens, with images showing many in wheelchairs and wearing only gowns. Evacuations were later expanded in Pasadena and in northern Sierra Madre and Arcadia. The AltaMed Medical Center and several residences in Hastings Ranch were "engulfed in flames". By January 8 at 10:36 a.m. PST, the fire had grown to 10,600 acres (4,300 ha; 16.6 sq mi; 43 km²). At midday, the fire began to advance into residential zones of Pasadena. All of La Cañada Flintridge was ordered to evacuate. At least five people had died in the fire. In the afternoon of January 9, the Eaton Fire began to approach Mount Wilson.

Hurst Fire

Main article: Hurst Fire

View of the Hurst Fire immediately northeast of San Fernando on January 7

At 10:10 p.m. PST on January 7, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that a 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km²) brushfire in northern Sylmar, dubbed the Hurst Fire, had a "rapid rate of spread", and instituted immediate evacuation orders for all areas north of the Foothill Freeway between Roxford Street and the Golden State Freeway–Antelope Valley Freeway split. At 1:47 a.m. on January 8, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that the fire had grown to 500 acres (200 ha; 0.78 sq mi; 2.0 km²). By 9:40 p.m. PST, that night, the Hurst Fire had grown to 855 acres (346 ha; 1.336 sq mi; 3.46 km²). By 3:56 p.m. on January 9, Cal Fire reported that the Hurst Fire had been 10 percent contained. By 8:19 p.m., the containment efforts had more than tripled, with 37 percent containment. The following day, the fire reached 70 percent containment.

Kenneth Fire

Smoke from the Kenneth Fire, January 10

The Kenneth Fire was first reported on January 9 at 2:30 p.m. PST, igniting along a trailhead near Victory Boulevard in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. The fire quickly grew to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km²). Resources from both Los Angeles County and Ventura County were requested. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the area from Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard and from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard. Additional evacuation warnings were ordered for areas east of Valley Circle and for parts of Oak Park. By 5:30 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to at least 960 acres (390 ha; 1.50 sq mi; 3.9 km²) and was approaching suburbs in Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Soon after, Newsom announced the deployment of 900 additional firefighters to the area. The cause of the fire is being investigated. Civilians detained a man whom they believed was trying to start a fire, and he was arrested by the LAPD. Police ultimately decided they did not have probable cause to detain him on suspicion of arson. The fire was 100% contained on January 12 after burning 1,052 acres (426 ha; 1.644 sq mi; 4.26 km²) of land.

On January 10, an evacuation warning was mistakenly issued for the entirety of Los Angeles County rather than an area specific to the Kenneth fire and was subsequently sent out to cellphones across the county as a wireless emergency alert message to nearly 10 million LA-area residents; County Supervisor Janice Hahn later confirmed that the alerts were accidental, with a follow-up correction alert being sent. On January 10, Los Angeles County suspended the use of Genasys in favor of CalOES.

Other fires

• At 5 a.m. PST, a fire started in a homeless tent city within the Santa Ana riverbed and burnt down several makeshift residences and belongings, a recreational vehicle, and several vehicles. The fire grew to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km²) before firefighters extinguished it, with no injuries reported.
• Firefighters responded to a separate blaze in the Hollywood Hills vicinity of Los Angeles City near Sunset Boulevard. The brush fire was extinguished shortly after it ignited.
• At 3:44 p.m. PST, a brush fire dubbed the Gulch Fire was reported to the north of Santa Clarita, close to Dry Gulch Mountainway and San Francisquito Canyon Road. The fire was held to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km²) in area.
• At 5:28 p.m. PST, the King Fire was reported in Los Angeles near Ladera Heights, at oil derricks northeast of La Cienega Boulevard. A separate nearby fire was reported at 5:39 p.m. to the west of La Cienega Blvd. The fires were contained to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km²) by 6:18 p.m.
• At 9:06 p.m. PST, the 1.5 acres (0.61 ha; 0.0023 sq mi; 0.0061 km²) Bert Fire was reported in Pasadena, which grew to 3 acres (1.2 ha; 0.0047 sq mi; 0.012 km²) by 9:16 p.m. Its blown embers produced spot fires that threatened nearby structures in the neighborhood.
• On January 8 at 3:03 a.m. PST, the Tyler Fire was reported in Coachella, Riverside County. The fire spread to 15 acres (6.1 ha; 0.023 sq mi; 0.061 km²) and destroyed two structures before its forward progress was held by firefighters.
• At roughly 6:15 a.m. PST, the Woodley Fire ignited and burned 75 acres (30 ha; 0.117 sq mi; 0.30 km²) near the Sepulveda Basin. It was revised to 30 acres (12 ha; 0.047 sq mi; 0.12 km²).
• The Olivas Fire was reported at 10:44 a.m. PST spreading along the coast of Ventura, Ventura County. The fire grew to 11 acres (4.5 ha; 0.017 sq mi; 0.045 km²), with one casualty reported.

