Under investigation, exacerbated by severe Santa Ana winds, windstorm, and drought conditions
Map
Areas affected by fire (as of January 10 at 4:00 UTC)
Starting on January 7, 2025, an ongoing series of catastrophic wildfires has affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The fires have been exacerbated by very low humidity, dry conditions, and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that in some places have exceeded 80–100 miles per hour (130–160 km/h). As of January 10, the wildfires have killed 10 people, forced nearly 180,000 more to evacuate, and destroyed or damaged more than 10,300 structures. Most of the damage has been done by the three largest fires: the Palisades Fire, Hurst Fire and Eaton Fire.[2]
SPC fire weather outlooks for each day from 7 January to 10 January.
This event was well modeled ahead of time. On January 2, the National Interagency Fire Center warned that conditions in Southern California fostered "above normal significant fire potential.[3] That same day, local National Weather Service forecasts noted the potential for intense fires.[4] The following day, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) forecast an Extremely Critical Risk for Fire Weather.[5][6]
The NWS issued for Los Angeles and Ventura counties a red flag warning, denoting the most extreme fire danger, and calling it a "particularly dangerous situation" that threatened high risk to life and property.[7] The warning emphasized that fires could rapidly grow because of powerful winds and low humidity. Southern California had become increasingly arid since late summer 2024, as storm systems predominantly affected the Pacific Northwest and Northern California instead, due to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) changing from El Niño to La Niña, which had emerged by January 2025.[8][9] By late December 2024, most of Los Angeles County had entered moderate drought status, creating heightened fire vulnerability due to desiccated vegetation in what was traditionally the region's wet season.[10][11]
Dry vegetation exacerbated the dangerous conditions, with many parts of Southern California experiencing severe drought, the driest start to the rainy season on record, and the driest nine-month period on record before the start of the wind event and subsequent fires.[12][13] According to a study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, climate change in the region has both increased temperatures and created volatility in rainfall levels. Droughts punctuated by periods of heavy rain, such as occurred during the rainy seasons in 2023 and 2024, result in the sudden growth of grasses, shrubs, and trees that rapidly dry out and remain as fuel for wildfires.[14][15][16][17] Climate change has also extended the local dry season such that it overlaps with the offshore wind season, creating favorable conditions for wildfires.[18] These lengthy dry seasons also reduced local water supplies and reduced the number of safe days to carry out controlled burns—which reduce fuel before fire season starts—creating additional challenges for firefighting.[18]
The events featured Santa Ana winds of exceptional intensity, with forecasted gusts reaching 50 to 80 miles per hour (80 to 130 km/h; 22 to 36 m/s) in populated areas of the Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles Basin which in prior wind events had been protected due to their lower elevations. Higher elevations were predicted to experience even more extreme conditions, with wind speeds anticipated between 80 to 100 miles per hour (130 to 160 km/h; 36 to 45 m/s).[10] These winds were stronger than a typical Santa Ana event because of higher wind speeds at higher altitudes. As the jet stream crossed mountain ranges in Southern California from north to south, mountain waves developed, accelerating wind speeds as air descended into the Los Angeles Basin and other nearby lowlands.[19][20]
The National Weather Service Los Angeles office described the windstorm as potentially "life-threatening", predicting that winds would "accelerate to dangerous levels" beginning on the afternoon of January 7, and would last through early January 8 for Southern California. The NWS warned that the "destructive" winds would likely result in widespread power outages and downed trees.[10] It predicted that it would be the region's "most destructive windstorm seen since 2011".[21]
By the morning of January 7, an anemometer in Magic Mountain Truck Trail in Santa Clarita reported wind speeds of 84 miles per hour (135 km/h; 38 m/s), Escondido Canyon reported 62 miles per hour (100 km/h; 28 m/s), and the Van Nuys Airport reported 55 miles per hour (89 km/h; 25 m/s), based on the National Weather Service.[22] The NWS reported at 6:19 p.m. PST that the windstorm could become Southern California's strongest wind event of 2025, especially in its valleys.[23]
In December 2024, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley warned that a $17.6 million budget reduction approved by Mayor Bass had also reduced the department's emergency response capabilities.[24] Los Angeles Council member Bob Blumenfield, however, stated that the city's fire budget increased more than $50 million year-over-year compared to the previous budget cycle; additional funding for the department had been set aside in a separate fund until a new contract with the fire department was finalized in November 2024.[25]
