Palisades Fire

{{See also|January 2025 Southern California wildfires#Background}}

A strong high-pressure system over the Great Basin created a steep northerly pressure gradient across Southern California. The system triggered powerful Santa Ana winds, katabatic winds that can develop when cooler, dense inland air is funneled through mountain passes and canyons toward the warmer coastal regions.{{Cite news |last=Neuman |first=Scott |date=January 8, 2025 |title=What are the Santa Ana winds and how are they impacting the LA wildfires? |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252535/palisades-fire-california-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108232441/https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252535/palisades-fire-california-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=NPR}}

The area had experienced "eight months without any measurable rainfall",{{Cite web |last=Toohey |first=Grace |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Unusual 'life-threatening and destructive' winds bring risk of winter fires, power outages to Southern California |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-06/la-me-fire-january-weather-so-cal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106231241/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-06/la-me-fire-january-weather-so-cal |archive-date=January 6, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times}} and much of the region had fallen into moderate drought conditions.{{Cite web |last=Toohey |first=Grace |date=January 4, 2025 |title=With negligible rain in 8 months, Southern California swings toward drought |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-04/southern-california-officially-enters-drought-as-forecast-remains-bone-dry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109034748/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-04/southern-california-officially-enters-drought-as-forecast-remains-bone-dry |archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times}} A battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) told the Los Angeles Times that the conditions were "the perfect recipe for a large wildfire". The National Weather Service (NWS) issued red flag warnings on the morning of January 6, effective through Thursday evening, for multiple regions, including the Malibu coast, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, and the San Gabriel, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita valleys.

NWS predicted a "life-threatening" windstorm and Santa Ana wind gusts were forecast to reach speeds of {{convert|60|–|80|mph}}, with some gusts anticipated to reach {{Convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in mountainous areas.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Jonathan |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Powerful winds in Southern California forecast. See when and where red flag warnings will be in effect |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/weather-news/la-weather-wind-red-flag-warning/3595577/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}} Residents were urged to "use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire" and those near forests to be prepared to evacuate. The danger posed by the windstorm and weather patterns led Caltrans to close several roads, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway.

As is common in red flag warnings, CAL FIRE pre-positioned firefighting assets across Southern California. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power topped off all three of its 1-million-gallon water tanks in the area affected by the red flag warning,{{Cite web |last1=Blankstein |first1=Andrew |last2=Good |first2=Lindsay |last3=Lloyd |first3=Jonathan |date=January 8, 2025 |title=What's making the battle against the Palisades Fire so hard? Getting enough water, for one |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/palisades-fire-firefighters-water-pressure/3597877/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}} a precaution against the loss of water pressure during the sudden demands of firefighting, especially at higher altitudes. Despite these efforts, 20% of fire hydrants eventually ran out of water in the more elevated parts of Pacific Palisades.{{Cite news |last=Hartounian |first=Alina |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Fire hydrants ran dry in Pacific Palisades as a major wildfire raged |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/g-s1-41690/california-wildfire-water-hydrants-pacific-palisades |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109043308/https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/g-s1-41690/california-wildfire-water-hydrants-pacific-palisades |archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |work=NPR}}{{Cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Brittany |last2=Phillis |first2=Michael |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Fire hydrants ran dry in Southern California just when they were needed most |url=https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-california-climate-603512236222f82c77901db1039e959f |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}

The fire was first reported at about 10:30 a.m. PST on January 7, 2025, covering around {{cvt|10|acre}} of the mountains near by Pacific Palisades. It quickly spread due to a combination of severe drought in Southern California (the driest 9-month period on record), and a worsening Santa Ana wind event which created wind gusts up to {{cvt|80|mph}}.{{Cite news |last=Schlepp |first=Travis |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Severe drought conditions fueling dangerous Palisades Fire |url=https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/severe-drought-conditions-fueling-dangerous-palisades-fire/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=KTLA }}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |last=Swain |first=Daniel |date=January 5, 2025 |title=As extreme California precipitation dipole persists, a high-end offshore wind/fire weather event may unfold in SoCal this week |url=https://weatherwest.com/archives/43171 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=Weather West}} Within 20 minutes, the fire grew from {{cvt|20|acre}} to {{cvt|200|acre}}. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said the blaze had reached more than {{cvt|700|acre}} by 2:10 p.m.,{{Cite news |last1=Kurzweil |first1=Tony |last2=Kiszla |first2=Cameron |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire in Los Angeles scorches 2,925 acres; many homes burned |url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/20-acre-wildfire-erupts-in-pacific-palisades-amid-severe-winds/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=KTLA }}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with over 250 firefighters fighting it as it started to reach homes. Just one hour later, an update from CAL FIRE stated that the fire had rapidly grown to {{cvt|1262|acre}}.{{Cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Sam |last2=Gohil |first2=Neha |last3=Wilson |first3=Caitlin |date=January 7, 2025 |title=California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y81zyp1ext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107220809/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y81zyp1ext |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=BBC News}} Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, toured the fire on January 7, and said that many structures had been destroyed.{{Cite news |last1=Ding |first1=Jaimie |last2=Weber |first2=Christopher |last3=Watson |first3=Julie |date=January 8, 2025 |title=California governor says many structures already destroyed in Pacific Palisades wildfire |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/california-la-pacific-palisades-fires-b2675601.html |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=The Independent}} The intensification of the concurrent windstorm at night forced the grounding of firefighting aircraft, further hindering efforts to manage the wildfire's spread.{{Cite news |last1=Knoll |first1=Corina |last2=Mayorquín |first2=Orlando |last3=Petri |first3=Alexandra E. |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Officials Warn of 'Devastating Loss' as Southern California Wildfires Burn Out of Control |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/07/us/palisades-brush-fires-california |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108051943/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/07/us/palisades-brush-fires-california |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} The National Weather Service reported the highest wind gust in Pacific Palisades on January 7, 2025, was {{cvt|38|mph}} at 6:30 p.m.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Public Information Statement |url=https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=LOX&issuedby=LOX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=16&glossary=0 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250114030345/https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=LOX&issuedby=LOX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=16&glossary=0 |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |website=National Weather Service}} Firefighters faced significant challenges combating the blaze due to the steep terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains and the strong Santa Ana winds. These conditions hindered both ground and aerial firefighting operations, making containment efforts much more difficult. Firefighters called in from close by states like Oregon and Nevada to continue fighting the blaze. The fire reached the driveway adjacent to the Getty Villa; earlier in the day staff activated the site's fire safety plan which included closing off fire doors, running HVAC and humidity management systems, and turning on irrigation sprinklers. Most of the staff was evacuated but the Getty's crisis operations executives and security staff patrolled throughout the night, taking shifts outside, where they suppressed wind-blown flareups with "at least 40 five-pound fire extinguishers."{{Cite web |last=Migdol |first=Erin |date=2025-01-27 |title=Fighting Fire at the Getty Villa Museum |url=https://www.getty.edu/news/getty-villa-museum-palisades-fire/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.getty.edu |language=en}}File:Palisades Fire (54257375328).jpg branch on Sunset Boulevard burning on January 8]]File:20250107-palisades-fire-start-t-plus-three-min-ballona.pngFile:Palisades-Fire-Early-20240107.jpg|left]]

