Even four forest fires continued to burn in Los Angeles County on Thursday, the fires were already rewriting the record books.
In the past nine days, seven wildfires have broken out in the nation’s second-largest metropolitan area, ravaging a combined area of more than 40 square miles, nearly twice the size of San Francisco and New York’s Manhattan. An eighth fire broke out Monday night in Ventura County, near Oxnard, but firefighters contained 61 acres.
The two largest infernos, the Palisades and Eaton fires, are now among the most destructive wildfires in California history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Tune in to “Good Morning America” on Friday, January 17th as ABC News and ABC-owned stations launch “SoCal Strong” (#SoCalStrong) coverage of the devastating wildfires in communities around Los Angeles. Coverage continues across ABC News programs and platforms.
Aaron Lubeley walks to the site of the house that burned down in the Eaton fire in Altadena on January 14, 2025.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
As of Thursday morning, the Eaton Fire, which has burned 14,117 acres and destroyed more than 7,000 structures, was the second most destructive wildfire in state history behind the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County, which consumed 153,336 acres and leveled 18,804 structures. According to Cal Fire.
The Palisades Fire ranks fourth on Cal Fire’s list of the Golden State’s most destructive wildfires after destroying more than 5,000 structures and burning 23,713 acres of drought-parched land.
The 62 square miles that make up the fire areas are just a fraction of the 4,083 square miles that make up all of LA County.
LA is almost twice the size of Manhattan
Google Earth, Cal Fire, National Interagency Fire Center
As for the fire death toll, the Los Angeles County medical examiner is investigating 16 deaths related to the Eaton fire. It is the fifth deadliest wildfire in state history, surpassing three fires that each claimed 15 lives: the 1953 Rattlesnake Fire in Northern California, the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego, and the 2020 North Complex in Butte, Northern California. Plumas and Yuba Counties.
The medical examiner’s office is investigating nine deaths related to the Palisades fire in the oceanfront community of Pacific Palisades, which is the 14th deadliest wildfire in California.
The Eaton and Palisades fires combined have burned an area equivalent to 2,324 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseums, one of the largest football stadiums in the country.
It makes LA bigger than San Francisco
Google Earth, Cal Fire, National Interagency Fire Center
The Palisades Fire was 22 percent contained Thursday, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire was 55% contained.
Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs estimate that the fires will cost insurers $30 billion. a report released this week. After accounting for uninsured damages, total costs will rise by $40 billion, the report said.
Although the National Weather Service (NWS) on Wednesday issued a rare red alert for an “extremely hazardous situation” for Los Angeles County for the third day in a row, the winds were not as strong as expected overnight, and residents and firefighters breathed a sigh of relief. that no new fires were reported.
Offshore Santa Ana winds will continue to diminish Thursday across most of Southern California, according to the NWS. However, the red flag warning for the San Gabriel and Santa Susanna mountains remains until 3:00 p.m. Thursday.
The 5 Deadliest Fires in California History
Cal Fire, David McNew/Getty Images
Winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph will continue this morning and early afternoon in the Western San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains and the I-5 corridor.
However, a red flag warning remains in effect for the San Gabriel Mountains, 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and the Santa Susana Mountains, 30 miles north of downtown LA, until 3 p.m. Thursday.
A marine layer and some clouds could also bring a chance for sprinkles to Southern California late Thursday and into Friday.
Up to 15,000 firefighters, including in-state and out-of-state crews, are taking advantage of the calmer weather to increase fire lines, pre-position crews in vulnerable areas and use airships to cover hillsides in the face of burning. previously fire permeable areas the next Santa Ana wind eventsaid the managers.
The NWS predicts the return of strong Santa Ana winds next Monday and Tuesday.
The most destructive fires in California history
Cal Fire, David McNew/Getty Images
Los Angeles County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher told ABC News that a big concern is continuing to protect communities that haven’t yet had a fire, saying, “I think the start that hasn’t happened is what’s holding us back.”
The causes of fires The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continues to investigate.
Meanwhile, FEMA reports that it has received more than 53,000 requests for emergency disaster assistance.
About 80,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation.
Fire victims like Zaire Calvin of Altadena, whose sister Evelyn McClendon died in a fire that gutted the family’s home, shuddered at other fires like the Eaton Fire.
“It looked like a volcano,” Calvin told ABC News. “When you’re mourning the death of your sister, there’s no real understanding. There’s no understanding. There’s no way to take it in.”
Calvin said residents like him, whose lives have been turned upside down by the fires, have an uncertain future as they decide to rebuild.
“Everybody’s struggling,” Calvin said. “Everybody is literally asking, leaning on each other, ‘What’s next? What’s best?'”
