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January 9, 2025 - Fires Scorch Los Angeles County
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Multiple destructive fires broke out in the hills of Los Angeles County in early January 2025. As of the evening of January 8, four major and one small wildland and urban fires burned across the region, fueled by a dry landscape and winds that gusted up to 100 miles per hour. The blazes have destroyed thousands of structures and prompted officials to issue evacuation orders in several parts of the county.
The first reported wind-driven fire ignited during the morning of January 7, in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive, near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. By 7:00 p.m. EST on January 8, the blaze had consumed more than 15,800 acres and was zero percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. At a press conference on January 8, the Los Angeles County Fire Chief estimated that 1,000 structures had been destroyed and a large number of people had sustained serious injuries.
The Eaton Fire also ignited on January 7, with the first flames seen near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, in Altadena/Pasadena. It has consumed more than 10,800 acres and is uncontained. Two civilians have died in this fire, according to CAL FIRE. The Hurst fire, which started on January 7, was first reported near Diamond Road in Sylmar. As of the afternoon of January 8, the fire had burnt 505 acres and was said to be spreading rapidly due to high winds, dry conditions, and low humidity. It was zero percent contained.
Two additional fires started on January 8. The Lidia fire was first reported in the afternoon near Soledad Canyon Road in Acton. That same evening, it had burnt 80 acres and was 30 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. The most recent fire in Los Angeles County is the Woodley Fire, which started in the evening near North Woodley Avenue in Sepulveda Basin.
According to CAL FIRE, the cause of all fires are under investigation. There is no doubt, however, that extreme winds as well as lack of rain have spurred the extreme and rapid growth. According to the National Weather Service. Santa Ana winds typically occur between October and January in Southern California and are created when a pressure gradient builds up between the Great Basin to the east and the cool Pacific Ocean to the west. The weather pattern sends gusty, dry winds streaming down the side of inland mountain ranges, through narrow mountain canyons, and toward the coast.
On January 7, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of fire and smoke engulfing Los Angeles County. Red “hot spots” mark actively burning fire as a plume of thick brown smoke rises from the fire and pours towards the southwest over the Pacific Ocean.
While smoke of any type creates pollution that can be a hazard to human and animal health, urban wildfires carry additional risks when compared to wildland fires. The primary fuel in wildland fires is vegetative biomass, such as trees, shrubs, and grasses. In contrast, fires that burn in urban areas or urban-wildland interface (UWI) will combust halogen, plastic, metals, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and a wide variety of human-made materials, some of which may be significantly toxic.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/7/2025
Resolutions:
1km (107.7 KB), 500m (319.2 KB), 250m (869.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Multiple destructive fires broke out in the hills of Los Angeles County in early January 2025. As of the evening of January 8, four major and one small wildland and urban fires burned across the region, fueled by a dry landscape and winds that gusted up to 100 miles per hour. The blazes have destroyed thousands of structures and prompted officials to issue evacuation orders in several parts of the county.
The first reported wind-driven fire ignited during the morning of January 7, in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive, near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. By 7:00 p.m. EST on January 8, the blaze had consumed more than 15,800 acres and was zero percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. At a press conference on January 8, the Los Angeles County Fire Chief estimated that 1,000 structures had been destroyed and a large number of people had sustained serious injuries.
The Eaton Fire also ignited on January 7, with the first flames seen near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, in Altadena/Pasadena. It has consumed more than 10,800 acres and is uncontained. Two civilians have died in this fire, according to CAL FIRE. The Hurst fire, which started on January 7, was first reported near Diamond Road in Sylmar. As of the afternoon of January 8, the fire had burnt 505 acres and was said to be spreading rapidly due to high winds, dry conditions, and low humidity. It was zero percent contained.
Two additional fires started on January 8. The Lidia fire was first reported in the afternoon near Soledad Canyon Road in Acton. That same evening, it had burnt 80 acres and was 30 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. The most recent fire in Los Angeles County is the Woodley Fire, which started in the evening near North Woodley Avenue in Sepulveda Basin.
According to CAL FIRE, the cause of all fires are under investigation. There is no doubt, however, that extreme winds as well as lack of rain have spurred the extreme and rapid growth. According to the National Weather Service. Santa Ana winds typically occur between October and January in Southern California and are created when a pressure gradient builds up between the Great Basin to the east and the cool Pacific Ocean to the west. The weather pattern sends gusty, dry winds streaming down the side of inland mountain ranges, through narrow mountain canyons, and toward the coast.
On January 7, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of fire and smoke engulfing Los Angeles County. Red “hot spots” mark actively burning fire as a plume of thick brown smoke rises from the fire and pours towards the southwest over the Pacific Ocean.
While smoke of any type creates pollution that can be a hazard to human and animal health, urban wildfires carry additional risks when compared to wildland fires. The primary fuel in wildland fires is vegetative biomass, such as trees, shrubs, and grasses. In contrast, fires that burn in urban areas or urban-wildland interface (UWI) will combust halogen, plastic, metals, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and a wide variety of human-made materials, some of which may be significantly toxic.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/7/2025
Resolutions:
1km (107.7 KB), 500m (319.2 KB), 250m (869.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