At 12:29 a.m. on January 8, a CAL FIRE status report said the fire had grown to {{cvt|2921|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 8, 2025 at 12:29 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/32251c3b-8f86-4885-ba17-eb043f1a3b01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108202140/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/32251c3b-8f86-4885-ba17-eb043f1a3b01 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} Hours later, 1,400 firefighters had been assigned to the fire which continued to grow as several injuries were reported, including a 25-year-old firefighter with a "serious head injury". Several beachfront properties in Malibu were destroyed by the wildfire.{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2025 |title=California wildfires live updates: Thousands evacuated as strong winds fuel at least 3 blazes in L.A. area |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/live-blog/live-updates-pacific-palisades-wildfire-rapidly-grows-california-rcna186685 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108134918/https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/live-blog/live-updates-pacific-palisades-wildfire-rapidly-grows-california-rcna186685 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=NBC News}} In a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) press conference on the morning of January 8, LACoFD fire chief Anthony Marrone said that the fire had reached a size of more than {{cvt|5000|acre}} and had destroyed around 1,000 structures. Robert Luna, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, said that 37,000 people were under evacuation order due to the fire, adding that 15,000 structures were at risk of burning.

A CAL FIRE status report at 11:45 a.m. on January 8 said the fire had grown to {{cvt|11802|acre}},{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/6508d8bf-8842-4f55-9219-92857af743b1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108201837/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/6508d8bf-8842-4f55-9219-92857af743b1 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} a figure which had grown to {{cvt|15832|acre}} by 1:20 p.m.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/e036276d-0216-48db-ac57-2f9a212b7ad3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109063256/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/e036276d-0216-48db-ac57-2f9a212b7ad3 |archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} In another press conference which began at 3:15 p.m., LAFD fire chief Kristin Crowley said that 1,792 personnel have been deployed to assist in fighting the fire, adding that it was still growing and continued to demand "significant resources". A CAL FIRE status report at 11:10 p.m. said the fire had grown to {{cvt|17234|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 8, 2025 at 11:10 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fb42ddab-8486-4dc5-be48-c6f1144a1647 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109201919/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fb42ddab-8486-4dc5-be48-c6f1144a1647 |archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} Human remains were found at a property near the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) following a welfare check conducted due to a missing persons report.{{Cite news |last1=Rozier |first1=Alex |last2=Lloyd |first2=Jonathan |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Human remains found in home destroyed by Palisades Fire on LA County coast |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/human-remains-palisades-fire-death/3599655/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |work=NBC Los Angeles}}

File:Palisades Fire (54254471791).jpg

An update from fire authorities on January 9 said that over 5,300 structures had been destroyed by the blaze. It had grown to almost {{cvt|20000|acre|ha km2 sqmi}}. A man was detained on suspicion of igniting a fire in Woodland Hills, immediately north of where the fire was burning. In a press conference at 5:20 p.m., Crowley said there had been two deaths due to the fire. At 8:00 p.m., Newsom reported that the fire was 6% contained, after being at 0% containment for more than 55 hours. A CAL FIRE status report at 6:45 p.m. said the fire had grown to {{cvt|19978|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fa3b85a7-14b9-4e01-ae37-8f6ee4e5fb27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110043813/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fa3b85a7-14b9-4e01-ae37-8f6ee4e5fb27 |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} A firefighting aircraft collided with a drone while it was over the fire, suffering a hole in its wing but landing safely with no casualties. At 9:15 p.m., authorities reported that the death toll from all fires had risen to ten, with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner (DMEC) saying that the remains were still being identified.

File:AerialPalisadesFireOverWater.png

On January 10, a CAL FIRE status report at 7:39 a.m. said the fire had grown to {{cvt|20438|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/0a5c3dac-a9d8-46ce-b1f8-00dd8f344242 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} During an update at 8:00 a.m., Crowley reported that the fire was at 8% containment, with 3,073 personnel fighting it.{{Cite news |date=January 10, 2025 |title=More evacuation orders issued as largest LA wildfire bears down on new area |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg7z9zjv90jt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110101617/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg7z9zjv90jt |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |work=BBC News}} Another CAL FIRE report at 9:20 a.m. said there had been three civilian injuries and two civilian fatalities,{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/7729fa4d-aa30-476b-9190-f5ca977199eb |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} a number which increased to three by 12:08 p.m.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 10, 2025 at 12:08 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/5e742794-b116-4c4a-8c27-7d3de040d046 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} Another update at 2:33 p.m. said the fire was at {{cvt|21317|acre}} and was still at 8% containment,{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/d5da79bf-29f0-41e4-9dbc-564542de86ac |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} while an update from the DMEC said five fire-related deaths had taken place in areas affected by the blaze, namely Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Topanga. This number was later revised to three. Late on January 10, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health declared a local health emergency in response to the fires and issued a Public Health Officer Order prohibiting the use of leaf blowers to improve air quality.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Local Health Emergency Declared Due to Critical Fire Events and Windstorm Conditions - Health Officer Issues Order Prohibiting Use of Power Air Blowers, Including Leaf Blowers, to Reduce Health Risks from Fire Ash and Smoke |url=http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubdetail.cfm?unit=media&ou=ph&prog=media&cur=cur&prid=4937&row=25&start=1 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Los Angeles County Department of Public Health}}

