{{Short description|2025 wildfire in Los Angeles County, California, USA}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = Eaton Fire | partof = the [[January 2025 Southern California wildfires]] | image = Eaton Fire on 2025-1-8 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Aerial photo of the Eaton Fire on the slopes of [[Mount Wilson (California)|Mount Wilson]] on January 8 | date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|7|1}} – |{{End date|2025|1|31}}|({{duration in days|2025|1|7|2025|1|31}} days)}} | location = [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County, California]], [[United States|U.S.]] | coordinates = {{coord|34.205|-118.088|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} | reference = <ref name="CALFIRE">{{cite web|date=January 13, 2025|title=Eaton Fire|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire|website=[[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection]]|access-date=January 13, 2025|archive-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118080540/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire|url-status=live}}</ref> | ongoing = no | area = {{convert|14021|acre|ha|0}} | landuse = | fatalities = 19 | injuries = 8 | missing = 22 | evacuated = 100,000+ | structures = 9,418 (1,071 damaged) | cost = $27.5 billion (2025 USD) <ref>{{cite web |title=Q1 Global Catastrophe Recap |url=https://assets.aon.com/-/media/files/aon/reports/2025/q1-2025-global-catastrophe-recap.pdf |website=Aon Benfield |access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> | cause = faulty power lines of [[Southern California Edison]]<ref name="Lawsuits">{{cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Liz|last2=Meyers |first2=Zoe|date=January 13, 2025|title=Lawsuits allege power company involvement in LA wildfires|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/g-s1-42603/lawsuits-allege-power-company-involvement-in-la-wildfires |website=[[NPR]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250114050647/https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/g-s1-42603/lawsuits-allege-power-company-involvement-in-la-wildfires|archive-date=14 January 2025|location=[[Los Angeles]] & [[Washington, D.C.]]|url-status=live}}</ref> | perps = | motive = |pushpin_map=Los Angeles#USA California |pushpin_map_caption=Location of the fire in Greater Los Angeles##The location of the fire in southern California |pushpin_map_alt=Refer to caption | image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|frame-height=|from=January 2025 United States wildfires.map|frame-latitude=34.19|frame-longitude=-118.088|zoom=11|text=Interactive perimeter map of Eaton Fire ([[c:Data:January 2025 United States wildfires.map|map data]])}} }} The '''Eaton Fire''' was a highly destructive [[wildfire]] in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], in Southern California. The fire began on the evening of January&nbsp;7, 2025, in [[Eaton Canyon]] in the [[San Gabriel Mountains]], and a powerful [[Santa Ana winds|Santa Ana wind event]] drove the fire into foothill communities, particularly [[Altadena, California|Altadena]]. The fire killed at least 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, becoming the [[List of California wildfires#Deadliest wildfires|fifth deadliest]] and the [[List of California wildfires#Most destructive wildfires|second most destructive]] wildfire in [[California]] history. The fire was fully contained on January 31 after burning for 24 days. The [[U.S. Justice Department]] has determined the cause to be [[overhead power lines|high tension power lines]] operated by electrical utility [[Southern California Edison]], and sued for damages.

The Eaton Fire was one of eight major [[January 2025 Southern California wildfires|wildfires in Southern California in January 2025]], and burned simultaneously with the deadly and destructive [[Palisades Fire]] in the [[Santa Monica Mountains]].

== Background == {{See also|January 2025 Southern California wildfires#Background}}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 wind]]s that develop when cooler, dense inland air is funneled through mountain passes and canyons toward the warmer coastal regions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=January 8, 2025|title=What are the Santa Ana winds and how are they impacting the LA wildfires?|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252535/palisades-fire-california-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108232441/https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252535/palisades-fire-california-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds|archive-date=January 8, 2025|access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