  

  The Sunset Fire viewed from a rooftop in West Hollywood

• The Lidia Fire was reported at around 1:10 p.m. PST. The fire grew to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km²) within an hour; by 8:06 p.m., it had grown to 348 acres (141 ha; 0.544 sq mi; 1.41 km²). Evacuation orders were issued for some areas near Acton. Metrolink halted service in the area.
• The Sunset Fire started in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon Park on January 8, 2025, at 5:39 p.m. PST. This fire resulted in officials issuing an evacuation order for the Hollywood Hills area, which included tens of thousands of people. By 8:21 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km²). The following day, the fire was fully contained and evacuation orders were lifted. During the fire, there were concerns that the Hollywood Sign was at risk of being damaged. While the sign was unharmed by the fires, fake AI-generated images and videos showed the sign and the immediately surrounding area engulfed in flames. These images were primarily spread on the website X and other social media sites.
• The Sunswept Fire was reported by Los Angeles Fire Department at 8:52 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Sunswept in Studio City, Los Angeles. The fire began to burn a four-story home before it was extinguished by firefighters.
• On January 9, the Creek Fire was reported at 1:51 p.m. PST near Big Tujunga Creek. The fire grew to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km²), with aircraft dispatched to combat the fire. At 3:05 p.m. PST, the fire ceased to grow, and firefighters were released to help elsewhere. As of 8:53 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to 3 acres (1.2 ha; 0.0047 sq mi; 0.012 km²) as fire activity increased.
• On January 10 at 10:25 a.m., the Archer Fire was reported in Granada Hills, Los Angeles. Firefighters stopped forward progress of the fire later that day, after the fire had reached 19 acres (7.7 ha; 0.030 sq mi; 0.077 km²). Mandatory evacuation orders were issued in the area and then lifted the same day.

Impact

Over 179,000 people have been put under evacuation orders.

Deaths and injuries

As of January 12, 24 deaths were attributed to the wildfires. Out of the 24, 16 of the deaths were attributed to the Eaton Fire and 8 to the Palisades Fire. 67-year-old Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin Mitchell were both victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Both were found by Justin's bed, possibly due to Anthony attempting to save him. Several burn injuries were reported, and a 25-year-old firefighter suffered a "serious head injury". At about 9 p.m. PST, many burn victims walked towards Duke's Malibu restaurant, where they were then medically treated and transferred to hospitals. Rory Sykes, a 32-year-old British and Australian citizen with cerebral palsy, died of carbon monoxide poisoning during the Palisades Fire, which destroyed his cottage on his mother's Malibu estate. He was not initially counted among the death toll pending the discovery of his remains. His mother, Shelley Sykes, stated that failed emergency calls and the need to leave the property to alert firefighters delayed the response, blaming local infrastructure issues for the death. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna reported on January 9 that the scale of the number of fatalities would be better determined once canine and forensic searches could be thoroughly implemented.

Structural damage

Wildfire Alliance statistics indicated that the Palisades fire alone was by far the most destructive in the Los Angeles region, with at least 1,000 structures destroyed, surpassing the Sayre Fire, which destroyed 604 structures in 2008, and the Bel Air Fire, which destroyed nearly 500 houses in 1961. The Reel Inn, a 36-year-old seafood restaurant, was confirmed by its owners to have been destroyed in the Palisades Fire. The Palisades Charter High School was engulfed by the fire after the wildfire reached the site at roughly 4 p.m. PST. No one was in the school due to it being out for winter break. Vegetation and trees near the Getty Villa burned, with no structural damage being reported as of 5:20 p.m. PST, January 7.