In a press conference at 8:00 a.m. on January 11, Todd Hopkins from the Unified IC CAL FIRE Incident Management Team said that the fire was at 11% containment and had grown by {{cvt|1000|acre}} overnight. He also said 105,000 people had evacuated as 426 homes were destroyed. That same day, the fire began to march towards Mandeville Canyon, new evacuation orders were made for the Tarzana and Encino neighborhoods, with evacuation warnings extending to south of Ventura Boulevard in Encino and western parts of Bel Air.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2025 |title=LIVE: Palisades Fire spreads toward Encino, Brentwood - more evacuations ordered |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/live-palisades-fire-spreads-toward-encino-brentwood-more-evacuations-ordered.amp |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=KTTV}} At least one home in Mandeville Canyon has burned.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Mandeville Canyon home burns as firefighters race to protect neighborhood; residents face gridlock |url=https://abc7.com/post/mandeville-canyon-home-burns-firefighters-race-protect-neighborhood-residents-face-gridlock/15790596/ |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}} A CAL FIRE status report at 9:39 a.m. said the fire had grown to {{cvt|22660|acre}};{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/cda3def5-b280-4190-af9f-fccc43374087 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} by 4:37 p.m. it had grown to {{cvt|23654|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/dce9178c-9419-4005-a61e-49281b54c945 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} The DMEC said that the death toll of all fires had risen to 16: five in the Palisades Fire and 11 in the Eaton Fire. Doug Stewart, the mayor of Malibu, said one third of the city had been lost, adding that homes along the Pacific Coast Highway and the Big Rock neighborhood were 'gone'.{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2025 |title=LA fires death toll rises to 16 as officials warn against looting and hotel price hikes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce8j1djgvrpt |access-date=January 12, 2025 |work=BBC News}}

On January 12, a CAL FIRE status report at 6:33 a.m. said the fire had grown to {{cvt|23707|acre}}.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 12, 2025 at 6:33 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/67c8bdca-dea7-451d-95a7-36c265110f4d |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection}} At 8:00 a.m., city officials held a press conference, where Crowley said 4,720 personnel were assigned to the blaze; Luna said that during a search of 364 properties three dead people were found and four people had been arrested for looting. A status report at 11:13 a.m. said the fire was at {{cvt|23713|acre}}; after that the fire's growth ceased.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fcb41c24-7af7-493d-bd40-45bd23fb5f11 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208061036/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/fcb41c24-7af7-493d-bd40-45bd23fb5f11 |url-status=live }} At 5 p.m., the DMEC released an update stating that the death toll of all fires had risen to 24, eight of which were in the Palisades area. One of them died in hospital after succumbing to their injuries.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2025 |title=UPDATE {{!}} Medical Examiner Fire-Related Deaths at 5 p.m. on January 12 |url=https://me.lacounty.gov/2025/press-releases/update-medical-examiner-fire-related-deaths-at-5-p-m-on-january-12/ |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner}}{{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=|frame-width=|frame-height=|from=January 2025 United States wildfires.map|frame-latitude=34.075|frame-longitude=-118.59|zoom=11|text=Perimeter of the Palisades Fire (map data)}}

By January 14, the death toll for the Palisades Fire had risen to nine, with a total of 25 deaths across the Palisades and Eaton fires.{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Death toll from Palisades and Eaton fires climbs to 25. What we know about those killed |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-12/death-toll-palisades-eaton-fires-rises |access-date=January 15, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114233802/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-12/death-toll-palisades-eaton-fires-rises |url-status=live }} On January 16, the death toll rose to 10.{{cite news|last1=Taft|first1=Isabelle|date=January 17, 2025|title=Update from Isabelle Taft|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/16/us/la-wildfires-california/0db84d21-742c-57ed-9d13-eeecf128cdf7?smid=url-share|access-date=January 17, 2025|work=The New York Times|archive-date=January 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119194642/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/16/us/la-wildfires-california/0db84d21-742c-57ed-9d13-eeecf128cdf7?smid=url-share|url-status=live}}

At the peak of firefighting efforts on January 19, assets from across the western US and international crews from both Canada and Mexico were deployed: firefighting personnel totalled over 5,677 across 551 fire engines, 42 water tenders, 43 helicopters, 48 bulldozers, 101 hand crews and 17 other assigned resources. Canada sent Canadair CL-415 aircraft to assist with containing the blaze.{{Cite web |title=Palisades Fire: Incident Update on 01/19/2025 at 1:35 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/16d4ebf2-87ed-434e-b853-5e94f23459ec |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=www.fire.ca.gov |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208074334/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/16d4ebf2-87ed-434e-b853-5e94f23459ec |url-status=live }} On January 21, a CAL FIRE status report at 6:32 p.m. revised the fire's size to {{cvt|23448|acre}}, adding that it was at 65% containment.{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 21, 2025 at 6:32 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/6cb6ffe9-3b14-47fd-849a-b3debb163afd |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208201145/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/6cb6ffe9-3b14-47fd-849a-b3debb163afd |url-status=live }} On January 30, the final CAL FIRE status report at 5:35 p.m. reported the fire at 95% containment, having caused 12 deaths and four injuries, as well as destroying 6,837 structures.{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire: update as of January 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/c83d0751-14b3-4587-9043-27cba51d8b29 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208202657/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire/updates/c83d0751-14b3-4587-9043-27cba51d8b29 |url-status=live }} By January 31, the fire had been fully contained after 24 days.{{Cite news |first=Dennis |last=Romero |date=2025-02-01 |title=Deadly Eaton and Palisades fires 100% contained after 24 days |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/palisades-eaton-fire-la-contained-rcna188338?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us |access-date=2025-02-01 |work=NBC News |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216185621/https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/palisades-eaton-fire-la-contained-rcna188338?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us |url-status=live }} Newly released footage suggests that the Palisades Fire may have rekindled from the earlier Lachman Fire, which began on January 1. Experts believe that embers from the earlier fire smoldered unnoticed and reignited amid extreme wind conditions.

File:Example of a evacuation WARNING from LAFD (cropped).png

In a LAFD press conference on January 7, at 3:40 p.m., fire chief Kristin Crowley said that over 30,000 people were under evacuation orders, with more than 10,000 houses and 13,000 buildings under threat. During the conference, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the president of Los Angeles City Council and acting mayor, declared a state of emergency in response to the fire.

