Southern California Wildfires Fully Contained After 24 Days of Destruction

After nearly a month of relentless firefighting efforts, the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in Southern California have been fully contained, bringing an end to one of the deadliest wildfire events in recent years.

The fires, which ignited on January 7, were fueled by prolonged drought conditions and intense winds, rapidly spreading across thousands of acres. The Palisades Fire broke out in Pacific Palisades, near Malibu, while the Eaton Fire started in the Angeles National Forest foothills, eventually reaching Altadena.

Tragically, the wildfires claimed 29 lives—17 from the Eaton Fire and 12 from the Palisades Fire—according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. Hundreds of people were injured, and thousands were displaced as the fires tore through communities.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the Palisades Fire scorched 23,448 acres, destroying 6,837 structures and severely damaging over 1,000 more. The Eaton Fire consumed 14,021 acres, including nearly 4,000 acres in urban areas, devastating 9,418 structures, including historic sites in Altadena.

Firefighters battled the blazes for weeks, facing challenging weather conditions. A long-awaited storm earlier this week brought significant rainfall, aiding containment efforts and allowing officials to declare the fires fully under control.