The Los Angeles County wildfires that started on January 7, 2025, remain a huge threat as the efforts to contain them continue. As of January 27, 2025, the situation remains dire as there is the looming threat of flash floods following recent weather changes.
As of January 26, there are six major fires still burning, and among the most destructive ones are the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in California. Current situation reports show that the Palisades fire is now 94% contained while the Eaton fire is 98% contained after destroying numerous structures and causing multiple fatalities.
The total area affected by these fires since ignition exceeds 40,000 acres, and more than 12,300 structures were destroyed. These devastating blazes rank among the most ruinous in California's historical record.
Recent government reports indicate that the Palisades Fire scorched close to 24,000 acres while the Eaton Fire consumed more than 14,000 acres.
Meanwhile, an ignition on January 22, 2025, of the Hughes Fire, located near Castaic Lake within Los Angeles County, has quickly escalated into a major wildfire, forcing wide evacuation orders and rapid emergency responses in the area. It is now 95% contained but spread over 10,000 acres.
On the afternoon of January 23, 2025, fire from Border 2 Fire began in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area near San Diego, California; it has erupted into a sizeable wildfire. It stretches over 6,000 acres and is spread 43%.
According to the official records, 28 people died from the fires, while many more casualties were caused by injuries. The body counts are most likely to increase as search and recovery operations continue in the disaster-stricken regions.
Over 200,000 residents have been evacuated across several counties following safety measures implemented by emergency services in at-risk zones.
Causes of the fires

The current outbreak is unprecedented for January, a month characteristically cold, wet, and humid. Several factors have contributed to the severity of these fires:
A strong gusty and fast seasonal Santa Ana winds capable of reaching a high of 100mph, leaving way for flames from fires to extend rapidly.
It has been an abnormally wet couple of winters. However, this winter is a very dry winter, with very little precipitation and dry, flammable vegetation. The Los Angeles area recorded only 0.03 inches of rain since October 2024, making it one of the driest starts to winter on record.
Previous years' wet weather resulted in an accumulation of dry brush and trees, which now are the fuel to the flames.
Flash flood warnings

The National Weather Service has put out flash flood warnings for the areas affected by recent wildfires, particularly the Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes fires. Such warnings are usually concentrated in the areas where the ground cannot absorb the water because it has been scarred by fires.
Flash flood warnings will persist until January 27 evening, as there is the possibility of ongoing rain on January 28.
Some areas, such as Woodland Hills, have had early examples of mudslides that can trap vehicles and close down roads. Officials have said that even minimal precipitation in burn-scarred areas generates runoff with a high risk of mud and debris flows.
Infrastructural impacts
Several roads are closed because of hazardous conditions. Of note, parts of the Pacific Coast Highway and the Grapevine on Interstate 5 have been closed because of mudflows and flooding.
Schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District are closed today because of dangerous road conditions caused by the weather.
Forecast and future conditions
The storm will probably continue until Monday afternoon and should see frequent periods of heavy rain. The rainfall could be heavier than forecasters anticipate if the storm system continues to stall over some regions.
This rain is great news because it helps decrease fire danger and cut into drought, but officials warn that it could also create long-term flood-related dangers and poisonous runoff from burn areas.

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