Southern California Edison, the area's primary electricity provider, proposed to cut off power to some customers to prevent faulty equipment from starting fires; officials anticipated that up to 400,000 of its 5 million customers could see power disruptions.[10]San Diego Gas & Electric also stated that it would cut power before the onset of extreme weather.[11]
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District stated that it would close all its schools in Malibu for January 7 "due to worsening weather conditions and safety concerns."[11]Los Angeles Unified School District stated that it would temporarily move several Pacific Palisades schools and limit outdoor activities to protect against wind. Sections of Pacific Coast Highway were closed because severe winds threatened traffic.[26]
In advance of potential wildfires, all 114 tanks making up Los Angeles' water infrastructure were filled.[29]
As winds began to blow on January 7, the City of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency in anticipation of heightening winds. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a dust storm warning for several counties in Southern California, warning that the harsh winds could blow dust and soil into the air, allowing it to be inhaled.[31]
At midday, the event left more than 20,000 customers without power.[33] For the third time in three months, Southern California Edison shut off power to various areas to reduce the chance that electrical equipment might ignite additional fires. These preventative measures left thousands without power.[34][35]
False-color satellite image of the Palisades, Lidia, and Eaton fires, taken 8 January 2025 at 21:40 GMT
As of January 9, there were five notable fires burning throughout the region. The extreme intensity of the windstorm coupled with dry vegetation due to prolonged drought conditions caused fires to spread rapidly, and caused embers to fly and set spot fires far away.[26][71]
The Palisades Fire ignited near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, rapidly expanding to encompass 5,000 acres (2,000 ha; 7.8 sq mi; 20 km2). Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along sections of the Pacific Coast Highway and surrounding areas; the Westwood Recreation Center served as an emergency shelter.[10][72] During midday, firefighters reported that strong winds were causing the fire to grow by "three football fields of land per minute".[73] Immediate evacuation orders were issued for residents of Santa Monica living north of San Vicente Boulevard.[74] At 12:11 p.m. PST on January 8, the City of Malibu urged all remaining residents to evacuate in the face of the uncontrolled fire.[75] Evacuation orders were given for the LA neighborhood of Brentwood.[26] Human remains were found in a destroyed house in Malibu during a welfare check.[76][77] As of 11:26 a.m. PST on January 9, the fire had burned 17,234 acres (6,974 ha; 26.928 sq mi; 69.74 km2).[72][78]
Shortly after January 7 at 6:15 p.m. PST, a brush fire in Eaton Canyon in the Altadena–Pasadena region, dubbed the Eaton Fire, was first reported with an area of 20 acres (8.1 ha; 0.031 sq mi; 0.081 km2). According to Pasadena Now, residents next to the canyon told emergency services that a nearby electrical tower was on fire.[79] By 7:12 p.m., the fire had grown to at least 200 acres (81 ha; 0.31 sq mi; 0.81 km2) in size. Los Angeles County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher said the winds would continue to cause the fire to grow rapidly.[80][81] Within six hours, the Eaton Fire had grown to 1,000 acres (400 ha; 1.6 sq mi; 4.0 km2). The Terraces at Park Marino evacuated 95 senior citizens, with images showing many in wheelchairs and wearing only gowns.[74] Evacuations were later expanded in Pasadena and in northern Sierra Madre and Arcadia. The AltaMed Medical Center and several residences in Hastings Ranch were "engulfed in flames".[82] By January 8 at 10:36 a.m. PST, the fire had jumped to 10,600 acres (4,300 ha; 16.6 sq mi; 43 km2).[83] At midday, the fire began to advance into residential zones of Pasadena. All of La Cañada Flintridge was ordered to evacuate.[26] At least five people had died in the fire.[84] In the afternoon of January 9, the Eaton Fire began to approach Mount Wilson.[85]
At 10:10 p.m. PST on January 7, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that a 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km2) brushfire in northern Sylmar, dubbed the Hurst Fire, had a "rapid rate of spread", and instituted immediate evacuation orders for all areas north of the Foothill Freeway between Roxford Street and the Golden State Freeway–Antelope Valley Freeway split.[86] At 1:47 a.m. on January 8, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that the fire had grown to 500 acres (200 ha; 0.78 sq mi; 2.0 km2). By 9:40 p.m. PST that night, the Hurst Fire had grown to 855 acres (346 ha; 1.336 sq mi; 3.46 km2).[87] By 3:56 p.m. on January 9, Cal Fire reported that the Hurst Fire had been 10% contained.[88] By 8:19 p.m., the containment efforts had more than tripled, with 37% of the fire being put out.[89]
