Please note that this information is current as of the writing of this article (Sunday, January 19, 2025 22:00)
The January Fire Event is now the most destructive natural disaster in Los Angeles County history.
The Palisades Fire, which started on January 7, 2025, currently sits at 23,713 acres and has reached 56% containment. The Palisades Fire began in the Palisades Highlands near the Skull Rock Trailhead, within Topanga State Park, and spread into Topanga and Pacific Palisades, encroaching upon Malibu, Brentwood, and parts of Santa Monica. The Palisades Fire is the fourth most destructive wildfire in California history, and has destroyed nearly 5,000 structures, and claimed 10 lives.
The Eaton Fire, which also started on January 7, 2025, currently sits at 14,021 acres and has reached 81 percent containment. The Eaton Fire began near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, and raged throughout Altadena and Pasadena. The Eaton Fire has destroyed more than 9,300 structures, and claimed 17 lives. It is now the second most destructive wildfire in California history, second only to the 2018 Camp Fire.
The smaller fires that occurred during the January Fire Event are now fully contained. The Kenneth Fire in the Woodland Hills area, the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood area, the Lidia Fire in the Acton area, the Hurst Fire in the Angeles National Forest, the Woodley Fire in the Sepulveda Basin, and the Archer Fire near Newhall, all began during the week of January 7, when the Palisades and Easton fires ignited.
A total of 40,029 acres have burned in the Los Angeles area fires, or 62.545 square miles. This is larger than the land area of Washington D.C. (61.05 square miles, exclusive of water area). At this time, a total of 27 fatalities have been confirmed between the Palisades and Eaton Fires. This number is likely to rise, as recovery efforts continue.
The Los Angeles area continues to experience extreme high fire-risk conditions as an army of firefighters race to fully contain the Palisades and Eaton fires. Another Public Safety Power Shutoff warning was in effect from Monday, January 20 accompanying a new Red Flag Warning and Wind Warning. During power outages, residents are encouraged to check KNX 1070 for updates and information. For those with internet connectivity, tcep.org is the best place to find Topanga emergency information.
Air quality remains a major concern. The air quality index shown on most websites is not optimized to provide data on the kind of contaminants released by the fires, such as lead, asbestos, styrene, formaldehyde, crude oil, and more. Those contaminants may be present during and after the fires even if the air appears clear. The best form of protection from these contaminants is a P100 mask, but an N95 mask is still beneficial and can be picked up at LA County libraries. HEPA-certified air filters with a carbon filter are recommended for home and office use. If in a smoky or ashy area, experts recommend that you mask up, and wash clothing, body, and hair afterwards, and limit exposure, especially for children, pets, and other sensitive groups.
Amidst this firestorm, one silver lining has prevailed: Angelenos of all walks of life pulling together as a community. Many donation centers have stated that they are at capacity for donations of goods (monetary donations are still being welcomed). There is no shortage of opportunities for Angelenos to lend a helping hand, with tasks to suit every skill set. Right now is a critical time to volunteer, but still vitally important are the weeks and months following this disaster, as we seek to restore our beloved City of Angels and find a new normal.
Right now, fostering pets, and getting temporary housing, clothing, and emergency supplies to displaced persons is a priority, but as people find their new normal and are able to be rehoused, they will be in need of furniture and home goods. Affected areas of Los Angeles will need to be cleaned up, friends and neighbors will need help job seeking. It will be a long road to recovery, and keeping the momentum going for the passion of community and helping others will be incredibly important, even as time goes on and the disaster falls out of media coverage.
Throughout different parts of Los Angeles, community spreadsheets have been started for neighbors to check in on each other, and make sure friends and loved ones are safe. Topanga in particular is truly a reflection of the community of its residents, and finding solace and helping each other is how Topangans have gotten through disasters in the canyon in the past, be it fires, landslides, or pandemics, and it is how Topanga will weather this disaster. Together.
Public Resources
LA County Mental Health
(800)854-7771 https://dmh.lacounty.gov/
LA County Dept. Public Works (626)458-5100
https://pw.lacounty.gov/explore-public-works
LA County Medical Examiner
(323) 343-0512 https://me.lacounty.gov/
LA County Public Health
(833)540-0473 https://publichealth.lacounty.gov/
Southern California Edison
800-655-4555 https://www.socalgas.com/about-us
Federal Bureau of Investigation (310) 477-6565
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles
Southern California Gas
877-238-0092 https://www.socalgas.com
California National Guard (916) 854-3000
Federal Emergency Management Administration
(800) 621-3362