During the hectic evacuation, some roads became gridlocked. In some areas, residents were seen fleeing their vehicles along the Pacific Coast Highway and taking refuge in the ocean to escape the advancing flames. As flames moved closer, people abandoned their cars and fled for their lives, some taking their keys with them; bulldozers were later called in to move almost 200 such vehicles off the road to make way for emergency vehicles. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) sent around 140 officers to assist with evacuations and gridlock. Fire department officials issued an Emergency Alert System message, which was relayed by the National Weather Service, to notify residents of the evacuations, and subsequently ordered residents unable to evacuate to shelter in place.{{Cite news |last1=Haggerty |first1=Noah |last2=Goldberg |first2=Noah |last3=Fry |first3=Hannah |last4=Flemming |first4=Jack |last5=Vives |first5=Ruben |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Fires tear through Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar; gusts of up to 100 mph reported |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/live/pacific-palisades-fire-updates-los-angeles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108000550/https://www.latimes.com/california/live/pacific-palisades-fire-updates-los-angeles |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} At 2:30 p.m. on January 8, an evacuation order covering part of Santa Monica was expanded to cover all areas north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street, with evacuation warnings for additional areas north of Montana Avenue and areas north of Wilshire Boulevard and west of 10th Street.{{Cite tweet |number=1877121452865888607 |user=santamonicacity |title=PALISADES FIRE UPDATES 1/8/25 2:30 p.m. (1) |author=City of Santa Monica |date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025}}

On January 10 at 6:00 p.m., evacuation warnings extended northeast, with the warnings changing to orders within the hour for the area enclosed by Sunset Boulevard to the south, Encino Reservoir to the north, Interstate 405 to the east, and Mandeville Canyon to the west. Communities in this area include parts of Tarzana and Encino in the San Fernando Valley.{{Cite news |last1=Chow |first1=Vivian |last2=Goldberg |first2=Lily |last3=Dallow |first3=Marc |last4=Sternfeld |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire threatens Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley |url=https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/palisades-fire-now-historic-and-deadly-continues-to-grow-in-scale-and-devastation/ |work=KTLA }}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Evacuation orders were lifted on January 27, when the City of Los Angeles allowed resident-only access to the previously mandatory-evacuation areas.{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Jonathan |title=Final evacuation orders lifted for deadly Palisades Fire |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/evacuation-orders-palisades-fire/3616235/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=NBC Los Angeles |date=January 27, 2025 |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129112450/https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/evacuation-orders-palisades-fire/3616235/ |url-status=live }}

According to Wildfire Alliance statistics, The Palisades Fire destroyed 6,837 structures, per CAL FIRE’s final report on January 30, 2025. Earlier estimates included 1,900 structures by January 8 (Wildfire Alliance) and 3,501 by February 4 (LAFD), reflecting ongoing assessments,{{Cite web |title=Palisades Fire {{!}} CAL FIRE |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.fire.ca.gov}} making it the most destructive in Los Angeles's history.{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2025|title=Nearly 2,000 structures destroyed by Los Angeles area fires so far, including homes of several celebrities |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/nearly-2000-structures-destroyed-by-los-angeles-area-fires-so-far-including-homes-of-several-celebrities|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110034038/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/nearly-2000-structures-destroyed-by-los-angeles-area-fires-so-far-including-homes-of-several-celebrities|archive-date=January 10, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=PBS News|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|date=January 8, 2025 |title=Wildfires latest: Pacific Palisades fire is most destructive in Los Angeles history |url=https://www.capradio.org/articles/2025/01/08/wildfires-latest-hundreds-of-thousands-without-power-as-wildfires-tear-across-california/ |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=CapRadio |language=en-us}} It surpassed the Sayre Fire, the second-most destructive, which destroyed 604 structures in 2008, and the Bel Air Fire which destroyed nearly 500 houses in 1961. Smoke from the fire and other nearby fires caused severe air pollution in the Los Angeles area, with residents advised to wear masks in areas rated as red on the Air quality index.{{Cite news |date=January 9, 2025 |title=See map of where air quality is being affected by the Los Angeles wildfires |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-quality-map-los-angeles-wildfires-california/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110034049/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-quality-map-los-angeles-wildfires-california/ |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |work=CBS News}}

The fire completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades; almost every structure in the area north of Sunset Boulevard burned to the ground.{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Paul |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Satellite imagery shows near complete destruction of Pacific Palisades |url=https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-09-25-hnk#cm5q6j74n00003b6o7oos3v52 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109113958/https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-09-25-hnk#cm5q6j74n00003b6o7oos3v52 |archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2024 |work=CNN |language=en |quote=The Palisades Fire has nearly completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, new satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows.}} With the exception of the Palisades Village outdoor mall,{{cite web|last1=Mejía|first1=Paula|date=January 8, 2025|title=Prominent LA outdoor mall spared from worst of Palisades Fire|url=https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/pacific-palisades-wildfire-palisades-village-la-20022920.php|website=SFGATE|access-date=January 20, 2025|archive-date=January 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119100242/https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/pacific-palisades-wildfire-palisades-village-la-20022920.php|url-status=live}} most of the neighborhood's downtown was leveled.{{Cite web |last=Leib |first=Mason |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Iconic landmarks lost and damaged by raging Los Angeles fires |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/LA-fire-lost-landmarks-117517516 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=Good Morning America |language=en}} Destroyed or heavily damaged structures included the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades,{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=January 10, 2025 |title=California's wildfires: Congregations vow to help neighbours even as their buildings are lost to fires |url=https://sightmagazine.com.au/features/californias-wildfires-congregations-vow-to-help-neighbours-even-as-their-buildings-are-lost-to-fires/ |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=Sight Magazine |language=en-US}} Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi Catholic Church,{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Pablo |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Los Angeles Palisades Fire destroys Corpus Christi Catholic Church, damages school |url=https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/los-angeles-palisades-fire-destroys-corpus-christi-catholic-church-damages-school |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=Catholic Standard |language=en-US}} St. Matthew's Episcopal Parish School,{{Cite web |last=McCoughan |first=Pat |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Outpouring of Episcopal support felt amid fires in Pacific Palisades, San Gabriel Valley foothills, Hollywood Hills |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/09/outpouring-of-episcopal-support-felt-amid-fires-in-pacific-palisades-san-gabriel-valley-foothills-hollywood-hills/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110133119/https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/09/outpouring-of-episcopal-support-felt-amid-fires-in-pacific-palisades-san-gabriel-valley-foothills-hollywood-hills/ |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=Episcopal News Service}} Village School, and the landmarked Pacific Palisades Business Block building. An archive containing at least 100,000 scores by Arnold Schoenberg was destroyed; no original manuscripts were lost, however it was the main collection which owner Belmont Music rented out to musicians and orchestras.{{Cite news|last=Loftus|first=Alex|date=January 14, 2025|title=Composer Arnold Schoenberg's archive destroyed in LA fires |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c23n891j0mvo|access-date=January 14, 2025|work=BBC News}}

