Eaton and Palisades fires fully contained after 24 days of devastation.

 At least 29 people lost their lives as the two fires burned thousands of acres, damaging or destroying over 18,000 structures.

Feb. 1, 2025, 9:29 AM GMT+6

The Palisades and Eaton fires, which ravaged Southern California and were fueled by fierce winds, were declared fully contained on Friday after burning for over 3½ weeks, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Palisades Fire ignited on the morning of January 7 in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood east of Malibu. The fire quickly intensified in the region's dry conditions. Later that evening, the Eaton Fire broke out in the foothills of Angeles National Forest, spreading rapidly due to hurricane-force winds and consuming seven months of dry brush, pushing flames into the Altadena neighborhoods.

Containment refers to the perimeter established around the fire to stop its growth.

At least 29 lives were lost in the two fires—17 in the Eaton Fire and 12 in the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The cause of the fires is still under investigation by Cal Fire.

The Palisades Fire burned across 23,448 acres, destroying 6,837 structures and damaging another 1,017, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire, which spread from the foothills of San Gabriel Valley into urban areas, destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073, many of which were historic homes in Altadena, a community known for its Black professionals and artists. Iconic landmarks, including the Andrew McNally House and the Zane Grey Estate, were lost, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Approximately 4,000 acres of the 14,021-acre Eaton Fire impacted urban and residential areas, as stated by Jed Gaines, an operations section chief for Cal Fire. The combination of drought-like conditions and powerful winds made the fire weather in Southern California "about as bad as it gets," according to the National Weather Service, with the region receiving less than 10% of its average rainfall since October 1.

On January 6, the National Weather Service issued a rare warning of a “particularly dangerous situation.” In response, Governor Gavin Newsom deployed state fire personnel and equipment to the region, his office said, the day before the fires ignited.

While many fires were uncontainable, others, like the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, were successfully suppressed.

On Monday, Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler credited the recent storm, which brought the first significant rainfall to the region in nearly eight months, with reducing the fire risk and aiding firefighting efforts in Los Angeles. "Rain showers across Southern California have greatly reduced current fire potential," Tyler said.