What Caused The Fires In California 2025: Everything You Need To Know

In January 2025, Southern California, particularly the Los Angeles area, faced and continue to face a series of devastating wildfires. Fires such as the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst blazes caused widespread destruction, forcing mass evacuations and resulting in tragic loss of life.

Understanding the causes behind these wildfires is crucial for devising effective strategies to prevent and mitigate future disasters.

What Ignited California's Wildfires

Firefighters are currently battling multiple wildfires raging across Southern California, displacing thousands as flames engulf homes. The firestorm began on Tuesday morning, with the Palisades Fire igniting around 10:30 a.m., rapidly consuming thousands of acres across the picturesque beach communities of Santa Monica and Malibu.

By late afternoon, the Eaton Fire ignited in Altadena near Pasadena, rapidly expanding to engulf over 10,000 acres. The Hurst Fire erupted in Sylmar, northwest of downtown Los Angeles, consuming nearly 500 acres by 10:30 p.m.

While the exact origins of all three blazes remain under investigation by Cal Fire, the ferocious Santa Ana winds are undoubtedly fueling their explosive growth. 'The combination of low humidity, dry fuels and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion,' Cal Fire said in an update.

Warnings Issued Before The Outbreak

Even before the first flames ignited, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire danger across much of Los Angeles County, a stark warning of the perilous conditions.

The Los Angeles Weather Service office issued a dire warning on Monday, predicting wind gusts exceeding 100 mph in some areas this week, a recipe for 'extreme fire behaviour' should any blazes ignite. 'This is a particularly dangerous situation − in other words, this is about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather,' the weather service office in Los Angeles said.

'Stay aware of your surroundings. Be ready to evacuate, especially if in a high-fire-risk area. Be careful with fire sources,' it warned.

The Fires' Devastating Impact

According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, a thick, suffocating cloud of smoke and ash blanketed the region, forcing air and dust advisories for 17 million residents across Southern California.

Air quality plummeted to hazardous levels near the fires. In East Los Angeles, the air quality index soared to a dangerous 173, starkly contrasting the healthy range of 50 or below.

Dr. Puneet Gupta, the assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, warned that wildfire smoke poses serious health risks, including triggering heart attacks and exacerbating asthma.

He further emphasised that the burning of homes releases highly toxic substances like cyanide and carbon dioxide, compounding the danger.

'That air that's being spewed is no longer just the kind of smoke that we used to see from wildfires, where it was natural vegetation that was burning,' said Becerra, a former California Attorney General. 'Now you got a whole bunch of toxic materials that are getting burned and put into the air.'

The wildfires plunged over 315,000 homes and businesses in Southern California into darkness late Wednesday. Los Angeles County bore the brunt of the outages, with more than half – over 157,500 customers – left without power, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.

What You Need To Know

The death toll is expected to climb as six wind-driven wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles County, with most remaining largely uncontained. Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed at least five fatalities to CNN, while a new threat emerged with the eruption of the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, prompting immediate evacuation orders.

The Palisades Fire, an inferno scorching the seaside paradise between Malibu and Santa Monica, has exploded to over 15,800 acres with zero containment. With an unprecedented 1,000 structures already destroyed, the Palisades Fire has become the most devastating blaze in Los Angeles County history.

The fires have caused a mass displacement of residents, with approximately 130,000 people currently affected by evacuation orders or warnings. The Eaton Fire has prompted evacuations for over 70,000 individuals, while the Palisades Fire has led to similar measures for around 60,000 people.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reports that Southern California is experiencing a dangerous wildfire outbreak driven by extreme fire weather conditions—high winds, erratic gusts, and dangerously low humidity fan the flames.

The Palisades Fire 'continues to demand significant local, regional, state and federal resources,' said Crowley, describing the incident as 'very dynamic.'