2025 California wildfires

Palisades Fire from Playa Vista on January 7, 2025.

Statistics[1][2][better source needed]
Total fires| 182[1]
Total area| 40,697 acres (16,469 ha; 164.69 km2; 63.589 sq mi)[1]
Impacts
Deaths| 27 (preliminary)[1]
Non-fatal injuries| 22+
Structures destroyed| 12,845[1]
Map

Perimeters of 2025 California wildfires (map data)

Season

← 2024

There is an ongoing series of wildfires in the U.S. state of California. A series of fires in Southern California, specifically in the Greater Los Angeles area, have caused at least 27 deaths, thousands of destroyed structures, evacuations, and widespread power outages in January 2025. It was a dry La Nina year

## Background

[edit]

Further information: List of California wildfires

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.[3][4]

## Summary

[edit]

Further information: Wildfire § Climate change effects

The 2025 fire season started in early January when an extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event swept through Southern California, sparking several large, destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County.[5]

According to climate scientists, climate change increased the likelihood of the event by creating first a very strong rainfall (which resulted in more vegetation), and then a very strong drought (which dried the vegetation). The likelihood for such events increased by 31–66% from 1950. Previous climate models underestimated the risk, but even they said that a 3-degree temperature rise will increase the chances for such events 2 times in comparison to current conditions. Climate change also increases the intensity of winds, and reduces the amount of water available for stopping the wildfires.[6][7][8]

Scientists from the University of California made a fast evaluation, estimating that the difference between the average temperatures in 1980–2023 and the abnormally hot 2024 alone is responsible for 25% of the moisture deficit which was one of the causes of the wildfires. They mentioned that "Substantial anthropogenic warming occurred prior to this period, so our estimate of the effect of heat anomalies in 2024 is conservative". Their study is still not peer reviewed.[9]

## List of wildfires

[edit]

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Name  | County  | Acres  | Start date  | Containment date[a] | Notes  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|
|

January 2025 Southern California wildfires
Palisades | Los Angeles | 23,713 | January 7 |

43% contained

| Evacuations forced; destroyed at least 3,857 structures and damaged 628 in Pacific Palisades, northwest of Santa Monica. Ten confirmed fatalities and four confirmed injuries. 4th most destructive wildfire in California history. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [10][11][12]
Eaton | Los Angeles | 14,117 | January 7 |

73% contained

| Evacuations forced; destroyed at least 8,988 structures and damaged 972 in Altadena and Pasadena, making it the second most destructive fire in California history. Seventeen confirmed fatalities and seven confirmed injuries. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [13][14][15]
Hurst | Los Angeles | 799 | January 7 | January 16 | Evacuations forced. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [16]
Lidia | Los Angeles | 395 | January 8 |

January 11

| Evacuations forced. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [17]
Sunset | Los Angeles | 43 | January 8 | January 9 | Evacuations forced. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [18]
Kenneth | Los Angeles, Ventura | 1,052 | January 9 | January 12 | Evacuations forced. Associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. | [19]

## See also

[edit]

* January 2025 Southern California wildfires

## Notes

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1. ^ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is under control or out.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "2025 Incident Archive". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Retrieved January 18, 2025.
2. ^ Joyce, Elijah (January 8, 2025). "2025 California Wildfires Fatality Total: 5". X. WXFatalities. Retrieved January 9, 2025. "22+ Injuries Confirmed at UCLA"
3. ^ "Weather: Fire Season Climatology (Northern California)". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
4. ^ Toohey, Grace (June 22, 2024). "California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ McGrath, Matt (January 9, 2025). "Climate 'whiplash' linked to raging LA fires". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
7. ^ Holthaus, Eric (January 9, 2025). "The Los Angeles wildfires are climate disasters compounded". The Guardian. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
8. ^ Ignon, Lance. "Has climate change contributed to the L.A. fires? Expert: 'Definitely.'". Sol price school for public policy. University of Southern California. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
9. ^ Madakumbura, Gavin; Thackeray, Chad; Hall, Alex; Williams, Park; Norris, Jesse; Sukhdeo, Ray. "Climate Change A Factor In Unprecedented LA Fires". UCLA. Regents of the University of California. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
10. ^ "Palisades Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
11. ^ "Wildfire forces evacuation of Pacific Palisades; homes destroyed". KTLA 5. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
12. ^ "Palisades Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
13. ^ "Eaton Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
14. ^ "California wildfires live updates: At least 5 dead, over 100,000 forced to flee". NBC News. January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
15. ^ "Elapses size of San Francisco: LA fires carve mark on history". ABC News. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
16. ^ "Hurst Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
17. ^ "Lidia Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
18. ^ "Sunset Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
19. ^ "Kenneth Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved January 9, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to 2025 wildfires in California at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Wildfires in 2025

