January 2025 Southern California wildfires

The fires in Pacific Palisades

The January 2025 Southern California wildfires are an ongoing series of wildfires that started in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding areas on January 7, 2025. It spread quickly because of hurricane-force winds, very low humidity, and drought conditions.[1]

A massive fire began near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, and burned about 200 acres (81 ha; 0.31 sq mi; 0.81 km2) of land. This fire led to massive evacuations to take place.[1][2] The fire was reportedly expanding at the same rate as "three football fields of land per minute", with firefighters unable to put out the fire because of strong winds.[3] Immediate evacuation orders were issued for people living in Santa Monica.[4] At 12:11 pm PST on January 8, the City of Malibu told their residents to also evacuate.[5]

Firefighters responded to another fire in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles County near Sunset Boulevard.[1] The fire was put out shortly after it started.[6]

Six people have died in the fire.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Garrett, Monica; Gilbert, Mary (January 7, 2025). "Wildfires are breaking out in Southern California as the 'most destructive windstorm' in over a decade hits". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  2. "Palisades Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  3. Team, Andrew Curry and Los Angeles magazine Digital (January 7, 2025). "Pacific Palisades Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as Flames Devour Hillsides". LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  4. "Live updates: Pacific Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, California orders evacuations". CNN. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  5. "California wildfires live updates: New blazes erupt as crews battle Palisades Fire". NBC News. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  6. "Fire explodes to more than 1,200 acres, reaches beach in Malibu". ABC7 Los Angeles. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  7. Fry, Hannah; Haggerty; Toohey; Vives; Winton (2025-01-08). "At least 5 dead in L.A. County firestorms; more than 1,000 structures lost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-01-09.