File:Palisades Fire 2025 (cropped).jpg on January 7]]

File:Palisades Fire-Malibu-debris-May2025.jpg

The Palisades branch of the Los Angeles Public Library was destroyed.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades Branch Library goes up in flames |url=https://www.foxla.com/video/1573271 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=Fox 11}} The Los Angeles Unified School District schools Palisades Elementary and Marquez Elementary Schools were destroyed. Palisades Charter High School was "badly damaged",{{Cite news |last1=Blume |first1=Howard |last2=Kaleem |first2=Jaweed |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades schools suffer major damage. Hundreds of campuses likely to remain closed for days |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/palisades-high-and-elementary-schools-suffer-major-fire-damage-hundreds-of-schools-close |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} with the main classroom and administration buildings being successfully protected by fire crews, but buildings on the edge of campus, closer to Sunset, burning down.{{Cite web |author=hting9 |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Palisades Charter HS Update |url=https://www.threads.net/@hting9/post/DEopOERx6-5?xmt=AQGzlCNa9dSTLYvWqXVBFSw_uN1EmurYketaeqU1lFwMPw |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Threads}} The Theatre Palisades was destroyed by the fire,{{Cite news |last=Gelt |first=Jessica |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Eames House and other L.A. cultural gems threatened by fire: status updates |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-01-08/eames-house-getty-villa-huntington-gamble-house-museums-fire-updates |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} and vegetation at the Getty Villa caught fire although the building itself was unscathed.{{Cite news |last1=Castleman |first1=Terry |last2=Gelt |first2=Jessica |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Getty Villa Museum grounds catch fire |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-07/getty-villa-museum-catching-fire-lafd-says |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108025946/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-07/getty-villa-museum-catching-fire-lafd-says |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite news |last=DuBose |first=Josh |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Palisades Fire threatens Southern California cultural touchstone |url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/palisades-fire-threatens-cultural-southern-california-touchstone/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=KTLA}} The house of Will Rogers and the stables at the Will Rogers State Historic Park were destroyed; park staff safely evacuated the horses and removed some of the exhibited memorabilia. The historic Topanga Ranch Motel at Topanga State Park also burned down. A total of 30 buildings across the two parks were destroyed including staff housing.{{Cite web |title=Palisades Fire Destroys Historic Homes and Buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park |url=https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1346 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108231513/https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1346 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=California State Parks}} Restaurants along Pacific Coast Highway that burned included Cholada Thai, Moonshadows, the Reel Inn and Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio.{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Matthew |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Multiple Malibu Restaurants Have Been Destroyed by the Palisades Wildfire |url=https://la.eater.com/2025/1/7/24338818/malibu-restaurants-wildfire-destroyed-reel-inn-cholada-thai-2025 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |website=Eater LA |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113113125/https://la.eater.com/2025/1/7/24338818/malibu-restaurants-wildfire-destroyed-reel-inn-cholada-thai-2025 |url-status=live }} The house on Alma Real Drive where Robby Krieger wrote The Doors song "Light My Fire"{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=January 11, 2025 |title=The Doors' hit 'Light My Fire' was written in Pacific Palisades home that burned |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/the-doors-hit-light-my-fire-was-written-in-pacific-palisades-home-that-went-up-in-flames |access-date=January 11, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} and the Robert Bridges House perched atop Sunset Boulevard were also destroyed.{{Cite news |last=Gelt |first=Jessica |date=January 11, 2025 |title=The architecturally significant houses destroyed in L.A.'s fires |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-01-11/architecture-houses-burned-in-palisades-la-fires |access-date=January 11, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite news |last=Lubell |first=Sam |date=January 9, 2025 |title=As Flames Consume Architectural Gems, a Hit to 'Old California' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/arts/design/architecture-fires-california-los-angeles-rogers-eames.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250111064240/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/arts/design/architecture-fires-california-los-angeles-rogers-eames.html |archive-date=January 11, 2025 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |work=The New York Times}} The modernist Keeler House was also destroyed. The entire neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates was destroyed.{{Cite web |last=Frosch |first=Dan |last2=Friedman |first2=Nicole |title=A Rare Middle-Class Paradise in L.A. Was Swept Away by Flames |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/a-rare-middle-class-paradise-in-l-a-was-swept-away-by-flames-dec045c3 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}} Other architecturally significant homes destroyed included the 708 House, a 1949 Richard Neutra house designed for Nancy and Benedict Freedman, the 1952 Southdown Estates development designed by A. Quincy Jones and Fred Emmons, and a 1969 Conrad Buff and Donald Hensman-designed house on Pacific Coast Highway.{{Cite news |last=Lubell |first=Sam |date=2025-01-15 |title=The Design Legacy of Los Angeles That Fell to the Fires |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/arts/design/fires-architecture-burned-neutra-ain.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} One house that survived the fire was destroyed by a mudslide.{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Kelli|last2=Ramirez|first2=Stephanie|date=January 16, 2025|title=LA fires: $2M Pacific Palisades home spared by fire splits in half due to mudslide |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/la-fires-pacific-palisades-home-splits-in-half.amp|website=Fox 11 Los Angeles|access-date=January 16, 2025}} The Getty Villa Museum planned to reopen after a seven-month closure. Restoration efforts at the Getty Villa Museum included deep cleaning, system flushes, air and water filter replacements, and the removal of over 1,300 fire-damaged trees.

