Just 8 Days into 2025, and 55 Fires Have Started in California

Homes and businesses sit damaged from the Palisades Fire burning near Los Angles, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

As the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire burn in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, CAL FIRE announced on Wednesday that 55 wildfires have burned in California since the start of the year.

“CAL FIRE is battling multiple wildfires across Southern California,” the agency wrote on X, along with information about the ongoing fires in Los Angeles County. “Just eight days into 2025, there have been more than 55 wildfires.”

“There were a total of 55 fires as of this morning, between State, local, and federal jurisdictions,” CAL FIRE public information officer David Acuña told The Epoch Times in an email. “Since then, there have been additional new fires.”

“CAL FIRE’s goal is to keep wildland fires to 10 acres or less, 95 percent of the time,” he said, adding that fires not listed on the website were those affecting under 10 acres.

There are currently 12,083 ongoing fire-related incidents in California, including 55 wildfires. In total, 26,978 acres have burned.

Fires in the Los Angeles region have resulted in at least five fatalities.

There are currently five fires burning in Los Angeles County and one in Ventura County.

The Palisades Fire, located between Santa Monica and Malibu, has destroyed 1,000 commercial and residential structures so far. The fire, which began on Tuesday, remains 0 percent contained. Fire hydrants ran dry at 3:00 am on Wednesday.

The Woodley Fire, located on Woodley Ave. near the Sepulveda Basin, started on Wednesday around 4:00 a.m. and was first reported at 75 acres, CAL FIRE said, but has since been reduced to 30 acres. Firefighters are still working to protect structures in the area though containment remains at 0 percent.

Five people have died in the Eaton Fire, located in the Pasadena area, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told KNX radio. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin told a news conference on Wednesday that 200 to 500 structures have been destroyed so far.

The Hurst Fire, located in the San Fernando Valley, began on Tuesday and has so far burned nearly a square mile and remains 0 percent contained.

The Lidia Fire near Santa Clarita is 30 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.

The Olivas Fire in Ventura County broke out at Olivas Park Dr. and E Harbor Blvd. around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, according to CAL FIRE. So far, it’s burned through 11 acres and remains 0 percent contained.

According to CAL FIRE, California saw a higher number of fires in 2024, though the number of acreage burned was slightly below the five-year average.

Forecasts suggest below-normal precipitation through February, meaning elevated fire risk, especially in southern California.

The NWS Los Angeles forecasts that fire weather will last through Friday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

“Gusty winds and very dry conditions will continue to fuel fire starts and existing fires,” the NWS posted on X.

Reuters contributed to this report.