On Jan. 7, 2025, a brush fire erupted in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood east of Malibu. Though the majority of the fire was contained by the following Monday morning, more than 6,000 structures were either damaged or destroyed.
Similarly, the Eaton Fire, which began in north of downtown Los Angeles, was mostly contained by Monday, Jan. 13. However, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has confirmed that more than 10,300 structures were likely damaged and destroyed, escalating the destruction of Los Angeles.
Though firefighters have been battling these extensive fires, several additional fires broke out around the Los Angeles area soon after these initial two. These new fires scorched close to 2, 399 acres.
The accumulation of the damage is an estimated loss of $70 billion, with $20 billion accounting for the insured losses and the rest contributing to the economic loss. While the cause of these fires is currently unknown, the drought-like conditions and considerable wind are major contributors to this widespread outbreak. The new and excessive use of artificial intelligence, which requires a significant amount of water to cool down its system, is also thought to have contributed to the severity of these wildfires.
While efforts to stop these fires from spreading have been relatively successful, the fires have had a horrific effect on this Californian community. According to Los Angeles County officials, 27 victims have died due to the fire outbreaks. And with over 200,000 Los Angeles residents forced to evacuate during the fires peak, the fires have caused mass devastation for this city and its residents.
