At a Glance
- The Palisades and Eaton fires on Jan. 7, 2025 killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.
- A Florida man was arrested for the Palisades Fire, while the Eaton Fire cause remains under investigation with a possible SoCal Edison link.
- Recovery efforts include debris removal, rebuilding permits, and a four-part docuseries airing on News Of Losangeles this week.
- Why it matters: The fires rank among California’s deadliest and costliest, reshaping communities and prompting major policy changes.
One year after the Jan. 7, 2025 wildfires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades, News Of Losangeles is chronicling the disaster, its aftermath, and the long road to recovery through a four-part docuseries. The fires, fanned by forecast Santa Ana winds, became two of the deadliest and most destructive in state history, leaving 31 dead and tens of billions in losses.
The Day Everything Changed
The first blaze, the Palisades Fire, ignited shortly after sunrise in Pacific Palisades. Within hours it had scorched 23,700 acres, destroyed 6,800 structures, and claimed 12 lives. As night fell, the Eaton Fire erupted in the hills above Altadena, growing to 14,000 acres, destroying 9,400 structures, and killing 19 people.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes:
- A towering plume of dark smoke rising above the coast
- Gridlock on Sunset Boulevard with police shouting, “Get out of your car if you want to live”
- Seniors in gowns and wheelchairs evacuating amid gale-force winds
- A cyclist fleeing Palisades with paintings strapped to his back
Firefighting aircraft were grounded by 70-mph winds, and when daylight returned, entire neighborhoods had been reduced to rubble and ash.
Causes and Accountability
In October, federal authorities arrested a Florida man for the Palisades Fire, labeling it a “holdover fire” that had smoldered unseen for days before reigniting. LAFD Chief Jaime Moore admitted, “Our mop-up and verification process needed to be stronger. We have to own that.”
The fallout led Mayor Karen Bass to oust then-chief Kristin Crowley and appoint Moore. No official cause has been determined for the Eaton Fire, though SoCal Edison has acknowledged a possible equipment link.
Recovery by the Numbers
| Metric | Palisades | Eaton | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 12 | 19 | 31 |
| Structures lost | 6,800 | 9,400 | 16,200 |
| Acres burned | 23,700 | 14,000 | 37,700 |
Cleanup proceeded in two phases:
- EPA removal of household hazardous waste
- U.S. Army Corps or private contractor debris clearance
More than 10,000 properties opted into the Corps program. Permitting activity surged:
- City of L.A.: 3,000 applications, 1,400 issued
- L.A. County: 2,900 applications, 1,153 issued
Thousands remain under review.
Economic Toll
According to the UCLA Anderson Forecast, total property and capital losses range from:
- $11 billion to $76 billion
- Insured losses near $45 billion
Stories of Resilience
News Of Losangeles‘s docuseries “Palisades and Eaton Fires: Devastation to Determination” airs nightly this week, featuring:
- Episode 1 (Jan. 5): First-day chaos through survivors’ eyes
- Episode 2 (Jan. 6): Firefighters, police, and bus drivers who saved lives
- Episode 3 (Jan. 8): An all-girls softball team that found normalcy on the field
- Episode 4 (Jan. 9): Ongoing lawsuits, new video evidence, and unanswered questions
Additional segments cover toxic hazards, environmental cleanup, and how musician Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas turned evacuation into inspiration.
Remembering the Victims
The 31 deceased ranged from 32 to 95 years old. Their names, released by the county, include Charles Mortimer, Victor Shaw, Rodney Nickerson, Randall Miod, Anthony Mitchell, Betty O’Meara, Annette Rossilli, Zhi Feng Zhao, Erliene Kelley, Evelyn McClendon, Arthur Simoneau, Carolyn Burns, Justin Mitchell, Dalyce Curry, Edwin Cridland, Oswald Altmetz, Mark Shterenberg, Jeffrey Takeyama, Lora Swayne, Miva Wheatley Friedli, Rory Sykes, Kimberly Winiecki, Patricia McKenna, Stacey Darden, Marilyn Hamilton, Diana Webb, Barbara Lewis, Elizabeth Morgan, Hak Wong, Kevin Devine, and Unidentified Doe #431.
Key Takeaways
- The Palisades Fire is California’s third-most destructive; the Eaton Fire is second.
- A federal arrest has been made for Palisades, but Eaton’s cause is still under investigation.
- Rebuilding permits are moving forward, yet thousands await approval.
- News Of Losangeles‘s four-part series offers intimate survivor accounts and probes lingering accountability questions.
Communities continue to rebuild, lawsuits advance, and memories of that wind-driven day remain fresh as Southern California braces for another fire season.