On January 8, more than 9,300 structures were reported destroyed. The fire later spread to the Palisades Charter Elementary School. Several beachfront properties in Malibu were destroyed by the wildfire. Dozens of cars abandoned on highways during evacuations were completely burnt, with bulldozers having to force several vehicles out of the way for firefighters to access burning areas. The fires also destroyed the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, the Masjid Al-Taqwa, and the Altadena Community Church.

CBS News journalist Jonathan Vigliotti reported that "most everything is gone" in downtown Pacific Palisades aside from the local mall, and described the damage as "beyond comprehension". He also reported that embers from existing fires were being "blown more than a mile" by the severe windstorm and creating spot fires. The Malibu Feed Bin and Theater Palisades' Pierson Playhouse were destroyed in the Palisades fire. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, resulting in the deaths of about fifteen lizards. On January 11, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that more than 12,000 buildings was threatened by the fires and that "It is expected that more than 5,000 structures have been destroyed".

Several celebrities' houses burned down in the wildfires, including the homes of Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, Eugene Levy, Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester, Yolanda Hadid, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Miles Teller, Mel Gibson, Diane Warren, Ricki Lake, and Ed Harris. The historic home and ranch of humorist Will Rogers was also destroyed.

Economic impact

According to JPMorgan estimates published on January 9, the insured losses from the fires were projected to exceed $20 billion, which would set a new record for wildfire-related insurance claims in U.S. history. This figure would substantially surpass the previous record of $12.5 billion in insured damages set by the 2018 Camp Fire, as documented by Aon. A total economic loss of $50 billion was predicted by JPMorgan, which AccuWeather predicted could rise to $57 billion. JPMorgan noted that these figures could rise further due to the fires' continued spread and lack of containment. By January 12, damage cost predictions were estimated to be as high as $135 billion.

Housing

During the fires, LA-area landlords raised the cost of rent substantially by an average of 15–20%, with many rents almost doubling, causing many newly homeless to have difficulty finding somewhere to stay. This violated California price gouging laws, which prevented an increase of more than 10% during an emergency. Some hotels offered discounted rates for those displaced, while others also price-gouged, increasing their rates substantially even for those who had already booked.

Power outages

Neighborhood under power shutoff

By the night of January 7, nearly 50,000 customers suffered power outages, 28,300 under the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and 21,699 under Southern California Edison (SCE). The number in the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone increased to over 200,000 by around 9:30 p.m. PST, with outages reported in Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank. SCE later stated that, at 4 p.m. PST on January 8, about 414,000 of its customers are without power and 454,000 customers are under a Public Safety Power Shutoff program watch. As of January 12, 2025, 35,000 customers were still left without electricity.

Air quality

Winds blew wildfire smoke across Los Angeles, leading to several "very unhealthy" air quality index readings of over 200, with the PM2.5 of the Harrison ES station reaching 184.1 µg/m³, or 36.8 times the annual World Health Organization guideline value. Air quality degraded to 569 µg/m³ in the region, representing the most hazardous category and necessitating avoidance of all outdoor activity. UCLA Health pulmonologist May-Lin Wilgus expected LA residents to suffer from burning eyes and irritation due to the concentrated smoke, and urged residents with underlying health conditions such as COPD and asthma to avoid all outdoor activity and to close all doors and windows while running air conditioning. Los Angeles City Council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson reported that visibility had fallen below one block in Southern Los Angeles, and urged residents to avoid driving when possible.

Wind damage

Hundreds of trees were reported to have fallen due to strong wind gusts during the accompanying windstorm. Roughly ten semi-trucks were blown over on a section of Route 210 close to Fontana. Multiple flights at Hollywood Burbank Airport were delayed or canceled due to strong winds.

School and other closures

At least 19 Los Angeles school districts announced school closures. Pepperdine University closed its Calabasas and Malibu campuses. All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were closed on January 9 as a result of fire conditions and the destruction of two elementary schools. Later in the day on January 9, District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho informed the media that schools would be closed January 10 and "would not resume until conditions improve." LVUSD schools were closed January 8–10 due to dangerous conditions and some of their schools being in voluntary or mandatory evacuation zones. UCLA announced that all classes would be online through January 17.

On January 7, NASA closed the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in nearby La Cañada Flintridge, California, through at least January 13 due to high winds and the encroaching Eaton Fire, forcing the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel at the site. The operations of the NASA Deep Space Network were relocated from the main facility to an off-site location and all employees were instructed to work from home. As of January 8, JPL director Laurie Leshin reported there has been minor wind damage and no wildfire damage at the site.

