A strong high-pressure system over the Great Basin created a steep northerly pressure gradient across Southern California. The system triggered powerful Santa Ana winds, extremely dry katabatic winds which develop when cooler, dense inland air is funneled through mountain passes and canyons toward the warmer coastal regions.[7]
At the same time, the Southern Coast had experienced "eight months without any measurable rainfall",[8] and much of the region had fallen into moderate drought conditions.[9] The Los Angeles Times quoted a battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) that the conditions were "the perfect recipe for a large wildfire".[8] The National Weather Service (NWS) issued red flag warnings on the morning of Monday, January 6, effective through Thursday evening, for multiple regions including the Malibu coast, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, and the San Gabriel, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita valleys.
The NWS predicted a "life-threatening" windstorm and Santa Ana wind gusts were forecasted to reach speeds of 60–80 miles per hour (97–129 km/h), with some peak gusts anticipated to reach 90 mph (140 km/h) in mountainous areas.[10] Residents were urged to "use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire" and for those near forests to be prepared to evacuate.[8]
Progression
Angeles National Forest firefighters during initial attack of the Eaton FireSmoke from the fire on January 8, with smoke from the Palisades Fire to the southwest
The fire began on January 7, 2025, at around 6:18 p.m. PST near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive.[1] By 6:26 p.m., firefighters on Canyon Close Road in Pasadena reported via radio that the fire had spread to 10 acres (4.0 ha) and was burning beneath high-tension power lines. By 6:33 p.m., firefighters there were reporting flying embers, which were setting structures on fire nearly one mile (1.6 km) distant.[11]
Three night-flying helicopters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) had received orders to head to the Eaton Fire at 6:23 p.m. and arrived at about 6:36 p.m., 18 minutes after the fire was reported. They intended to drop water on it but, buffeted by ferocious updrafts and downdrafts, aborted the operation at 6:45 p.m. One helicopter crew remained on the scene for 39 more minutes to advise ground crews on the spread of the fire.[12][13]
It rapidly expanded to over 1,000 acres (400 ha) by 12:07 a.m., fueled by a strong Santa Ana wind event,[14] with wind gusts of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) reported at the nearby Mount Lukens Truck Trail north of La Cañada Flintridge.[15] By 6:30 a.m. on January 8, the fire had grown to over 2,227 acres (901 ha), with 0% containment.[14] The fire continued to grow quickly, and by 10:36 a.m. was over 10,600 acres (4,300 ha) in area, remaining 0% contained.[16]
By 8:49 a.m. on January 12, authorities announced the fire was 27% contained.[17] As of 7:00 am the next day, 3,408 firefighting personnel had been assigned, along with 16 helicopters, 375 engines, 29 bulldozers, 50 crews, and 90 water tenders.[18]
The fire reached 55% containment on January 16 at 5:52 AM at 14,117 acres burned.[19] Two days later on January 18 at 6:26 AM, CalFire announced 73% containment.[20]
Cause
According to CAL FIRE, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.[1] Residents of a home abutting Eaton Canyon who were among the first people to report the fire to authorities told Pasadena Now that the fire began in proximity to electrical transmission towers above the canyon.[13] Residents affected by the fire later sued public utility Southern California Edison, alleging that eyewitnesses had observed faulty power lines and that the company failed to de-energize transmission lines despite a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service.[21][22]
As of January 17, 2025[update], the death toll from the Eaton Fire included 17 people with 24 people missing.[23]
Evacuations and closures
Law enforcement and the National Guard just south of Altadena, January 10
As of 4:00 a.m. PST on January 8, 52,314 residents and 20,890 structures had been placed under evacuation orders, with a further 46,847 residents and 18,051 structures placed under evacuation warnings. Numerous homes and cars in Altadena were destroyed; up to "90 to 95 percent" of Altadena residents had been evacuated as of 7 a.m.[14] On January 8, the estimated number of evacuees was increased to over 100,000.[24][14] By the afternoon of January 8, over 100 animals had been received at the Pasadena Humane animal shelter, many of which had received burn injuries.[25]
The fire and the resulting firefighting efforts contaminated the water supply of neighborhoods served by the Pasadena Water and Power Department and the Foothill Municipal Water District.[1][26][27]
By January 10, a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was implemented for the evacuated areas of Altadena and roadblocks into the area were put in place by the California National Guard.[36]
Response
Beginning on January 10,[37] thousands of volunteers and donators convened at the parking lot of Santa Anita Park to assist those displaced and impacted by the fire.[38]
Misinformation on social media regarding the fire spread was common. For instance, CalFire reported that misinformation circulating on Facebook falsely claiming individuals can come to California to join clean up crews.[39]
Structures destroyed
A false-color image showing areas burned by the Eaton Fire, captured by NASA's AVIRIS-3
The number of destroyed structures was reported as at least 7,500 as of January 16, including 4,356 single-family homes, 77 multi-family buildings and 123 commercial buildings.[40] The number of structures destroyed was updated to 9,418, with an additional 1,071 structures damaged, as of January 21.[41] The fire destroyed residential sections of Altadena which were settled by African-Americans who moved west in the 1920s and 1930s, during the Great Migration, and had created a working and middle-class neighborhood that had persisted for over a century.[42]
The Little Tujunga hotshot crew checks for hot spots
On January 13, 2025, four lawsuits were filed against Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging that the company had "violated public safety and utility codes and was negligent in its handling of power safety shut-offs" during the fire weather event, according to NPR.[2][54] On January 16, the family of an Eaton Fire victim sued SCE for wrongful death, also alleging negligence in SCE's failure to deactivate utilities.[55]
^Haskell, Josh; Hayes, Rob; Garcia, Sid; et al. (January 8, 2025). "Major brush fires burning in SoCal amid powerful windstorm". WABC-TV. Retrieved January 8, 2025. Five people have now died in the Eaton Fire, which continues to burn out of control near the Altadena and Pasadena areas.
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