At the same time, the Southern Coast had experienced "eight months without any measurable rainfall,"<ref name="TooheyJan6">{{Cite web |last=Toohey|first=Grace|date=January 6, 2025|title=Unusual 'life-threatening and destructive' winds bring risk of winter fires, power outages to Southern California |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-06/la-me-fire-january-weather-so-cal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106231241/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-06/la-me-fire-january-weather-so-cal |archive-date=January 6, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> and much of the region had fallen into moderate drought conditions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Toohey|first=Grace |date=January 4, 2025|title=With negligible rain in 8 months, Southern California swings toward drought |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-04/southern-california-officially-enters-drought-as-forecast-remains-bone-dry |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109034748/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-04/southern-california-officially-enters-drought-as-forecast-remains-bone-dry|archive-date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> 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".<ref name="TooheyJan6" /> The [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) issued [[red flag warning]]s on the morning of Monday, January&nbsp;6, effective through the following Thursday evening, for multiple regions including the Malibu coast, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, and the San Gabriel, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita valleys.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 6, 2025 |title=National Weather Service Raw Text Product |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=RFWLOX&e=202501072237 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113041452/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=RFWLOX&e=202501072237 |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=National Weather Service |publisher=}}</ref>

The NWS predicted a "life-threatening" windstorm, and Santa Ana wind gusts were forecasted to reach speeds of {{convert|60|–|80|mph}}, with some peak gusts anticipated to reach {{Convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in mountainous areas.<ref name="LloydJan6">{{Cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Jonathan|date=January 6, 2025 |title=Powerful winds in Southern California forecast. See when and where red flag warnings will be in effect |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/weather-news/la-weather-wind-red-flag-warning/3595577/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[NBC Los Angeles]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Residents were urged to "use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire" and for those near forests to be prepared to evacuate.<ref name="TooheyJan6" />

== Progression == [[File:Eaton Fire.jpg|thumb|The Eaton Fire as it encroached upon Pasadena's northern limits at the [[Neighborhoods in Pasadena, California#East Washington Village|East Washington Village]] area about six and half hours after the fire started]] [[File:Angeles National Forest firefighters during initial attack of the Eaton Firepng.png|left|thumb|[[Angeles National Forest]] firefighters during initial attack of the Eaton Fire]] [[File:Eaton Fire 2025-01-08.jpg|left|thumb|Smoke from the fire on January 8, with smoke from the [[Palisades Fire (2025)|Palisades Fire]] to the southwest]] The fire began on January&nbsp;7, 2025, at around 6:18&nbsp;p.m. [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]] on the eastern hillside above Eaton Canyon Wash, across the wash from the intersection of Altadena Drive and Canyon Close Drive.<ref name="CALFIRE" /> By 6:26&nbsp;p.m., firefighters on Canyon Close Road in Pasadena reported via radio that the fire had spread to {{cvt|10|acres}} and was burning beneath [[high-tension]] power lines. By 6:33&nbsp;p.m., firefighters there were reporting flying embers, which were setting structures on fire nearly {{Convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} distant.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ormseth|first1=Matthew|last2=Hernandez|first2=Salvador|last3=Castleman|first3=Terry|date=January 17, 2025|title=How did a cluster of homes near the Eaton fire's ignition point emerge unscathed?|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-17/eaton-fire-ignition-point-homes|access-date=January 17, 2025|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=January 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117184159/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-17/eaton-fire-ignition-point-homes|url-status=live}}</ref>

Three night-flying helicopters with the [[Los Angeles County Fire Department]] (LACoFD) had received orders to head to the Eaton Fire at 6:23&nbsp;p.m. and arrived at about 6:36&nbsp;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&nbsp;p.m. One helicopter crew remained on the scene for 39 more minutes to advise ground crews on the spread of the fire.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fuller|first=Thomas|date=January 17, 2025|title=The Terrifying Ride of Copter 17|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/wildfires-copter-17.html|access-date=January 17, 2025|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=January 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117111200/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/wildfires-copter-17.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MacPhersonJan9">{{Cite news|last=MacPherson|first=James |date=January 9, 2025|title=The Moment the Eaton Fire Ignited |url=https://pasadenanow.com/main/the-moment-the-eaton-fire-ignited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110035655/https://pasadenanow.com/main/the-moment-the-eaton-fire-ignited|archive-date=January 10, 2025|access-date=January 11, 2025|work=[[Pasadena Now]]}}</ref>