Entertainment and sports industries

Due to severe winds and fire danger, Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Pictures canceled the Hollywood premieres of Wolf Man and Unstoppable. Universal Studios closed its Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and Universal CityWalk. The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards canceled a live announcement of its nominees, instead issuing the list in a press release. The 30th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, intended to be held on January 12 in Santa Monica, were postponed to January 26. The deadline for Oscar nominations voting was delayed for two days due to the fire. The premiere of the Under Ninja movie was cancelled due to the state of emergency, as was that of The Last Showgirl. Several Hollywood entertainment headquarters and production centers were shut down, postponing production of several shows and movies such as Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, Hacks, Ted Lasso, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, After Midnight, Fallout, and On Call.

The National Hockey League postponed a January 8 game at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames due to the wildfires. The National Basketball Association postponed a January 9 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets also at Crypto.com Arena as well as two January 11 games between the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena and between the Los Angeles Clippers and Hornets at Intuit Dome. The National Football League moved the January 13 playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Former US swimmer Gary Hall Jr. said he lost his ten Olympic medals (including five gold medals) in the Palisades Fire.

Santa Anita Park postponed races originally scheduled for January 10 to January 16 due to poor air quality caused by the wildfires. The track management also announced that it will offer to pay for relocating horses if the owners wish to move them due to the situation.

Transportation

Los Angeles County Supervisor and LA Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn authorized the suspension of fare collection on January 8 because of intermittent power outages that made it difficult for users to buy and load fare cards. The suspension was extended through January 12. Some Los Angeles bus lines were suspended while some were detoured as a result of the wind and wildfire damage to the city. Officials have also shut down all Amtrak and Metrolink trains between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.

Water supply

Although the three water tanks in the Pacific Palisades area had been filled to their capacity of about 1 million US gallons (3,800 m³) each, those supplies were exhausted by the early morning of January 8. Dozens of fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades were reported by firefighting personnel to have little to no water flow during initial firefighting efforts to control the Palisades Fire. The chief executive officer of the LADWP, Janisse Quiñones, reported that all fire hydrants in the area "went dry" by around 3 a.m. PST on January 8. The emptying of water tanks worsened the lack of pressure in the city's trunk lines to transport water to higher areas, with firefighters being unable to reach pump stations to aid transport due to the fire spreading out of control. The Department stated that high winds made it impossible to fight the fire from the air, putting inordinate pressure on the fire hydrant system. Quiñones reported that the response to the fires caused "tremendous demand on our [water] system", with "the public water system faced four times its usual demand". Supplies for firefighting were "being emptied three times in less than 24 hours". The Fire Department was forced to add 75 cubic feet (2,100 L) per second on its water lines in order to maintain enough water pressure. Firefighters resorted to delegating construction personnel to transport water tanks to areas requiring them. LA County Public Works director Mark Pestrella requested that evacuating residents turn off their water and gas lines so more water could go to firefighting efforts. It is reported that firefighters have begun using pools for water.

The Pasadena Water and Power department issued a "Water Alert" on January 8 due to debris and elevated turbidity in the water supply to not drink the water untreated in the area and to not drink tap water. The LADWP issued boil-water notices in multiple areas of the Pacific Palisades on the same day, including for the 90272 and 90402 ZIP Code areas and their adjacent areas. They stated that benzene and other volatile organic compounds have the potential to enter the local water system. A County Public Works director, Mark Pestrella, reported "significant damage" to Los Angeles county's sewer systems in addition to its power and transportation systems, each due to massive amounts of debris and thousands of felled trees caused by the fires and corresponding windstorm.

Looting

There have been several reports of individuals looting evacuated houses amidst the chaos. As of January 9, at least 20 people had been arrested for looting, though no details were released. Officials condemned the looting, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who elaborated that the looters were "targeting vulnerable communities". National Guard troops were deployed to some burn areas to provide protection against looting. Two arrested looters were dressed as firefighters while entering houses.