North America|

| United States|

* Arizona
* California
* January 2025 Southern California wildfires
* Palisades
* Eaton
* Hurst

|

* ◀ 2024
* Category

* v
* t
* e

California wildfires

Pre-2007|

* Santiago Canyon (1889)
* Berkeley (1923)
* Matilija (1932)
* Griffith Park (1933)
* Rattlesnake (1953)
* Harlow (1961)
* Bel Air (1961)
* Loop (1966)
* Laguna (1970)
* Marble Cone (1977)
* Agoura-Malibu (1978)
* Panorama (1980)
* 49er (1988)
* Painted Cave (1990)
* Tunnel (1991)
* Fountain (1992)
* Kinneloa (1993)
* Laguna (1993)
* Mount Vision (1995)
* Pendola (1999)
* Jones (1999)
* Storrie (2000)
* Poe (2001)
* Wolf (2002)
* Copper (2002)
* Biscuit (2002)
* McNally (2002)
* Curve (2002)
* Williams (2002)
* Old (2003)
* Simi (2003)
* Cedar (2003)
* Power (2004)
* Rumsey (2004)
* Topanga (2005)
* Sawtooth Complex (2006)
* Day (2006)
* Esperanza (2006)

2007|

* Island
* Angora
* Zaca
* Moonlight
* October 2007 wildfires
* Buckweed
* Harris
* Witch
* Santiago
* Rice
* Corral

2008|

* Summit
* Indians
* Basin Complex
* Klamath Theater Complex
* Gap
* Telegraph
* Sesnon
* Tea
* Sayre
* Freeway Complex

2009|

* Jesusita
* La Brea
* Lockheed
* Station
* Guiberson

2010|

* Bull
* West
* Crown

2011|

* Lion
* Comanche Complex

2012|

* Reading
* Chips
* Barry Point
* Rush
* Ponderosa

2013|

* Summit
* Springs
* Powerhouse
* Mountain
* Silver
* Rim
* Clover

2014|

* Colby
* Etiwanda
* May 2014 San Diego County wildfires
* Tomahawk
* Poinsettia
* Cocos
* Shirley
* Butts
* Bully
* Happy Camp Complex
* Meadow
* King
* Boles

2015|

* Round
* Lake
* North
* Wragg
* Rocky
* Mad River Complex
* Humboldt Complex
* Frog
* Rough
* Jerusalem
* Cuesta
* Butte
* Valley
* Tassajara

2016|

* Sherpa
* Border
* San Gabriel Complex
* Erskine
* Trailhead
* Curry
* Sand
* Soberanes
* Cold
* Pilot
* Chimney
* Clayton
* Blue Cut
* Rey
* Bogart
* Canyon
* Loma

2017|

* Gate
* Holcomb
* Schaeffer
* Salmon August Complex
* Manzanita
* Winters
* Alamo
* Wall
* Whittier
* Garza
* Detwiler
* Empire
* Parker 2
* Young
* Pier
* Railroad
* Ponderosa
* Mud
* Slinkard
* Helena
* La Tuna
* Palmer
* Mission
* October 2017 Northern California wildfires
* Atlas
* Tubbs
* Canyon 2
* December 2017 Southern California wildfires
* Thomas
* Creek
* Rye
* Skirball
* Lilac

2018|

* Lions
* Lane
* Pawnee
* Waverly
* County
* Klamathon
* Valley
* Georges
* Ferguson
* Natchez
* Carr
* Cranston
* Mendocino Complex
* Whaleback
* Donnell
* Holy
* Hirz
* Delta
* Camp
* Woolsey

2019|

* Sand
* West Butte
* Tucker
* Mountain
* Tenaja
* Walker
* Taboose
* Lime
* Red Bank
* South
* Lone
* Sandalwood
* Saddleridge
* Nustar
* Kincade
* Tick
* Getty
* Easy
* Maria

2020|

* Quail
* Grant
* Crews
* Soledad
* Mineral
* 2020 Lassen County wildfires
* Gold
* Loyalton
* Red Salmon Complex
* Apple
* August 2020 lightning wildfires
* Lake
* Dome
* River
* CZU Lightning Complex
* SCU Lightning Complex
* August Complex
* LNU Lightning Complex
* North Complex
* SQF Complex
* Dolan
* Creek
* El Dorado
* Bobcat
* Slater/Devil
* Oak
* Glass
* Zogg
* Silverado
* Mountain View
* Bond

2021|

* Palisades
* Willow
* Lava
* Tennant
* Salt
* Beckwourth Complex
* Tamarack
* Dixie
* McFarland
* Monument
* River Complex
* McCash
* Antelope
* River
* Caldor
* French
* KNP Complex
* Windy
* Fawn

2022|

* Colorado
* Electra
* Washburn
* Oak
* McKinney
* Red
* Route
* Border 32
* Mill
* Fairview
* Mosquito
* SRF Lightning Complex

2023|

* Rabbit
* Deep
* Pika
* York

2024|

* Corral
* Lake
* Post
* Point
* Thompson
* Borel
* Basin
* Park
* Nixon
* Pedro
* Boise
* Coffee Pot
* Line
* Bridge
* Airport
* Mountain
* Franklin

2025|

* January 2025 Southern California wildfires
* Palisades
* Eaton
* Hurst

* Category

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