In the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County, on January 7, 2025, a devastating fire broke out that caused tens of thousands of people to be affected. Thousands of homes and other structures were burned or damaged by the heat of the flames. When the fire kept growing, many people started to become concerned and began to panic. A few people stayed at their homes and fought the flames at their doorstep due to how fast the fire grew. The firefighters did their best. But, with it growing so fast, they could only do so much.
When the fire started, people thought that it was “no big deal” or “it’ll be done soon, the firemen got this” (NBC News). But this fire took an unexpected turn for the worse. No one thought it would be too big, unfortunately, things went downhill. Within 20 minutes, the fire grew to about 20 acres. With this, the weather caused it to grow bigger, due to the powerful winds and the dry air. After 24 long days, the fire was finally put out. The fire was estimated to be a little over 23 thousand acres. It destroyed over 18,000 structures and killed 29 people.
The fire ripped away people’s homes causing a sorrowful impact on the community. According to The New York Times, “Los Angeles County could lose $4.6 billion to $8.9 billion” (New York Times 25). Not only was this an expensive tragedy, it also left many people without a place to live. When the fire was active, many people had to evacuate and go to a hotel or a family member’s house. When they were able to go back to the remains, some people were interviewed for the public to truly understand this tragedy. In a Newnation interview, Mitchell said, “‘We took whatever we could, we jumped in the car, we started going down the hill, [the road] was pitch black’” (Newsnation 25). When people had to get out, they had to get out fast. Because of this, people didn’t have time to grab what they truly loved. Only were they able to grab the necessities. (Pets, themselves, medicine, important documents, etc.) In the end, it was truly a moment that victims with never forget.
When the fire gradually burnt out, people started to wonder what started the fire. Many people think it was due to the dry weather. The weather included a combination of drought and extreme winds, and according to CBS News, there were still embers from the previous fire. Another thought is that a power line sparked and it landed in a dry bush, causing it to go up in flames. Lastly, others speculate that arsonists started the fire. The fire investigators are trying to figure it out, but according to KTLA 5 News they state, “the Lachman fire was started by fireworks” (KTLA 5). They are considering this because it was fairly close to the beginning of the new year when the fire started. Even though these are all very accurate suspicions, no one yet knows what started the fire.
Many people were affected by this fire, there were even some celebrities whose houses were damaged by this fire. For example, Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore, Anna Faris, Mel Gibson, Diane Warren, etc. As the fire spread, many people turned to watch the news to learn more about it. The news was covered with reporters and interviewers at the scene. The interviewers got to talk with some of these people along with many other victims. The reporters got to get close up to the fire to give the viewers at home the information that many needed to know about what was going on. They had to wear fire-protective clothing (brush gear), to be able to get how close they were. Because of this, they were able to get a ton of information out to the public to make sure people understood what exactly was happening.
The fire department used their firemen, air tankers, fire trucks, etc. Even firefighters from all over the country came to help, for instance, in Utah, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, and many other fire departments. According to CDCR, they say, “To combat the Palisades fire… approximately 5,200 firefighters [were] assigned to this massive operation” (CDCR 25). The firemen made sure that they did everything to the best of their ability. The firefighters fought the fires night and day and tried to get as many people out as they could. When people were watching the pilots drop the red water (phos-chek), many people thought that when the pilots used the air tankers they missed the fire, but that is not true. When the fire retardants drop phos-chek (the red water), they hit right next to it. This is what they are trained to do. What they are doing is blocking the fire from spreading in that direction. Not only do the firefighters create a barrier from the sky, but they also have tools they can use on the ground to help prevent a fire from spreading so the firemen make a barrier with dirt that goes around the fire and it creates a circle. They use rakes, shovels, and polaski to help create firelines which help prevent the fire from going past. Firefighters also often remove dry brush to make sure the fire cannot have any more fuel.
In the end, the Palisades Fire left a heartbreaking impact on the community. Especially knowing that people’s new year started with the loss of home or business. Even though these fires ripped away the homes of thousands of people, they are now able to pick through the remains and try to find things they can salvage. The fire investigators are trying to give the public an understanding of what started this apocalyptic fire. The firefighters did their best to help end this fire and save as many people and homes as possible
Works Cited
Burke, Minyvonne, and Liz Kreutz. “California Wildfires: What We Know about the People Killed.” NBC News, 18 Jan. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-wildfires-what-we-know-victims-killed-rcna188240.
Chow, Denise. “The Dangerous Combination Fueling the L.A. Fires: Exceptional Dryness and Strong Winds.” NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/what-fueled-la-fires-dry-conditions-wind-rcna186801.