Response

Los Angeles County Fire Department issued urgent requests for firefighters from Ventura, Orange, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties to aid in firefighting efforts. Chief Anthony Marrone said the county's 29 fire departments lacked enough personnel to combat the wildfires. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) deployed 939 incarcerated firefighters across 29 crews to assist in combating the blazes.These individuals were trained through the California Conservation Camp Program and worked alongside professional firefighters. Intensifying wind gusts at 7 p.m. PST on January 7 resulted in the mass grounding of firefighting aircraft. Sudden changes in wind direction put different areas at risk and complicated firefighting. Wealthy citizens, including high-net-worth individuals and celebrities, were able to hire private-sector firefighters to prevent damage to their property.

Evacuation shelters for animals were designated: the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for large animals, and the Pasadena Humane Society for small ones.

At midday on January 8, California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the California National Guard.

A drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a Canadair CL-415 "Super Scooper" firefighting aircraft working to contain the Palisades Fire, damaging the aircraft and forcing it to land on January 9. LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated that the drone "put a hole in the wing" of the aircraft and put it out of commission. The collision was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by fire officials, resulting in the FAA pursuing an investigation and considering "swift enforcement action" against the drone operator(s). The United States Forest Service Chief Randy Moore reported that multiple private drones flying in unauthorized airspace were interfering with firefighting efforts and causing danger to the firefighting crew. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated a search for the responsible drone operator, and requested that the public provide possible leads.

Following several looting arrests, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department began work on implementing a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, intended to begin the night of January 9. The punishment for looting during the event can be a $1,000 fine and even potential jail time. The curfew was then put in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fire areas. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said that the curfew has been established to prevent looting in the mandatory evacuated areas, stating that "we do not want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized".

Los Angeles County released a website containing a searchable database of addresses within the perimeters of the Palisades and Eaton Fires with information on whether they are destroyed or damaged.

Out-of-state assistance

On January 8, US President Joe Biden ordered the Department of Defense to provide firefighting personnel and equipment. US Navy helicopters were sent from San Diego, and the Nevada National Guard and United States Forest Service sent fire engines. In a press conference that same afternoon, LA County Fire Department chief Marrone said firefighters were arriving from other states: 60 teams from Oregon, 45 from Washington State, 15 from Utah, 10 from New Mexico, and an unspecified amount from Arizona.

International assistance

On January 8, the Canadian government was already preparing for a possible aid response. The following day, Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan offered to "deploy 250 firefighters, aircraft equipment, and other resources as early as tonight" as part of a coordinated effort with Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Also on Thursday, the National Interagency Fire Center requested two Canadair CL-415 water bomber aircraft through CIFFC, their Canadian counterpart, which worked with provincial agencies to fulfill the request. Multiple provincial governments pledged their support as well; the British Columbian and Albertan governments offered water bombers, night-vision helicopters, and incident command teams. Two CL-415 water bombers from Quebec were already in California as per a long-term contract; they have been involved since January 7. On January 10, it was announced that two additional CL-415s would be sent. The Canadian Government announced on January 12 that 60 firefighters would be deployed to join the firefighting efforts; the province of Ontario promised two water bombers, 165 urban firefighters, and an incident management team. Multiple Canadian citizens have been directly impacted by the fires.

Mexican firefighters arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on January 12, 2025, to help battle the fires. They include firefighters from the National Forestry Commission and the National Secretary of Defense.

The Iranian Red Crescent offered to dispatch rapid deployment units to combat wildfires. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to deploy State Emergency Service firefighters to California to help deal with the fires.

Reactions

Los Angeles councilwoman Traci Park stated that the wildfires were "a devastating loss, for all of Los Angeles". Governor of California Gavin Newsom urged residents to follow evacuation orders and stated to the incoming Trump administration that "I'm not here to play any politics" after he contacted President Joe Biden to receive federal fire assistance with "No politics, no handwringing, no kissing of the feet." He later canceled his trip to Washington, D.C., where he had planned to attend President Jimmy Carter's memorial service. President Joe Biden also canceled his trip to Italy in order to focus on tracking wildfires across the Los Angeles area. He also offered any federal assistance needed to suppress the Palisades Fire. In addition, Vice President Kamala Harris urged people to heed the guidance of local officials and also canceled her own trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany.

