LA wildfires were larger and more intense due to planet-warming pollution, scientists report

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have burned hotter and larger than they would have without human-induced pollution, suggests a new analysis from the University of California, Los Angeles.

The study attributes 25% of the available fuel for these fires to climate change, acknowledging that while the fires would have occurred regardless, they would have been “somewhat smaller and less intense.”

The result raises the question of whether the fires would have been more manageable without the exacerbating effects of climate change.

Twelve fires ignited across the region since January 7, when a rare Santa Ana wind event blew across the region. Over 60 square miles have been scorched and more than 12,000 structures, including homes and businesses, have been lost. The Eaton and Palisades fires now rank as the most destructive in Southern California’s history.

Several climate-related factors have heightened this fire fuel, including unusually wet winters, unseasonably warm summer and fall temperatures and a delayed rainy season. The last two winters brought double the average rainfall to downtown Los Angeles, promoting an overgrowth of grasses and shrubs, which later dried out in the heat.

The phenomenon of “weather whiplash” — rapid shifts between wet and dry conditions — has intensified, further exacerbating wildfire risks. Between May 2024 and January 2025, Los Angeles recorded only 0.29 inches of rain, marking one of the driest spans on record.

With forecasts predicting below-normal rainfall in the coming months, the region remains on high alert as it grapples with the harsh realities of a warming planet.

Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart dismissed “false” rumors of possible permits that would allow faster re-entry to evacuation zones on Tuesday, with several areas still under the mandatory order.

He added that some residents have hired private contractors who are requesting access to evacuation zones — but this is not allowed yet, either.

On Saturday, Stewart said Malibu had lost a third of its eastern edge to the Palisades fire — the third fire to hit the city in just three months, after the Franklin Fire and Broad Fire left similar scars.

Kids’ lunch boxes sit in a locker at the Marquez Charter Elementary School that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Two schools in the Palisades that burned down will resume classes on temporary campuses, as the Los Angeles Unified School District works to “return to normalcy,” the district said in a statement on Tuesday.

Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Charter Elementary School, which the superintendent previously said had more than 700 students, will temporarily relocate to Brentwood Science Magnet Elementary and Nora Sterry Elementary respectively, said LAUSD. Classes will resume on Wednesday following a regular schedule.

LAUSD reopened most of its schools and offices on Monday, except for nine that were under mandatory evacuation orders — including the two elementary schools. The other seven will also relocate to alternate sites.

Last week, the superintendent said at least a third of all students in the district — the second largest school district nationwide, and the largest in California — are being impacted in some way by the fires.

Palisades Charter High School, which was severely damaged, drew widespread attention for its early devastation in the first few days of the fires — and is now asking the public for help finding a temporary location while it rebuilds.

The school says it is especially looking for classroom space “available for lease or donation” and athletic practice facilities, along with volunteers to help them move in.

The school, which is independent and not overseen by LAUSD, is known for being a filming location for a number of famous movies, including “Carrie” and “Freaky Friday.”

At least 25 people are dead as a result of fires in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said in an update Tuesday.

Nine people died in the Palisades Fire and 16 people died in the Eaton Fire, the update said.

An image from an overhead pole camera shows a neighborhood destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Tuesday.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFPGetty Images

The widespread destruction caused by the Eaton and the Palisades fires have led Cal Fire to rank them as the first and second-most destructive fires in Southern California, respectively.

The Eaton Fire has taken the position of the most destructive and deadly fire in Southern California history, according to CalFire. The fire has burned over 14,000 acres and 7,000 structures, according to the agency’s count. It has killed 17 people, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.

The Palisades Fire ranks as the second-most destructive fire in Southern California history, with more than 23,000 acres and 5,000 structures burned. The county medical examiner’s office has confirmed the Palisades Fire has killed at least eight people.

The previous record for the most deadly and destructive fire in Southern California was the Cedar Fire in October 2003. This fire burned nearly 3,000 structures and killed 15 people in San Diego County.

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Tuesday preventing “aggressive and unsolicited cash offers” to wildfire victims in the Los Angeles area.

The order prevents making unsolicited offers under market value in 15 zip codes and asks the Department of Real Estate to share relevant resources on the matter, the order says.