Numerous celebrities lost homes in the fire, including Eric Braeden, Jeff Bridges, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Patrick Bruel, Michael Connelly, Barbara Corcoran, Denise Crosby, Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, Max Emerson, Anna Faris, Mel Gibson, John Goodman, Jennifer Grey, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Bobby Jenks, Tina Knowles, Jhené Aiko, Ricki Lake, Larry LaLonde, Eugene Levy, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Rosie O'Donnell, Eric Christian Olsen and Sarah Wright Olsen, JJ Redick, Melissa Rivers, Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam, Candy Spelling, Miles Teller, Milo Ventimiglia and Diane Warren.{{multiref|{{Cite magazine|last1=Sangwe|first1=Stephanie|last2=Apatoff |first2=Alex|date=January 8, 2025|title=Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes or Had to Evacuate in the Los Angeles Fires, and What They've Said|url=https://people.com/celebrities-who-lost-homes-or-evacuted-amid-california-fires-8771122|magazine=People |access-date=January 9, 2025|archive-date=January 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109032542/https://people.com/celebrities-who-lost-homes-or-evacuted-amid-california-fires-8771122|url-status=live}}|{{Cite web|last1=Musto|first1=Julia |last2=Liddell |first2=James |last3=Hawkinson |first3=Katie |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Palisades fire live updates: Five killed as new Hollywood Hills blaze prompts further evacuations |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/fire-pacific-palisades-map-live-updates-california-b2675972.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108173319/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/fire-pacific-palisades-map-live-updates-california-b2675972.html |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=The Independent}}| {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1162055013/?clipping_id=165584068 |via=newspapers.com |title=Soap opera star loses home to LA wildfires, says he left 'just in time' |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=January 14, 2025 |page=A9}} | {{cite news |last=Cain|first=Sian|date=January 8, 2025|title=Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes and Eugene Levy among celebrities to lose homes in California fires |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/09/celebrities-lose-homes-destroyed-california-fires-billy-crystal-cary-elwes-eugene-levy |work=The Guardian|access-date=January 9, 2025}}|{{Cite web |last=Harrison|first=Scoop|date=January 9, 2025|title=John Goodman, Anthony Hopkins Lose Homes in Los Angeles Wildfires |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-goodman-anthony-hopkins-lose-005803620.html|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=Yahoo News |publisher=Consequence|language=en-US |archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110034101/https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-goodman-anthony-hopkins-lose-005803620.html|url-status=live }}|{{Cite web|last1=Kaplan|first1=Anna|last2=Vivinetto|first2=Gina |date=January 9, 2025|title=Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal and other celebrities who lost their homes in the California wildfires |url=https://www.today.com/news/celebrities-who-have-lost-homes-california-fire-rcna186943|website=TODAY}}|{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Carly|date=January 9, 2025|title=Hollywood Stars Who Have Lost Homes in the Devastating L.A. Wildfires|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/local-news/hollywood-celebrities-lost-homes-destroyed-los-angeles-fires-1236104758/|access-date=January 10, 2025|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110015152/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/local-news/hollywood-celebrities-lost-homes-destroyed-los-angeles-fires-1236104758/|url-status=live}}|{{Cite web |last1=Respers France|first1=Lisa|last2=Rosenbloom|first2=Alli |date=January 10, 2025|title=Mel Gibson latest celebrity to share loss of home due to wildfires |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/10/entertainment/mel-gibson-celebrity-homes-la-fires/index.html|access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=CNN|language=en-US}}|{{Cite web|last1=Chang|first1=Clio |last2=Velsey|first2=Kim|date=January 9, 2025|title=What's Burned Down|url=https://www.curbed.com/article/los-angeles-wildfire-celebrity-homes-architectural-landmarks-burned.html|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=Curbed|language=en|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110002732/https://www.curbed.com/article/los-angeles-wildfire-celebrity-homes-architectural-landmarks-burned.html|url-status=live}}|{{Cite web|last1=Chang |first1=Jerome|date=January 10, 2025|title=Los Angeles: Patrick Bruel announces that his house burned down. Find out what it looked like before it was destroyed|url=https://entrevue.fr/en/los-angeles-patrick-bruel-annonce-a-son-tour-que-sa-maison-est-partie-en-fumee/|access-date=January 14, 2025|website=Entrevue|language=en}}}} However, the home that Bill Hader purchased in 2019 was one of the few properties to survive the fire, as did the homes of celebrities Conan O'Brien, Jennie Garth, James Woods, Molly Sims, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Hilary Duff, and Jennifer Garner.{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Bill Hader's $4.2M home stays standing amid wildfire destruction in Pacific Palisades |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2521072/bill-haders-42m-home-stays-standing-amid-wildfire-destruction-in-pacific-palisades |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115093039/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2521072/bill-haders-42m-home-stays-standing-amid-wildfire-destruction-in-pacific-palisades |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hume |first=Ashley |date=January 11, 2025 |title=James Woods' home survives California fires; Jennifer Garner, Molly Sims' also among celebrity homes spared |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/celebrity-homes-spared-california-wildfires |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115082825/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/celebrity-homes-spared-california-wildfires |url-status=live }}{{cite podcast |host=O'Brien |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Conan, Sona, and Matt Discuss the LA Fires |url=https://teamcoco.com/podcasts/conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/episodes/conan-sona-and-matt-discuss-the-la-fires |publisher=Team Coco |time=4:30 |access-date=January 20, 2025}} On NBC News Daily, actor Steve Guttenberg related his experiences trying to get to his house. He advised the public to leave car keys with the cars so they can be moved to make way for fire trucks. He and others volunteered in helping first responders.{{Cite web |last=M. Wong |first=Curtis |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Steve Guttenberg Helps First Responders As Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles Area |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steve-guttenberg-los-angeles-wildfires_n_677ee30de4b004ca51b5bb95?yptr=yahoo |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=HuffPost}}{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Actor Steve Guttenberg Calls California Wildfires "the Worst I've Ever Seen" |url=https://nbcnews.com/now/video/actor-steve-guttenberg-calls-california-wildfires-the-worst-i-ve-ever-seen-encourages-others-to-help-228803653609 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=NBC News Daily |quote= |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108213528/https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/actor-steve-guttenberg-calls-california-wildfires-the-worst-i-ve-ever-seen-encourages-others-to-help-228803653609 |url-status=live }} Gary Hall Jr. lost his home and all of his Olympic medals in the fire; a few days after, Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, announced that he would be provided with replica medals to replace them.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2025 |title=Gary Hall Jr to receive new Olympic medals to replace his lost in LA fires |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cd0jg5z2992o |access-date=January 13, 2025 |work=BBC Sport |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113105222/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cd0jg5z2992o |url-status=live }}