The Kenneth Fire was first reported on January 9 at 2:30 p.m. PST, igniting along a trailhead near Victory Boulevard in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.[67] The fire quickly grew to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km2). Resources from both Los Angeles County and Ventura County were requested.[90] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the area from Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard and from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard. Additional evacuation warnings were ordered for areas east of Valley Circle and for parts of Oak Park.[67][91] An evacuation warning was also mistakenly issued for the entirety of Los Angeles County rather than an area specific to the fire and was subsequently sent out to cellphones across the county as a wireless emergency alert message;[92] County Supervisor Janice Hahn soon after confirmed that the alerts were accidental, with a follow-up correction alert being sent.[93][94]
By 5:30 p.m. PST the fire had grown to at least 960 acres (390 ha; 1.50 sq mi; 3.9 km2) and was approaching suburbs in Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Soon after, Newsom announced the deployment of 900 additional firefighters to the area.[67] As of January 10, there has been at least one fatality due to the Kenneth Fire.[95][96][97][98][99] The fire has been suspected to be an act of arson, and one person has been arrested.[100]
At 5 a.m., a fire started in a homeless tent city within the Santa Ana riverbed, and burnt down several makeshift residences and belongings, a recreational vehicle, and several vehicles. The fire grew to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km2) before firefighters extinguished it, with no injuries reported.[37]
Firefighters responded to a separate blaze in the Hollywood Hills vicinity of Los Angeles City near Sunset Boulevard.[10] The brush fire was extinguished shortly after it ignited.[31]
At 3:44 p.m. PST, a brush fire dubbed the Gulch Fire was reported to the north of Santa Clarita, close to Dry Gulch Mountainway and San Francisquito Canyon Road. The fire was held to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km2) in area.[101]
At 5:28 p.m. PST, the King Fire was reported in Los Angeles near Ladera Heights, at oil derricks northeast of La Cienega Boulevard. A separate nearby fire was reported at 5:39 p.m. to the west of La Cienega Blvd.[102] The fires were contained to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km2) by 6:18 p.m.[103]
At 9:06 p.m. PST, the 1.5 acres (0.61 ha; 0.0023 sq mi; 0.0061 km2) Bert Fire was reported in Pasadena, which grew to 3 acres (1.2 ha; 0.0047 sq mi; 0.012 km2) by 9:16 p.m. Its blown embers produced spot fires that threatened nearby structures in the neighborhood.[104]
On January 8 at 3:03 a.m. PST, the Tyler Fire was reported in Coachella, Riverside County. The fire spread to 15 acres (6.1 ha; 0.023 sq mi; 0.061 km2) and destroyed two structures before its forward progress was held by firefighters.[75]
At roughly 6:15 a.m. PST, the Woodley Fire ignited and burned 75 acres (30 ha; 0.117 sq mi; 0.30 km2) near the Sepulveda Basin.[75] It was revised to 30 acres (12 ha; 0.047 sq mi; 0.12 km2).[105]
The Olivas Fire was reported at 10:44 a.m. PST spreading along the coast of Ventura, Ventura County. The fire grew to 11 acres (4.5 ha; 0.017 sq mi; 0.045 km2), with one casualty reported.[106][107][108]
The Lidia Fire was reported at around 1:10 p.m. PST. The fire grew to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km2) within an hour; by 8:06 p.m., it had grown to 348 acres (141 ha; 0.544 sq mi; 1.41 km2). Evacuation orders were issued for some areas near Acton.[109]Metrolink halted service in the area.[110]
The Sunset Fire started in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon Park on January 8, 2025 at 5:39 p.m. PST. This fire resulted The Sunset Fire viewed from a rooftop in West Hollywoodin officials issuing an evacuation order for the Hollywood Hills area, which included tens of thousands of people.[111][112] By 8:21 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to 50 acres (20 ha; 0.078 sq mi; 0.20 km2).[60] The following day, the fire was fully contained and evacuation orders were lifted.[113] During the fire, there were concerns that the Hollywood Sign was at risk of being damaged.[114] While the sign was unharmed by the fires, fake AI-generated images and videos showed the sign and the immediately surrounding area engulfed in flames. These images were primarily spread on the website X and other social media sites.[115][116]
The Sunswept Fire was reported by LAFD at 8:52 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Sunswept in Studio City, Los Angeles.[117] The fire began to burn a four-story home before it was extinguished by firefighters.[118]
On January 9, the Creek Fire was reported at 1:51 p.m. PST near Big Tujunga Creek. The fire grew to 1 acre (0.40 ha; 0.0016 sq mi; 0.0040 km2), with aircraft dispatched to combat the fire. At 3:05 p.m. PST, the fire ceased to grow, and firefighters were released to help elsewhere. As of 8:53 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to 3 acres (1.2 ha; 0.0047 sq mi; 0.012 km2) as fire activity increased. [66]
