LOS ANGELES — The Palisades and Eaton fires killed 31 people and destroyed 16,246 structures across Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, 2025, and one year later only 10 homes have been rebuilt, according to city and county data compiled by the Associated Press.
The twin fires consumed a combined 59 square miles of land — roughly the area of San Francisco — before they were extinguished weeks later. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for $33.9 billion in federal disaster aid remains unanswered by the Trump administration and Congress.
How the fires erupted
The disaster unfolded within hours on Jan. 7, 2025, as Southern California’s Santa Ana winds produced predicted gusts of up to 90 miles per hour in mountain areas. Red Flag warnings for severe wildfire danger had been issued the previous day, and the National Weather Service warned the conditions could produce a life-threatening wind event.
Reports of a small blaze on a ridge in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood began arriving at 10:30 a.m. Within four hours, roads were jammed with residents fleeing as flames tore through streets and homes. Investigators later determined that the Palisades Fire had grown from an earlier blaze that started on New Year’s Day.
As firefighting resources concentrated on the Palisades, a second fire ignited at 6:17 p.m. in Altadena, about 30 miles to the east. All firefighting aircraft in Los Angeles County were grounded because of high winds. By 8 p.m. the Eaton Fire had doubled in size.
Death toll and destruction
The Eaton Fire killed 19 people; the Palisades Fire killed 12, for a combined death toll of 31.
In Altadena, the Eaton Fire razed 9,413 homes, businesses and other buildings before it was extinguished after 25 days, having burned 22 square miles. The Palisades Fire burned 37 square miles over 31 days before it was brought under control, destroying 6,833 buildings — mostly homes — in Pacific Palisades and neighboring areas including Malibu. The total of 16,246 structures destroyed comes from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
A recovery measured in single digits
One year on, rebuilding has been stalled by the scale of the damage, permitting processes and insurance complications. Of the 10 homes rebuilt, most are in the Altadena area, with one in Pasadena and two in Pacific Palisades, according to city and county data. None are finished in Malibu. Hundreds more are under construction across the region.
Federal aid pending; criminal charge filed
Newsom has requested $33.9 billion in federal disaster aid. The Trump administration and Congress have not approved it.
A 29-year-old man has been charged with allegedly sparking the Palisades Fire and faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. The cause of the Eaton Fire remains under investigation.
Charitable response
Private donors and organizations committed between $860 million and $970 million to Los Angeles fire relief, according to a study by the Milken Institute. Most of that total was raised in the first month after the fires. Individual donations through GoFundMe brought in $265 million.