It rapidly expanded to over {{cvt|1000|acres}} by 12:07&nbsp;a.m., fueled by a strong Santa Ana wind event, with winds blowing northeast to southwest<ref name="ktla0108">{{cite news|last=Conybeare|first=Will|date=January 8, 2025|title=Fast-moving Eaton Fire destroys homes near Altadena|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/fast-moving-easton-fire-destroys-homes-near-altadena/|access-date=January 8, 2025|website=[[KTLA]]|archive-date=January 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108164947/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/fast-moving-easton-fire-destroys-homes-near-altadena/|url-status=live}}</ref> with wind gusts of up to {{cvt|100|mph}} reported at the nearby [[Mount Lukens]] Truck Trail north of [[La Cañada Flintridge, California|La Cañada Flintridge]].<ref name="yn_20250108_la-nws-winds">{{cite news|last=Mather|first=Katie|date=January 8, 2025|title=National Weather Service reports wind gusts up to 100 mph in Los Angeles|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/los-angeles-wildfires-live-updates-palisades-eaton-and-hurst-blazes-force-tens-of-thousands-to-evacuate-201256696.html|access-date=January 8, 2025|work=[[Yahoo News]]|archive-date=January 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108135916/https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/los-angeles-wildfires-live-updates-palisades-eaton-and-hurst-blazes-force-tens-of-thousands-to-evacuate-201256696.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 6:30&nbsp;a.m. on January 8, the fire had grown to over {{cvt|2227|acres}}, with 0% containment.<ref name="ktla0108" /> The fire continued to grow quickly, and by 10:36&nbsp;a.m. was over {{cvt|10600|acres}} in area, remaining 0% contained.<ref name="cagov_20250107_incidents-eaton-30af">{{cite web|date=January 8, 2025|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/08/2025 at 10:36 AM |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/d69e44cf-6277-4f72-b77a-2f9e619a30af|website=[[Cal Fire]]|publisher=[[State of California]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109062925/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/d69e44cf-6277-4f72-b77a-2f9e619a30af|archive-date=January 9, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> In the afternoon on January 9, the fire began to approach [[Mount Wilson (California)|Mount Wilson]] with still 0% containment until the following day.

By 8:49&nbsp;a.m. on January&nbsp;12, authorities announced the fire was 27% contained.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 12, 2025|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/12/2025 at 8:49 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/896ebe2c-9ee1-479c-be8b-441a9394f700|access-date=2025-01-13|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|archive-date=January 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113052147/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/896ebe2c-9ee1-479c-be8b-441a9394f700|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 12, 2025|title=News of Eaton Fire from CAL FIRE: 1,527 personnel assigned |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[CAL FIRE]]}}</ref>

The fire reached 55% containment on January 16 at 5:52&nbsp;a.m. with about 14,117 acres burned.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/16/2025 at 5:52 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/29ffb2ae-ac69-48c1-baf9-a3d1df31e4d7|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|archive-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118103418/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/29ffb2ae-ac69-48c1-baf9-a3d1df31e4d7|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later on January 18 at 6:26&nbsp;a.m., Cal Fire announced 73% containment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/18/2025 at 6:26 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/97508490-180a-4a83-9b00-1a098077723f|access-date=January 23, 2025|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|archive-date=February 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213052222/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/97508490-180a-4a83-9b00-1a098077723f|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire was finally fully contained after 24 days, on January 31.<ref name="nbcnews20250201">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Deadly Eaton and Palisades fires 100% contained after 24 days |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/palisades-eaton-fire-la-contained-rcna188338?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216185621/https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/palisades-eaton-fire-la-contained-rcna188338?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Cause == Cal Fire began an investigation into the cause of the fire before it was out,<ref name="CALFIRE" /> which {{asof|2025|September|lc=y}}, was still underway.<ref name=":4"/> 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.<ref name="MacPhersonJan9" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Penn|first=Ivan|date=January 13, 2025|title=Eaton Fire Victims Sue Southern California Edison |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/us/southern-california-edison-la-fires-lawsuit.html|access-date=2025-01-19|work=[[New York Times]]|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2025|title=Press Release: Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian Files a Complaint Against Southern California Edison Regarding the Eaton Fire|url=https://www.bridgfordlaw.com/firm-news/press-release-bridgford-gleason-artinian-files-a-complaint-against-southern-california-edison-regarding-the-eaton-fire/|access-date=2025-01-21|website=Bridgford Law|language=en-US}}</ref> This alleged cause is based on [[photogrammetry]] analysis of multiple [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] and witness videos by Sunridge law group's "LA fire justice", led by [[Mikal Watts]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0_YYJjzX2A |title=3D Digital Video Analysis Proves Edison Started the Eaton Fire |date=2025-02-03 |last=LA Fire Justice |access-date=2025-02-06 |via=YouTube |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208024230/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0_YYJjzX2A |url-status=live }}</ref> It has been reported that the power lines suspected to have caused the fire were overdue for repair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Edison power lines, suspected of sparking Eaton Fire, were overdue for repair: Report |url=https://abc7.com/post/southern-california-edison-power-lines-suspected-sparking-eaton-fire-were-overdue-repair-report/16051231/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2025, the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] sued Southern California Edison for costs of containment and land restoration, claiming that the public utility company was at fault for the fire.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|title=Feds say Southern California Edison started Eaton fire, sue for damages|url=https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2025/09/edison-caused-eaton-fire-feds-say/|work=CalMatters|date=2025-09-05|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en-US|first=Malena|last=Carollo}}</ref>