The Kageff Fire was reported on January 9 at 4:18 p.m. PST southwest of Woodland Hills. At 7:30 p.m. PST, 29 residences within 1,000 feet of the fire were ordered to evacuate as firefighters approached. As of 11:52 p.m. PST, the fire had grown to four acres.[73]
Residents reported the Granada Fire at 9:43 p.m. PST on January 9 in the hills behind a neighborhood in northern Granada Hills. Firefighters quickly contained the fire, which burned at least two acres. At 12:18 a.m. PST on January 10, the fire was declared contained.[74]
As of January 10, ten deaths were attributed to the wildfires. More than 9,300 structures were reported destroyed.[119][75][84] 67-year-old Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin Mitchell were both victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Both were found by Justin's bed, possibly due to Anthony attempting to save him.[120] Several burn injuries were reported, and a 25-year-old firefighter suffered a "serious head injury".[26] About 9 p.m. PST, many burn victims walked towards Duke's Malibu restaurant, where they were medically treated and transferred to hospitals.[82] L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna reported on January 9 that the scale of the number of fatalities would be better determined once canine and forensic searches could be thoroughly implemented.[121][122]
Wildfire Alliance statistics indicated that the Palisades fire alone was by far the most destructive in the Los Angeles region, with at least 1,000 structures destroyed, surpassing the Sayre Fire which destroyed 604 structures in 2008, and the Bel Air Fire which destroyed nearly 500 houses in 1961.[111]
The Reel Inn, a 36-year old seafood restaurant, was confirmed by its owners to have been destroyed in the Palisades Fire.[74] The Palisades Charter High School was engulfed by the fire after the wildfire reached the site at roughly 4 p.m. PST. No one was in the school due to it being out for winter break. Vegetation and trees near the Getty Villa burned, with no structural damage being reported as of 5:20 p.m. PST.[26] The fire also spread to the Palisades Charter Elementary School.[82] Several beachfront properties in Malibu were destroyed by the wildfire. Dozens of cars abandoned on highways during evacuations were completely burnt, with bulldozers having to force several vehicles out of the way in order for firefighters to access burning areas.[75] The Eaton Fire destroyed the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.[123]CBS News journalist Jonathan Vigliotti reported that "most everything is gone" in downtown Pacific Palisades aside from the local mall, and described the damage as "beyond comprehension." He also reported that embers from existing fires were being "blown more than a mile" by the severe windstorm and creating spot fires.[124] The Malibu Feed Bin and Theater Palisades' Pierson Playhouse were destroyed in the Palisades fire.[26]
According to JPMorgan estimates published on January 9, the insured losses from the fires were projected to exceed $20 billion, which would set a new record for wildfire-related insurance claims in U.S. history. This figure would substantially surpass the previous record of $12.5 billion in insured damages set by the 2018 Camp Fire, as documented by Aon. A total economic loss of $50 billion was predicted by JPMorgan, which AccuWeather predicted could rise to $57 billion. JPMorgan noted that these figures could rise further due to the fires' continued spread and lack of containment.[131][132]
By the night of January 7, nearly 50,000 customers suffered power outages, 28,300 under the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and 21,699 under Southern California Edison.[133] The number in the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone increased to over 200,000 by around 9:30 p.m. PST, with outages reported in Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank.[26] On January 8, power outages in the LA metro area reached close to 400,000.[124]
Winds blew wildfire smoke across Los Angeles, leading to several "very unhealthy" air quality index readings of over 200, with the PM2.5 of the Harrison ES station reaching 184.1 µg/m³, or 36.8 times the annual World Health Organization guideline value.[26][134][135] Air quality degraded to 569 µg/m³ in the region, representing the most hazardous category and necessitating avoidance of all outdoor activity.[136]UCLA Healthpulmonologist May-Lin Wilgus expected LA residents to suffer from burning eyes and irritation due to the concentrated smoke, and urged residents with underlying health conditions such as COPD and asthma to avoid all outdoor activity and to close all doors and windows while running air conditioning. Los Angeles City Council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson reported that visibility had fallen below one block in Southern Los Angeles, and urged residents to avoid driving when possible.[26]
