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Map: How big are the LA fires? Use this tool to overlay them atop where you live
Firefighters work to put out a fire in the rubble of a home that burned down on Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, as a result of the Palisades Fire. Jan. 9, 2025.
(
Ted Soqui
/
CalMatters
)
The fires sweeping across Los Angeles County for the past week have burned more than 40,000 acres, an area roughly equivalent to 1,800 Alcatraz Islands or 400 Disneylands, or slightly larger than Washington, D.C.
An arid fall and winter have dried out vegetation after two wetter-than-average years, providing fuel as a windstorm, with hurricane-force gusts topping 100 mph, swept across the region. Wind-whipped flames spread rapidly throughout much of the county.
The Palisades Fire, which burned through Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu, and the Eaton Fire, which burned Altadena and other foothill communities, have damaged or destroyed an estimated 12,000 houses and other structures. At least 24 people have died, making 2025 one of the deadliest and most destructive years on record less than two weeks after the year started.
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The National Weather Service updated its forecast on Saturday, predicting major rainfall to arrive late Tuesday night. -
The atmospheric river is expected to peak around Christmas Eve, with wet weather potentially continuing into the weekend. -
The decision lowers the investor-owned companies' profits by about 0.3%. It's likely to have a small effect on Southern Californians' energy bills.
Two other fires in the area — the Kenneth Fire near Hidden Hills and the Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley — have largely been contained, according to CalFire.
It’s difficult to visualize how dramatically Los Angeles — California’s largest city in both physical size and population — has been affected. But to get a sense of the scope, you can enter a California address into the tool below to compare the fire perimeters to any area statewide.
For Apple News readers, you can explore the tool here.
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Fire resources and tips
If you have to evacuate:
- Why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- How to get packed up
- How to leave your house
- What evacuation terms mean and how to sign up for alerts
Navigating fire conditions:
- How to drive in high winds and fire danger
- How to prep for power outages
- How to navigate poor air quality
How to help yourself and others:
- Resources for fire victims, evacuees and first responders
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
- How to help find lost pets
How to start the recovery process:
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- How to make an insurance claim
- How to safely clean up wildfire ash
What to do for your kids:
- How to talk to children about wildfires and losing a home
- What parents should know about wildfire air quality
Prepare for the next disaster:
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