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Climate & Environment

Before and after: See the wildfires' destructive force in satellite images of Malibu and Altadena

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires are visible in this satellite image taken on Thursday.
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires are visible in this satellite image taken on Thursday.
(
Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies
)

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Fast-moving fires are blazing trails of destruction in the Los Angeles area, killing at least five people, injuring many more, and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. Satellite images by Maxar Technologies show homes and businesses before the fires started and the charred aftermath after one day.

The Palisades fire has burned more than 17,000 acres, including homes along the Pacific Coast Highway. The fire has also damaged landmarks across Los Angeles County, including some vegetation and trees on the site of the Getty Villa, a Greco-Roman art museum on the highway.

In the image from Jan. 8, the remains of homes in Altadena, Calif., near Marathon Road are seen from space after the Eaton fire blazed through the area. The Eaton fire has destroyed 10,600 acres, including parts of Altadena, north of Pasadena, an area bordering the Angeles National Forest.

Homes and businesses along Altadena Drive are seen burning in the image from Jan. 8.

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Understanding how it got this bad

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