“As families mourn, the last thing they need is greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain,” Newsom said in a statement. “I have heard first-hand from community members and victims who have received unsolicited and predatory offers from speculators offering cash far below market value — some while their homes were burning.”

“We will not allow greedy developers to rip off these working-class communities at a time when they need more support than ever before.”

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is urging residents in the county to remain on high alert as winds are expected to get stronger again overnight into Wednesday.

At least 25 people are dead as a result of fires in Los Angeles, according to officials.

Here’s the latest on where the fires stand:

Winds set to pick up overnight: Winds aren’t as fierce as forecast Tuesday and could remain lighter than feared, but are expected to pick up again in the evening and overnight — with gusts up to 50 mph possible with “pockets of wind gusts” up to 60 mph in the mountains, the service cautioned.

Fire containment climbing: The Palisades Fire, which has spread to over 23,700 acres, is 18% contained, and the Eaton Fire, burning over 14,117 acres, is 35% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Auto Fire in Ventura County is now 47% contained and remains at 61 acres after the fire broke out Monday night. The Hurst Fire, north of Los Angeles, is 97% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Weather Service cautions residents: No official changes have been made to PDS red flag warnings – the most severe form of the warning. The warning was dropped Tuesday but will be re-issued for the same areas starting on 3 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said on X.

Photojournalist Kevin Cooley speaks with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Tuesday.

CNN

Kevin Cooley, a photojournalist, has made a career out of documenting fires. This time, the fire hit his own home.

“I was shocked,” Cooley told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Tuesday, describing how the Eaton Fire destroyed his house. “It doesn’t really prepare you for it being your own home.”

Cooley was able to get his family out safely but said three quarters of the students in his 10-year-old son’s class have lost their homes, and the families are unsure about what to do next.

“I have an Airbnb for about a week and then, I’m not really sure,” Cooley said. “As a journalist, I’m still working on documenting my neighborhood.”

Brandon Rude helps his wife Hailey Ott with her mask as she cries after inspecting the damage caused to their home by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Thursday.

Fred Greaves/Reuters

People in areas impacted by ash from the wildfires should wear proper respiratory masks to help protect against potential health problems, Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief deputy director for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health said Tuesday during a press conference.

Residents in areas impacted by the ash are advised to wear proper respiratory masks, like N95 or P100 masks, Mahajan said.

“These masks are specifically designed to reduce the exposure to harmful fine particles found in the ash and smoke, which can penetrate deep into your lungs and cause serious health problems,” he said.

Other face coverings, like cloth masks, medical masks or bandanas, will not provide adequate protection against ash and fine particles, he added.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a Windblown Dust and Ash advisory due to the high winds expected as the wildfires rage on, Mahajan noted. The advisory covers almost all 17 million residents that are under the district and goes until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, said Senior Public Affairs Specialist Connie Villanueva.

An 84-year-old Altadena man is the latest victim to be identified from the Eaton Fire.

Zhi Feng Zhao was identified by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME). His place of death was listed as his residence.

Jose Medina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Los Angeles Field Division, speaks during a press conference on Tuesday.

KCBS/KCAL

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is working on getting answers for those with questions about the Palisades fire, Jose Medina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Los Angeles Field Division said Tuesday while providing an update.

“Within ATF personnel and our partners, together there are about 75 dedicated personnel,” working to help process the scene and follow investigative leads of the Palisades fire, he said.

The teams have been gathering video and photos from those in the area and from social media, Medina said. The teams have also been conducting interviews of witnesses and first responders, Medina added.

“We are going through all the 911 calls and talking and interviewing residents,” Medina said. “We know everyone wants answers and the community deserves answers.”

“ATF will give you those answers but it will be once we complete a thorough investigation.”

Medina said there’s no timeline on how long the investigation will take.

“There have been many theories floating around in the media and I won’t get into those because they are all theories at this time,” he said.

Cmdr. Steve Embrich speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

KCBS/KCAL

The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested 14 people in connection with the Pacific Palisades wildfire, Cmdr. Steve Embrich said at a Tuesday news conference.

