January 2025 Southern California wildfires facts for kids

Quick facts for kids January 2025 Southern California wildfires
GOES-18 satellite image of the Palisades, Lidia, and Eaton fires, January 7, 21:51 UTC
Location	Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties, California
Statistics
Date(s)	January 7, 2025 – present
Burned area	Roughly 57,174 acres (23,137 ha; 89 sq mi; 231 km2)
Cause	Under investigation, exacerbated by severe Santa Ana winds and drought conditions
Buildings destroyed	17,711+ destroyed or damaged
Deaths	28+ total (27+ direct, 1 indirect)
Non-fatal injuries	22+
Missing people	31+
Evacuated	205,000

Since January 7, 2025, many large wildfires have started in Southern California. These fires have affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and nearby places. As of January 25, 2025, five main fires are still burning. These include the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hughes Fire, Border 2 Fire, and Laguna Fire. The Laguna Fire is in Ventura County.

These fires have spread quickly because of several reasons. California has been very dry due to drought conditions. There is also a lot of dry plants and trees. These grew a lot during heavy rains the previous winter. Strong, dry winds called Santa Ana winds have also made the fires worse. These winds can blow as fast as 100 miles per hour. As of January 25, 2025, these wildfires have caused at least 28 deaths. More than 200,000 people had to leave their homes. Over 16,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged.

Most of the damage has come from the two biggest fires. These are the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire in Altadena. These two fires are thought to be among the most destructive in California's history.

What Causes Wildfires?

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that burn in wild areas. They can start naturally, like from lightning. But many are caused by human activities. This can include campfires left unattended or sparks from equipment.

How Weather Affects Fires

Weather plays a big role in how wildfires behave.

• Drought: When an area gets very little rain for a long time, plants become very dry. Dry plants burn easily.
• Low Humidity: Air that is very dry also makes plants drier. This helps fires spread faster.
• Strong Winds: Winds, like the Santa Ana winds in California, push fires. They can carry sparks far away. This makes new fires start in different places.

Major Fires in January 2025

Several fires caused a lot of damage in Southern California.

The Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire started near Pacific Palisades. This area is close to the coast in Los Angeles. This fire grew very large and burned many acres. It forced many people to leave their homes.

The Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire began near Altadena. This town is at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. This fire was also very destructive. It caused a lot of damage to homes and other buildings.

Impact on Communities

Wildfires have a huge impact on people and the environment.

Evacuations and Safety

When a wildfire gets close, people are told to leave their homes. This is called an evacuation. It keeps people safe from the fire and smoke. Firefighters work hard to control the fires. They also protect homes and buildings.

Damage to Homes and Nature

Wildfires destroy homes, businesses, and important buildings. They also burn forests and natural areas. This harms wildlife and changes the landscape. It takes a long time for nature to recover after a big fire.

See also

In Spanish: Incendios forestales de 2025 para niños