By Ethan Cohen
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Friday, Jan. 24 at 5:23 p.m. to compile all the separate fire updates into one cohesive story.
Firefighters are still battling the wildfires across Southern California as the Hughes Fire, which recently erupted near Castaic Lake on Wednesday morning and has since burned over 10,000 acres.
The fast-moving blaze, fueled by relentless winds and low humidity, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate or prepare to flee at a moment’s notice.
Crews have made significant progress, bringing the fire containment to 56% as of Friday morning, despite facing extreme fire behavior and challenging weather conditions. Forecasters have offered some relief, with winds that reached 65 mph earlier in the week expected to ease.
Rain is also in the forecast, with precipitation expected to grow in the coming weeks bringing firefighters and residents some reprieve. While this could help end the fires that have been raging for weeks, the National Weather Service warned in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that recently burned areas may face heightened risks of flash flooding and debris flow due to heavy rainfall.
Unprecedented destruction in the Palisades and Eaton Fires
Since Jan. 7, wildfires across Southern California have killed 28 people, destroyed over 18,000 structures and burned more than 50,000 acres. The Palisades and Eaton fires, two of the region’s most devastating disasters, are now 75% and 95% contained, respectively.
A beachfront property and vehicle burning on Pacific Coast Highway on Jan. 8. The wildfire is now Los Angeles’ most destructive fire in modern history. Photo credit: Ethan Cohen
Iconic landmarks and densely populated neighborhoods have suffered significant damage. In Malibu, properties along Pacific Coast Highway have been reduced to smoldering ruins and empty skeletons, while smoky skies and swirling embers have blanketed much of the region.
Firefighters spray water onto a burning house on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Jan. 7. The Palisades fire grew to over 23,000 acres burning thousands of structures as firefighters grappled with fierce Santa Ana winds. Photo credit: Ethan Cohen
Other fires across Southern California
The Laguna Fire broke out Thursday morning in Ventura County, threatening the California State University Channel Islands campus. The blaze spread rapidly but was stopped at 90 acres. Evacuation orders were lifted, and classes resumed Friday after campuswide cancellations.
Meanwhile, in San Diego County, the Border 2 Fire near the Mexico border has grown to over 5,300 acres as of Friday afternoon. Another nearby fire broke out early Friday morning, prompting additional evacuations. Firefighters are working to contain these blazes while keeping a close eye on other areas at risk.
A unified effort amid challenges
The firefighting effort has drawn reinforcements from across North America, including crews from Long Beach. Firefighters and equipment from Canada and Mexico have joined the battle, providing water trucks and firefighting aircraft.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, freeing up resources to support the response and assist displaced residents. He recently signed legislation at a press conference in Pasadena on Thursday, Jan. 23, allocating $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
A Boeing CH-47 Chinook Helitanker flies over the active fires in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood on Jan. 11. Firefighters were actively fighting the spread of the fires creeping further into the canyon and saving homes. Photo credit: Ethan Cohen
During a visit to Southern California to assess the wildfire damage, recently inaugurated President Donald Trump toured affected areas and acknowledged the extent of the destruction. Speaking to reporters, Trump remarked on the harrowing scenes he witnessed.
“You don’t realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it,” Trump said during a Press conference on Friday, Jan. 24. “It is devastation, it’s incredible. It’s really an incineration.”
As firefighting efforts continue, officials urge residents to remain vigilant. The threat of new wildfires, and now mudslides due to rain, persists underscoring the ongoing challenges Southern California faces in this historically destructive wildfire season.