Three “noteworthy” arrests of arson suspects took place outside the fire zone on Sunday and Monday, Embrich said.

The other offenses range from failing to meet curfews and impersonating a firefighter and police officer, to vandalism and burglary, according to Embrich.

At least 13 people are still considered missing in relation to the Palisades Fire within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department, Cmdr. Steve Embrich said Tuesday.

A total of 35 people were reported missing, with 20 of those found safe and two found deceased, he said.

While the 13 people remain unaccounted for, they are not presumed to be dead, he added.

There’s very little fire activity around the Palisades Fire perimeter, LA County Fire Battalion Chief Christian Litz said Tuesday at a news conference.

“I’m happy to say that there’s very little activity around the fire’s perimeter when it comes to visible flames,” Litz said, “however, we do have a lot of heat along the edges, so we’re working very hard to mitigate any of those sources so we don’t have any unwanted activity.”

The Palisades Fire is 17% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Coulson Aviation, an aerial firefighting company based in Canada, dropped water on California’s Palisades Fire on Saturday.

See the moment captured on video from three different angles here

Coulson Aviation supports Southern California’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) on a contract basis. The QRF is a fully equipped wildfire suppression program for Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura county fire departments that launches day or night at the first sign of fire, according to the Coulson Aviation website.

ATF teams investigate in the hills above the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday.

KABC

Authorities are in the hills above the Pacific Palisades for the second day in a row investigating the cause of the Palisades fire that swept through the area last week.

An ATF agent is seen joining other investigators in aerial video recorded by CNN affiliate KABC. There is no leading theory at this time as to the cause of the Pacific Palisades fire, a source told CNN’s Josh Campbell on Monday.

The ATF’s National Response Team arrived this weekend and started their assessments Monday, including surveying various aspects of the fire to determine possible place of origin, which could then help determine the cause.

A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter sprays water on a burning apartment complex caused by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 7.

Caylo Seals/SIPA USA/AP

A CNN analysis of the most recent data available from the 10 largest US cities and other comparable departments shows the Los Angeles Fire Department is less staffed than almost any other major city.

Less than a month before the fires swept across Los Angeles County, a group of longtime firefighters gathered at City Hall to plead for more resources, according to the report by CNN Investigates.

Experts have said no fire department in the world would have been able to take on such a perfect storm of conditions that resulted in LA’s devastating blazes – which have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and caused at least 24 deaths.

But images of residents in some neighborhoods trying to save homes with garden hoses and no firefighters in sight have sparked a new debate over whether city officials should have planned better and invested more in the LAFD, and what should be done to become better positioned for the next emergency.

Despite being located in one of the most fire-prone areas in the country, the LAFD has less than one firefighter for every 1,000 residents, the data shows.

That compares to cities such as Chicago, Dallas and Houston, where staffing is closer to two firefighters for the same number of residents. Of the largest cities, only San Diego has fewer firefighters per capita.

The Auto Fire in Ventura County is now 25% contained and remains at 56 acres after the fire broke out last night, according to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection incident page.

There are no active flames within the perimeter and firefighters continue to build a containment line, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Scott Dettorre told CNN.

A firefighter walks away from an empty hydrant while fighting the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Thursday.

Fred Greaves/Reuters

Hydrants running dry is a possibility during fires as extensive as the devastating blazes in LA, Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Firefighters’ primary focus when arriving on scene is to ensure access to water, and they typically tap into the supply through fire hydrants. However, destructive fires and high-wind events can bring additional complications – and the flames can damage infrastructure, leading to potential water shortages.

“When you have that wide scale of a fire … these water lines will start to break and we can have some water issues,” VanGerpen said Tuesday.

The Palisades Fire has spread to more than 23,700 acres, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

In a dire situation that is constantly evolving, VenGerpen explained, firefighters must improvise and adapt to whatever is available.

“If (firefighters) can’t find water in a hydrant, then they get it from a pool,” he said.

An aerial image shows a burn scar from the New Year’s Day fire near Skull Rock on January 1.

Ororoa Technologies

The Pacific Palisades fire started close to the location of another blaze that Los Angeles firefighters battled about six days earlier, according to satellite images reviewed by CNN.

