Southern California's Eaton and Palisades Fires Fully Contained After 24 Days

Deadly wildfires claim 29 lives, scorch thousands of acres, and leave over 18,000 structures damaged or destroyed.

After burning for more than three weeks, the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires in Southern California have been fully contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The Palisades Fire ignited on the morning of January 7 in Pacific Palisades, near Malibu, quickly intensifying due to Southern California’s dry conditions. Later that evening, the Eaton Fire erupted in the foothills of Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, spreading rapidly into the Altadena neighborhoods, fueled by months of parched brush and hurricane-force winds.

Containment refers to the establishment of a controlled perimeter around a fire to prevent further spread.

Tragically, at least 29 people lost their lives—17 in the Eaton Fire and 12 in the Palisades Fire—per the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report. The official causes of the fires remain under investigation.

The Palisades Fire consumed 23,448 acres, destroying 6,837 structures and damaging another 1,017. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, driven by strong winds, engulfed 14,021 acres, burning through the historic Altadena community and reducing 9,418 structures to rubble while damaging 1,073 others. Among the losses were architectural landmarks such as the Andrew McNally House and the Zane Grey Estate, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Fire officials estimate that approximately 4,000 acres of the Eaton Fire affected urban and residential areas, with Jed Gaines, an operations chief with Cal Fire, addressing concerned residents during a recent community meeting.

Extreme drought conditions and relentless offshore winds created an environment primed for wildfire. The National Weather Service had warned of an unprecedented fire threat, classifying the situation as a “particularly dangerous” event on January 6. Governor Gavin Newsom preemptively deployed fire personnel and resources to the region in response to the growing risk.

Despite firefighting efforts, the wildfires overwhelmed suppression attempts. However, other fires, such as the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, were successfully contained before reaching catastrophic levels.

On Monday, Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler credited a recent storm for providing much-needed relief to the scorched landscape.

“Rain showers across Southern California have greatly reduced current fire potential,” Tyler stated on social media.