At least 19 Los Angeles school districts announced school closures.[137]Pepperdine University closed its Calabasas and Malibu campuses.[75] All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were closed for January 9 as a result of fire conditions and the destruction of two elementary schools.[111] Later in the day on January 9, District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho informed the media that schools would be closed January 10 and "would not resume until conditions improve."[138][139]
On January 7, NASA closed the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in nearby La Cañada Flintridge, California through at least January 13 due to high winds and encroaching fire from Pasadena, forcing the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel at the site.[140] Because of this closure, the operations of the NASA Deep Space Network have relocated from the main facility to an off-site location.[141] As of January 8, JPL director Laurie Leshin reported there has been minor wind damage and no wildfire damage at the site.[142]
Santa Anita Park postponed races originally scheduled for January 10 to January 16 due to poor air quality caused by the wildfires. The track management also announced that it will offer to pay for relocating horses if the owners wish to move them due to the situation.[147][148][149]
Hundreds of trees were reported to have fallen due to strong wind gusts during the accompanying windstorm. Roughly ten semi-trucks were blown over on a section of Route 210 close to Fontana. Multiple flights at Hollywood Burbank Airport were delayed or cancelled due to strong winds.[26]
The LA Metro suspended fare collection on January 8 because of intermittent power outages that made it difficult for users to buy and load fare cards. Some Los Angeles bus lines were suspended while some were detoured as a result of the wind and wildfire damage to the city.[111]
Although the three water tanks in the Pacific Palisades area had been filled to their capacity of about 1 million US gallons (3,800 m3) each, those supplies were exhausted by early Wednesday morning.[25] Dozens of fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades were reported by firefighting personnel to have little to no water flow during initial firefighting efforts to control the Palisades Fire. The chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Janisse Quiñones, reported that all fire hydrants in the area "went dry" by around 3 a.m. PST on January 8. The emptying of water tanks worsened the lack of pressure in the city's trunk lines to transport water to higher areas, with firefighters being unable to reach pump stations to aid transport due to the fire spreading out of control.[29] The Department stated that high winds made it impossible to fight the fire from the air, putting inordinate pressure on the fire hydrant system.[25] Quiñones reported that the response to the fires caused "tremendous demand on our [water] system", with "the public water system faced four times its usual demand".[150] Supplies for firefighting were "being emptied three times in less than 24 hours". The Fire Department was forced to add 75 cubic feet (2,100 L) per second on its water lines in order to maintain enough water pressure. Firefighters resorted to delegating construction personnel to transport water tanks to areas requiring them.[75] LA County Public Works director Mark Pestrella requested that evacuating residents turn off their water and gas lines so more water could go to firefighting efforts.[26] It is reported that firefighters have begun using pools for water.[151]
The Pasadena Water & Power Department issued a Water Alert on January 8 due to debris and elevated turbidity in the water supply.[152]The Los Angeles DWP issued boil water notices in multiple areas of the Pacific Palisade on the same day.[153] A County Public Works director Mark Pestrella reported "significant damage" to Los Angeles county's sewer systems in addition to its power and transportation systems, each due to massive amounts of debris and thousands of felled trees caused by the fires and corresponding windstorm.[154]
There have been several reports of teenagers and young adults looting evacuated houses amid the chaos.[155] As of January 9, at least 20 people had been arrested for looting, though no details were released.[156] Officials condemned the looting, including Los Angeles County SupervisorKathryn Barger who elaborated that the looters were "targeting vulnerable communities".[155][157]
Intensifying wind gusts at 7 p.m. PST on January 7 resulted in the mass grounding of firefighting aircraft. Sudden changes in wind direction put different areas at risk and complicated firefighting.[26]
Evacuation shelters for animals were designated: the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for large animals, the Pasadena Humane Society for small ones.[124]
In an afternoon press conference, Marrone said firefighters were arriving from other states: 60 teams from Oregon, 45 from Washington State, 15 from Utah, 10 from New Mexico and an unspecified amount from Arizona.[111]
A drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a Canadair CL-415 "Super Scooper" firefighting aircraft working to contain the Palisades Fire, damaging the aircraft and forcing it to land.[160][161] LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated that the drone "put a hole in the wing" of the aircraft and put it out of commission.[161] The collision was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by fire officials, resulting in the FAA pursuing an investigation and considering "swift enforcement action" against the drone operator(s).[161] The United States Forest Service Chief Randy Moore reported that multiple private drones flying in unauthorized airspace were interfering with firefighting efforts and causing danger to firefighting crew.[162]
Los Angeles councilwoman Traci Park stated that the wildfires were "a devastating loss, for all of Los Angeles".[26]Los Angeles County SheriffRobert G. Luna condemned looting attempts amid the wildfires, and warned that anyone who took advantage of the fire to steal in impacted areas that: "...you're going to be caught, you're going to be arrested, and you're going to be prosecuted".[165]
Governor of CaliforniaGavin Newsom urged residents to follow evacuation orders, and stated to the incoming Trump administration that "I'm not here to play any politics" after he contacted President Joe Biden to receive federal fire assistance with "No politics, no handwringing, no kissing of the feet."[26] Over 179,000 people have been put under evacuation orders.[166] He later cancelled his trip to Washington, D.C., where he had planned to attend Jimmy Carter's memorial service.
President Joe Biden cancelled his trip to Italy in order to focus on tracking wildfires across the Los Angeles area.[167][168] He also offered any federal assistance needed to suppress the Palisades Fire.[169] In addition, Vice President Kamala Harris urged people to heed the guidance of local officials.[170] She also cancelled her trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany.[171]
Social-media users have criticized Los Angeles city officials and the Department of Water and Power (DWP) for not maintaining adequate water supplies and flow across the city during the fire. Rick Caruso, a real estate developer, former DWP Commissioner and runner-up in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, criticized Mayor Bass and Los Angeles' inadequate firefighting infrastructure, stating "The firefighters are there [in the neighborhood], and there's nothing they can do."[29] State and local officials have denied that state water distribution choices or supply problems caused the issues, instead citing demand that surpassed the water system's designed capacity.[172] Around 40 percent of Los Angeles city water comes from state-controlled projects connected to northern California, and the southern California reservoirs have been reported to be at above-average levels.[150]
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' absence during President Joe Biden's visit to Santa Monica to assess fire damage drew criticism, including from former Obama administration spokesperson Tommy Vietor.[173] At the time the fires broke out, Bass was in Ghana as part of a delegation attending the inauguration of President John Mahama. She later ended her trip early, returning to the city on January 8.[174]
Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong criticized Bass for cutting $17.6 million from the annual budget to the fire department, noting that severe fire hazard conditions had been known well in advance and that fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades lacked pressure.[173]Politico stated that Soon-Shiong's assertions were wrong, and that the city was in the process of drafting a new contract with the fire department as the budget was being crafted, and that additional funding was set aside in a separate fund until the deal was finalized in December. It also stated that Bass "did not push back on the record to inquiries about Soon-Shiong’s post, allowing the incorrect information to circulate widely online for most of Wednesday". Bob Blumenfield, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, said that the fire department's budget had actually increased by more than $50 million.[175]
President-elect Donald Trump placed blame on governor Gavin Newsom for refusing to sign a "water restoration declaration," citing a desire for the governor to protect "an essentially worthless fish called the smelt." Newsom's press office responded, stating that such a declaration does not exist and is "pure fiction."[176][177][172] When reporters asked Mayor Bass about the budget cuts on January 9, she said that "There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation".[178]
Several drone operators were targeted with harsh criticism for flying in unauthorized airspace to take pictures and videos of the wildfires and neighborhoods damaged by the fires. Critics included other drone operators and photographers, with many posting comments under drone pictures chastising the operator for causing danger to and hindering firefighting efforts. Several accounts who used drones to take pictures or video during the outbreak subsequently deleted their social media accounts.[161]
^McGrath, Matt (January 9, 2025). "Climate 'whiplash' linked to raging LA fires". BBC News. Retrieved January 9, 2025. Climate change has made the grasses and shrubs that are fuelling the Los Angeles fires more vulnerable to burning, scientists say.
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