The Los Angeles premieres of Wolf Man, One of Them Days and Unstoppable were canceled due to the fire.{{Cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=January 7, 2025 |title='Wolf Man' Hollywood Premiere Canceled Due To Pacific Palisades Fire |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/wolf-man-premiere-cancelled-pacific-palisades-wildfire-1236250685/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108031934/https://deadline.com/2025/01/wolf-man-premiere-cancelled-pacific-palisades-wildfire-1236250685/ |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Smart |first=Jack |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Jennifer Lopez's 'Unstoppable' Film Premiere Canceled amid Pacific Palisades Fire |url=https://people.com/jennifer-lopez-unstoppable-premiere-cancelled-amid-pacific-palisades-fire-8770880 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |magazine=People}}{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Premiere Canceled For Keke Palmer & SZA Comedy 'One Of Them Days' Amid Fires |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/la-wildfires-keke-palmer-sza-one-of-them-days-1236253830/ |access-date=January 10, 2025 |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=January 10, 2025}} The property damage caused by the fire has resulted in vast liabilities for home insurance companies.{{Cite web |last=Flavelle |first=Christopher |date=January 8, 2025 |title=California Wildfires Threaten Insurers Already Teetering From Climate Shocks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/climate/california-homeowners-insurance-fires.html |website=New York Times}} In particular, due to other insurers pulling out of the region, the California FAIR Plan had approximately $6 billion of exposure in the area covered by the Palisades Fire as of January 8, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Munro |first=Chris |date=January 8, 2025 |title=California Fair Plan has ~$6bn of exposure in wildfire-hit Pacific Palisades |url=https://www.theinsurer.com/ti/news/california-fair-plan-has-6bn-of-exposure-in-wildfire-hit-pacific-palisades-2025-01-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110034039/https://www.theinsurer.com/ti/news/california-fair-plan-has-6bn-of-exposure-in-wildfire-hit-pacific-palisades-2025-01-08/ |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=The Insurer}} Air tankers dropped thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempted to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires.{{Cite web |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=January 10, 2025 |title=What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires? |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/nx-s1-5254179/los-angeles-wildfires-flame-retardant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110222423/https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/nx-s1-5254179/los-angeles-wildfires-flame-retardant |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |website=National Public Radio}}

California Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to Los Angeles{{Cite press release |date=2025-01-24 |title=Here's all the actions Governor Newsom has taken in response to the Los Angeles fires |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/24/heres-all-the-actions-governor-newsom-has-taken-in-response-to-the-los-angeles-fires/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Governor of California |language=en |archive-date=February 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202221637/https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/24/heres-all-the-actions-governor-newsom-has-taken-in-response-to-the-los-angeles-fires/ |url-status=live }} to observe the initial fire response as well as meet with State, Local and Federal officials including then President Joe Biden, who was in Los Angeles for a White House event commemorating the creation of two new national monuments on January 7.{{Cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Janet |last2=Coulter |first2=Tom |date=2025-01-15 |title=Biden to create two new national monuments in California |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-seeks-solidify-conservation-record-112041117.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |work=Yahoo News |language=en-US |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119035409/https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-seeks-solidify-conservation-record-112041117.html |url-status=live }} Biden then attended a press conference with Governor Newsom which drew controversy{{cite web | url=https://nypost.com/2025/01/08/us-news/biden-set-to-become-a-great-grandfather-wednesday/ | title=Biden awkwardly announces 'good news' during briefing on deadly California wildfires: 'I'm a great-grandfather' | date=January 8, 2025 | access-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-date=January 19, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119153933/https://nypost.com/2025/01/08/us-news/biden-set-to-become-a-great-grandfather-wednesday/ | url-status=live }} due to Biden's comments noting the birth of his great granddaughter which was seen by many affected by the fires as an inappropriate use of the conference. Further controversy was sparked when it was revealed the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty months prior to the fire. {{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-22/why-has-a-reservoir-in-palisades-stood-empty-for-a-year | title=This reservoir was built to save Pacific Palisades. It was empty when the flames came | website=Los Angeles Times | date=January 22, 2025 | access-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-date=February 10, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210071310/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-22/why-has-a-reservoir-in-palisades-stood-empty-for-a-year | url-status=live }} Additionally, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was in Ghana when the fire initially broke out, despite her prior pledge not to conduct foreign trips as LA Mayor.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/us/karen-bass-ghana-wildfire-travel-los-angeles.html | title=Before Taking Office, L.A.'s Mayor Said She Would Not Go Abroad | work=The New York Times | date=January 12, 2025 | last1=Hubler | first1=Shawn | last2=Karlamangla | first2=Soumya }}{{Cite web |last1=Ingram |first1=Julia |last2=Tarrant |first2=Rhona |last3=Stocker |first3=Joanne |date=2025-01-15 |title=Timeline shows what we know about L.A. Mayor Karen Bass' trip to Ghana as fire crisis developed - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/la-fires-mayor-karen-bass-trip-ghana-timeline/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |archive-date=February 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207143808/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/la-fires-mayor-karen-bass-trip-ghana-timeline/ |url-status=live }} Her trip was cut short and she returned to Los Angeles on January 7 via US Military transport.

Many notable celebrities and politicians swiftly voiced outrage against Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass. Most notably X Corp Chairman and CTO Elon Musk called the Mayor "utterly incompetent".{{cite web | url=https://time.com/7205815/karen-bass-los-angeles-wildfires-mayor-controversy/ | title=Breaking Down the Controversy over LA Mayor Karen Bass and the Wildfires | date=January 9, 2025 | access-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-date=January 29, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129071017/https://time.com/7205815/karen-bass-los-angeles-wildfires-mayor-controversy/ | url-status=live }} Then President-Elect Donald Trump voiced his concern on Truth Social with Governor Newsom saying "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way."{{cite web | url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113793724958051185 | title=Truth Social | access-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207105253/https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113793724958051185 | url-status=live }} Four days after taking office, President Trump visited the burned areas of the fire and held a press conference with Mayor Bass in Fire Station 69.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rqv7evp2ko | title=Trump tours LA fire destruction amid worries about disaster aid | date=January 25, 2025 | access-date=February 7, 2025 | archive-date=January 29, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129010840/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rqv7evp2ko | url-status=live }} Trump publicly argued with Bass, criticizing the amount of city regulation that he believed to be in the way of rebuilding burnt areas, citing the Mayor's unclear definition of "hazardous waste". Trump went on to say: "You mentioned hazardous waste," said Trump. "Well hazardous waste... what's hazardous waste? You're going to have to define that. We're going to go through a whole series of questions on determining what's hazardous waste? I just think that you have to allow people to go on their site and start the process tonight."{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-publicly-spars-karen-bass-after-touring-wildfire-damage-2020753 | title=Trump publicly spars with Karen Bass after touring wildfire damage | website=Newsweek | date=January 24, 2025 }} Trump published the executive order Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas and orchestrated the 2025 water release from Lake Kaweah and Lake Success.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has deployed a National Response Team to investigate the origins of the fire.{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2025 |title=ATF National Response Team Mobilizes to Investigate Cause of the Pacific Palisades Fire {{!}} Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |url=https://www.atf.gov/news/press-releases/atf-national-response-team-mobilizes-to-investigate-cause-pacific-palisades-fire |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |archive-date=February 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202064035/https://www.atf.gov/news/press-releases/atf-national-response-team-mobilizes-to-investigate-cause-pacific-palisades-fire |url-status=live }} According to the Los Angeles Times, the two leading theories suggest a rekindling of a prior January 1st fire, or the ignition of a new fire entirely at the same location.{{Cite web |last1=Winton |first1=Richard |last2=Fry |first2=Hannah |date=30 January 2025 |title=What — or who— started the Palisades fire? Two leading theories emerge as investigation intensifies |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-30/inside-the-intense-search-for-what-or-who-started-the-palisades-fire |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=February 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201070505/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-30/inside-the-intense-search-for-what-or-who-started-the-palisades-fire |url-status=live }} In May 2025, ATF conducted a controlled burn in the Palisades Highlands in attempt to gather more information on the origins of the fire.{{Cite web |last=McPhee |first=Michele |date=2025-04-29 |title=ATF Continues Investigation Into Palisades Fire Cause, Which Includes Controlled Burn |url=https://lamag.com/news/atf-continues-investigation-into-palisades-fire-cause-which-includes-controlled-burn |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |language=en}}