President Joe Biden with Governor Gavin Newsom monitoring the fires

President-elect Donald Trump placed blame on Governor Gavin Newsom for refusing to sign a "water restoration declaration", citing a desire for the governor to protect "an essentially worthless fish called the smelt." Newsom's press office responded, stating that such a declaration does not exist and is "pure fiction". On January 10, 2025, Newsom told Joe Biden that the country needed to address "hurricane-force winds of mis- and disinformation" about the fires. On January 11, Newsom launched the CaliforniaFireFacts.com webpage on his website, intended to correct misinformation and disinformation regarding California's policies and management before and during the wildfires. He accused "so-called leaders and partisan media outlets" of spreading misinformation, whom he stated was dividing the country "for their own political gain" and causing distress to the fire's victims. On January 12, while being interviewed on the Pod Save America podcast, Newsom stated that he was ordering an inquiry to determine why several fire hydrants ran out of water during the firefighting response, elaborating that he kept "getting different answers" from Los Angeles officials.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' absence during President Joe Biden's visit to Santa Monica to assess fire damage drew criticism, including from former Obama administration spokesperson Tommy Vietor. At the time the fires broke out, Bass was in Ghana as part of a delegation attending the inauguration of President John Mahama. She later ended her trip early, returning to the city on January 8. A New York Times article characterized Bass's international visit occurring when the NWS had warned of "extreme fire weather conditions" as having "set off a political crisis". The article reported that during her 2021 mayoral campaign, Bass explicitly stated to The New York Times that she would restrict her travel as mayor to domestic locations after she expressed initial reluctance about leaving her international work, particularly her involvement in United States–Africa relations. Despite this campaign pledge, the article stated that Bass undertook several international trips after assuming office in December 2022, including multiple visits to France regarding the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and a diplomatic visit to Mexico for President Claudia Sheinbaum's inauguration. The article reported that Bass claimed that the visit was conducted at the Biden administration's request, that she maintained "constant contact" with officials as the wildfires grew, and that she took a military plane back to Los Angeles as the quickest possible trip. Bass's spokesperson Zach Seidl stated that her 2021 pledge about only conducting domestic travel as a mayor was "a miscommunication".

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass with District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho

Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong criticized Bass for cutting $17.6 million from the annual budget to the fire department, noting that severe fire hazard conditions had been known well in advance and that fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades lacked pressure. Politico stated that Soon-Shiong's assertions were wrong, and that the city was in the process of drafting a new contract with the fire department as the budget was being crafted, and that additional funding was set aside in a separate fund until the deal was finalized in December. It also stated that Bass "did not push back on the record to inquiries about Soon-Shiong's post, allowing the incorrect information to circulate widely online for most of Wednesday". Bob Blumenfield, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, said that the fire department's budget had increased by more than $50 million. The city's financial analysts stated that the fire department's operating budget increased more than 7% compared to the prior fiscal year. When reporters asked Mayor Bass about the budget cuts on January 9, she said that "There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation".

Social media users have criticized Los Angeles city officials and the Department of Water and Power (DWP) for not maintaining adequate water supplies and flow across the city during the fire. Rick Caruso, a real estate developer, former DWP Commissioner and runner-up in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, criticized Mayor Bass and Los Angeles' inadequate firefighting infrastructure, stating, "The firefighters are there [in the neighborhood], and there's nothing they can do." State and local officials have denied that state water distribution choices or supply problems caused the issues, instead citing demand that surpassed the water system's designed capacity. Around 40 percent of Los Angeles city water comes from state-controlled projects connected to northern California, and the southern California reservoirs have been reported to be at above-average levels. Altadena residents whose residences were destroyed in the fire also criticized the lack of coordination regarding recovery assistance, communication, and reconstruction leadership, in part due to Altadena's unincorporated status giving it no city hall or clear centralized command.

Several drone operators were targeted with harsh criticism for flying in unauthorized airspace to take pictures and videos of the wildfires and neighborhoods damaged by the fires. Critics included other drone operators and photographers, with many posting comments under drone pictures chastising the operator for causing danger to and hindering firefighting efforts. Several people who used drones to take pictures or videos during the outbreak subsequently deleted their social media accounts.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese said the footage from Los Angeles would be shocking for Australians facing wildfires and showed the impact of climate change on fire seasons.

See also

• 2025 California wildfires
• October 2007 California wildfires
• May 2014 San Diego County wildfires
• December 2017 Southern California wildfires
• Marshall Fire – Colorado wildfires from strong winds in 2021

External links

• CAL FIRE – list of active wildfires