The fires that have spread across the Los Angeles area have been some of the most catastrophic to date. Here’s what you need to know.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 8: A man watches the flames from the Palisades Fire burning homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire has grown to more than 2900-acres and is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
By Maliyah Simone, CRDN
January 17, 2025
Nine different blazes have resulted in nearly a combined 40,000 acres burned across the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Hurst, Archer, Lidia, Archer, Tyler, Olivas, and Sunset fires. Over 166,000 people were given orders to evacuate their homes over the past week as one fire after another sparked across the mountains and hills of Los Angeles. So far 11 people have lost their lives to either the flames themselves or due to inhalation of the smoke as the air quality in the area continues a downward spiral as the fires burn on. A staggering 12,300+ structures have been burned according to the Cal Fire website. The number includes both homes and businesses across the Los Angeles area. Currently only the Olivas, Archer, Tyler, Lidia, and Sunset fires are 100% contained while the others vary in containment. The two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, are only an estimated 11% contained at this time.
The Palisades and the Eaton fire sparked on January 7th, 2025. Environmental factors such as drought and weather have greatly contributed to the spread of these massive fires. In fact, when the Palisades fire first ignited, it only took 12 minutes for it to spread across 200 acres near the Temescal Ridge Trail. When evacuation orders went out early Wednesday morning many evacuees attempted to evacuate via vehicle along the Pacific Coast Highway, the main road towards Malibu. However, as the roads became gridlocked, the fire rapidly spread towards the stuck cars forcing people to leave their cars in the middle of the streets to escape the flames. News crews on the ground interviewed those escaping the fire as they traveled down the road on foot with toddlers, dogs, cats, goats, and even horses. The abandoned cars, trucks, and horse trailers created a more permanent gridlock; one of which the LAFD and LAPD found it exceedingly difficult to navigate around to get to the fires themselves.
Though authorities are still investigating the cause of these fires, authorities have made an arrest of a potential arsonist in the Pasadena area. After a group of neighbors found the man carrying a blow torch and a gasoline canister, the good samaritans made a citizens’ arrest after one neighbor encountered the man and called out to others for help.
Although official evacuation orders are in place for 166,000 people, nearly 331,400 people have been affected by the fires across LA. A brief scroll through social media recounts horrifying tales of individuals and entire families forced to evacuate their homes as flames invaded their backyards and neighborhoods. Many people did not heed warnings and had not prepared ‘go-bags’ in case of evacuation and are now only left with the clothes on their backs. Some residents have been authorized to return home, particularly those with regard to the Sunset fire near the Hollywood Hills area which only burned 43 acres; no structures were burned, and containment of the fire is at 100%.
Despite the many evacuation orders, there have been countless cases where people have chosen to stay home in an attempt to protect their property and lend a helping hand to their neighbors as well. The harrowing sight of people standing on the roofs of their homes, garden hose in hand, dousing the flames attempting to leap from one neighboring structure to another is nightmare fuel.
Evacuation orders are still in place, however, many whose homes were located where the fire has already been have returned to find there is nothing left. FEMA is already accepting applications from survivors and will be receiving thousands more as the days pass. The GoFundMe crowdfunding platform has seen an influx of profiles, fundraisers, and donations from people across the country. You can find places to donate here.
This is a developing story and CRDN will continue reporting on the California wildfires as new details emerge.