At 12:17 a.m. on January 1, 2025, it was reported that a small brush fire had started on the ridgeline along the popular Skull Rock trail. Known as the Lachman Fire, it reached 8 acres before forward progress was stopped shortly after 3:30 a.m., with mop-up and patrol operations continuing for 36 hours after.

Multiple residents in the area reported that fireworks had allegedly caused the ignition of the Lachman Fire on January 1.{{Cite web |last=Gafni |first=Matthias |date=2025-01-14 |title=Pacific Palisades had a fireworks problem. Now one may have caused a disaster |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/pacific-palisades-fireworks-problem-caused-20031709.php |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121185733/http://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/pacific-palisades-fireworks-problem-caused-20031709.php |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Fuller |first1=Thomas |last2=Baker |first2=Mike |last3=Migliozzi |first3=Blacki |last4=Lai |first4=K.K. Rebecca |last5=Wolfe |first5=Jonathan |date=January 13, 2025 |title=This Is Where the Palisades Fire Started |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/us/palisades-fire-cause-ignition-point-site.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250113194420/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/us/palisades-fire-cause-ignition-point-site.html |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last1=Sacks |first1=Brianna |last2=Lee |first2=Joyce Sohyun |last3=Piper |first3=Imogen |last4=Davis |first4=Aaron C. |date=12 January 2025 |title=What caused the Palisades blaze? Visual evidence points to a recent fire nearby. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/12/palisades-fire-origin-new-years-eve-fire/ |access-date=2 February 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Sources with knowledge of the investigation into the Lachman Fire also believe it was sparked by fireworks. The San Francisco Chronicle interviewed multiple residents who described the Skull Rock trail as a popular hangout for youths, and that youths setting off fireworks was a persistent problem in the Palisades area. In the years prior, some residents sought to prosecute those behind the fireworks but were told that local police had limited resources. Residents also brought the issue to the Palisades Town Council.

The link between the Lachman Fire and the Palisades Fire is reportedly under investigation, as the two fires started in the same location along the Temescal Ridge. Analyses of satellite imagery suggest that the Palisades Fire started close to the burn scar of the Lachman Fire, a claim corroborated by some residents.{{Cite news |last=Delzer |first=Erielle |date=20 January 2025 |title=What we know about the start of the Palisades Fire |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-we-know-about-start-of-palisades-fire-los-angeles/ |access-date=3 February 2025 |work=CBS News |archive-date=February 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209120408/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-we-know-about-start-of-palisades-fire-los-angeles/ |url-status=live }} Assistant Chief Joe Everett of the LAFD expressed skepticism about the possibility of reignition after the cold-trailing operation and 36-hour patrol that followed the Lachman Fire. Ed Nordskog, a former arson investigator for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, noted that embers can stay buried until a wind event sets them free. Michael Gollner, a fire scientist and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, stated that "It's certainly possible that something from that previous fire, within a week, had rekindled and caused the ignition."

Palisades residents interviewed by the Los Angeles Times reported smelling smoke on the morning of January 7, prior to the appearance of the first flames at 10:15 a.m. A hiker on the trails near Skull Rock reported smelling smoke at 9 a.m. In an interview with The New York Times, another resident, hiking an hour before the eruption of the Palisades Fire, reported seeing smoke wafting in the area near the burn scar of the New Year's fire.

According to The New York Times, a lawyer was looking into the possibility of a downed powerline causing the fire. A 2019 project by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to replace old power lines for wildfire mitigation was temporarily stalled after it had damaged 183 Astragalus brauntonii plants, an endangered species. The department agreed to pay a fine in 2020 for the damage and won approval to resume the work, but it did not proceed. The Times discovered power line debris near the point of ignition, but noted that witness photographs show that the nearest powerline was still intact after the fire began, and that many further damaged utility lines to the north were only consumed by the fire a day later.

A lawsuit filed by victims of the fire against the city of Los Angeles and the LADWP claimed that around 10:30 p.m. on January 7th, power lines downed by the Palisades fire could have caused a secondary fire.{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Eric |date=2025-03-29 |title=Could the Palisades Fire have started twice? One lawsuit says so |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/could-the-palisades-fire-have-started-twice-one-lawsuit-says-so/3665821/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}} The LADWP responded with a public statement clarifying that the lines in question were manually deenergized around 2:15 p.m. earlier that day.{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2025 |title=LADWP Statement Regarding Palisades Fire Litigation |url=https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-statement-regarding-palisades-fire-litigation/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=LADWP News |place=Los Angeles}}

• 2025 California wildfires
• List of California wildfires

{{reflist}}

{{commons}}

• [https://recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/ Palisades Fire Damage Maps – LA County]

{{2025 wildfires}}

{{California wildfires}}

{{California wildfires by deaths}}

Category:2025 in Los Angeles

Category:January 2025 Southern California wildfires

2025 fire

Category:Wildfires in Los Angeles County, California