The proximity of the two fires has led to questions as to whether winds could have rekindled smoldering debris from the New Year’s Day fire to trigger the Palisades Fire that began January 7.

The area where the Palisades Fire started appears to be less than 300 yards from the center of a burn scar left by the New Year’s fire, according to CNN analysis of satellite imagery from the European Space Agency captured on January 7 and ALERTCalifornia video captured by a UC San Diego wildfire camera in the area.

The Palisades Fire’s smoke plume overlaps with the previous burn scar, according to CNN’s analysis of the imagery.

LA County dispatch recordings also shed light on the proximity of the fires’ origins. As the Palisades Fire began to spread on January 7, one firefighter said over the dispatch radio, “The foot of the fire started real close to where the last fire was on New Year’s Eve.”

The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a series of alerts on January 1 about a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades. The department reported before 5 a.m. that the fire had been contained.

The San Francisco Chronicle and Washington Post previously reported the similar locations of the fires and the theory that rekindling could have hypothetically sparked the Palisades Fire.

Luca Carmignani, assistant professor at San Diego State University who has studied wildfires, told CNN that “smoldering fuels” leftover from wildfires – such as embers inside of wood – can go undetected and burn for days or even weeks and then rekindle when wind picks up.

“In terms of possibility, certainly that could have happened,” said Carmignani, though he cautioned against drawing any definitive conclusions apart from a thorough investigation.

Officials have said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference Sunday that authorities “do not have any information that there’s any connections” between the two fires in the Palisades but she added that “every single detail” would be examined.

An aerial view shows homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on Monday.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Los Angeles County has launched an interactive virtual map to help wildfire survivors wondering whether their house is still standing to see the status of their property.

The virtual map, which can be found on the county’s website, includes photos and a color-coded key that show the level of damage to the homes of residents who were displaced by the Eaton Fire, the county’s Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a news release.

The homes marked black suffered no damage, while green are 1 to 9% affected, yellow are 10 to 25% affected, orange is 26 to 50% affected and red is more than 50% destroyed, the release said.

As authorities continue damage inspections, the county said additional properties will be added to the map “on a rolling basis.”

“These inspections determine the extent of damage to structures, providing crucial information for recovery efforts and helping property owners understand the status of their homes,” Cal Fire shared on X.

“We’re working quickly and safely to complete these assessments and support impacted communities.”

A resident in Altadena, California, has set up a donation site to support his community as firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Jose Velazquez established the donation site outside his home in Altadena, where his father and mother-in-law have lived since 1985, he told CNN in an interview Tuesday.

While his family’s garage burned down, he says his family’s home is one of three homes in the area that still stand.

Donations were only supposed to take place on weekends, but Velazquez said “it blew out of proportion” after more people from the community began donating things like medicine, baby supplies, and more.

Hundreds of people have retrieved items from the site over the last four days, he said.

“I couldn’t just sit back and not do anything besides take action and set up this donation spot for anybody in need,” Velazquez said.

A disaster assistance center is expected to open shortly so Angelenos can get help amid fires burning in the area, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday.

“While we’re going through what I hope is the final hours of this emergency, it’s also time to begin to talk about our recovery,” Bass said.

Bass said the first step of the recovery process is opening the disaster assistance center. The center is to be used as a one stop shop for those looking for help. While residents are working toward recovery, Bass said, it’s possible fires could expand in the next 24-48 hours.

“We’re still not out of this emergency,” the 43rd Mayor of Los Angeles said. “My message to Angelenos is that everybody needs to stay safe. Please please please listen to instructions.”

A reporter asked Bass about the criticism she’s faced about not being seen doing enough during the fires. The mayor has also faced criticism over the timing of an overseas trip and budget cuts made months ago that affected the city’s fire department.

“I don’t always bring cameras with me where I go, but I have met with evacuees. I have been in the fire zones,” Bass said. “I’ve also been trying to do everything that the city needs to respond to this as well.”

Bass also said she’s having an “open mind” that President-elect Donald Trump will visit next week after his inauguration.

A plane takes off amidst smoke from the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

David Ryder/Reuters

Winds aren’t as fierce as forecast and could remain lighter than feared today, according to observations and the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.

Gusts of 60 to 70 mph roared in parts of the San Gabriel, Santa Monica and Santa Susanna mountains early Tuesday morning, but fortunately those damaging winds haven’t fully translated down to valley or coastal locations. Wind gusts in valley locations were previously forecast to approach 60 mph but have largely remained at or under 30 mph so far Tuesday.

No official changes have been made to PDS red flag warnings – the most severe form of the warning – but if the service scales back or completely drop them, standard red flag warnings will remain in place.

While the most feared winds have yet to pan out on a wide scale, it is still windy in Southern California and winds may get stronger again overnight into Wednesday.

Gusts up to 50 mph are still possible for the rest of Tuesday with “pockets of wind gusts” up to 60 mph in the mountains, the service cautioned. Gusts to 70 mph were previously forecast, mainly in the mountains.

The danger isn’t over, but the region could be dodging a worst case scenario – welcome news for crews fighting to increase containment of two of the most destructive blazes in California’s history.

Firefighters prepare to fight flames from inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School auditorium as the school burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8.

Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Allowing students who have been forced to leave their homes due to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles to attend schools outside of their district, and making it easier for schools damaged or destroyed by the fires to use temporary facilities, are among the provisions of an executive order signed Tuesday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The order also helps schools avoid minimum school year requirements and directs state government entities to develop a plan for helping students, rebuilding and moving forward.

“We will ensure that our school communities get the resources and flexibility needed to recover, rebuild and continue providing quality educational opportunities for every student,” California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a news release from the governor’s office.

The order achieves its goals by suspending various state rules, codes and regulations, waiving certain permits and extending funding deadlines.

Newsom declared a state of emergency on January 7 and signed an executive order Sunday suspending some requirements to build under state environmental laws in an effort to help fire victims rebuild faster.

Long-time Altadena resident Kimberly Winiecki, 77, has been identified as a victim of the Eaton Fire, her close friend Jeannette McMahon told CNN.

McMahon last saw Winiecki on January 6, the day before the Eaton Fire broke out, she said.

Kimberly Winiecki

courtesy Jeannette McMahon

“We were good friends. On Monday night we had dinner, well, what we didn’t know was going to be our farewell dinner,” McMahon said.

McMahon told CNN she tried to help Winiecki evacuate when the fire broke out.

“The winds picked up on Tuesday and then around 8 p.m. I could see the fire from my home, so I texted Kim and said, ‘Kim, I need to come pick you up,” McMahon said. “She responded and said ‘I’m fine. I’m calm.’”

McMahon said she wasn’t able to get in touch with Winiecki after that day but eventually spoke with Winiecki’s brother who informed her officials had contacted him to notify him of Winiecki’s death.

“She was a very intelligent woman, just so sensitive and expressive. She was a writer and a delight to be with. It was such a joy to be around her,” McMahon said about her friend.

For the last 20 years, McMahon said she and Winiecki met at least twice a week.

“I had many parties; dinner parties and gatherings and Kim was a part of them. She didn’t like being in pictures, but she used to love taking photos of our gatherings and table settings and sending the photos to her sister. I’ll miss her insightfulness and wittiness.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference on Tuesday.

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Republicans in Congress will consider “culpability” when approving any disaster aid for Democratic-led California, said House Speaker Mike Johnson Tuesday, as deadly wildfires ravage Los Angeles County for a second week.

“We’re all Americans, and the Americans there, that are affected, desperately need and deserve help,” Johnson said during a news conference, but noted “concerns” over how California is governed, at the state and local levels.

Any wildfire aid package should have conditions, the speaker told reporters, including CNN’s Manu Raju, on Monday.

“If Gavin Newsom and local leaders made decisions that made this disaster exponentially worse — which it appears there were — should there be some consequence of that? Should there be some kind of safeguard on the funding?” Johnson told reporters. People in other states should not have to pay for “bad decisions” made in California, Johnson said.

While Johnson did not elaborate on potential conditions, he said Republicans do not intend to leave Americans behind.

“We may need to think carefully about safeguards,” Johnson added, pointing to the conditions on flood insurance included in the Hurricane Katrina aid package for his home state of Louisiana two decades ago.