== Impact == === Casualties === [[File:Eaton Fire from Woodland Hills.jpg|thumb|The Eaton Fire from [[Woodland Hills, Los Angeles|Woodland Hills]] in Los Angeles]] {{As of|2025|7|22|df=US}}, the death toll from the Eaton Fire included 19 people<ref name=19th>{{cite news| title = Remains found in Eaton fire's path — death toll climbs to 19| url = https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/07/22/remains-found-in-eaton-fires-path-death-toll-climbs-to-19/| newspaper = Pasadena Star-News| date = July 22, 2025| access-date = July 23, 2025}}</ref> with 22 people missing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2025|title=Crews Forge Ahead With Complex Eaton Fire Recovery Operation; Death Roll Rises to 18 |url=https://pasadenanow.com/main/crews-forge-ahead-with-complex-eaton-fire-recovery-operation-death-roll-rises-to-17|access-date=January 17, 2025|work=[[Pasadena Now]]}}</ref> All but 1 of the 19 victims confirmed dead lived west of Lake Avenue, the predominately black neighborhood in [[Altadena]] that received emergency evacuation orders hours after those in east Altadena.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Beckett |first=Lois |date=2025-02-16 |title=The LA fires burned down a thriving Black community. Residents are afraid of being 'erased' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/16/california-fires-black-community-recovery |access-date=2025-02-21 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Evacuations and closures === [[File:Nat guard chp jan 9 2025.jpg|thumb|[[California Highway Patrol]] and the National Guard just south of Altadena, January&nbsp;10]]As of 4&nbsp;a.m. PST on January&nbsp;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&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="ktla0108" /> One report shows west Altadena received emergency evacuation orders at 3 AM, hours after residents in East Altadena did.<ref name=":3" /> On January&nbsp;8, the estimated number of evacuees increased to over 100,000.<ref name="ABC7Fires1">{{Cite news|last1=Haskell|first1=Josh|last2=Hayes |first2=Rob|last3=Garcia|first3=Sid|last4=Fisher|first4=Michelle|last5=Kazori|first5=Niku|last6=Rand|first6=Jory|last7=Suter|first7=Leanne |display-authors=3|date=January 8, 2025|title=Major brush fires burning in SoCal amid powerful windstorm|url=https://abc7.com/live-updates/socal-braces-possibly-destructive-windstorm-amid-dangerous-fire-weather/15771235/entry/15779338|access-date=January 8, 2025 |work=[[WABC-TV]]|quote=Five people have now died in the Eaton Fire, which continues to burn out of control near the Altadena and Pasadena areas.}}</ref><ref name="ktla0108" /> By the afternoon of January&nbsp;8, over 100 animals had been received at the Pasadena Humane [[animal shelter]], many of which had received burn injuries.<ref name="ktla_20250108_pasadena-animals">{{cite news|last=Chow|first=Vivian|date=January 8, 2025|title=Help needed as injured animals arrive at Pasadena Humane Society due to wildfire|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/help-needed-as-injured-animals-arrive-at-pasadena-humane-society-due-to-wildfire/|access-date=January 8, 2025|website=[[KTLA]]|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110001917/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/help-needed-as-injured-animals-arrive-at-pasadena-humane-society-due-to-wildfire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref name="CALFIRE" /><ref>{{cite web|date=January 13, 2025|title=UPDATED 1/13: Pasadena Drinking Water System Impacted by Eaton Fire|url=https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/pasadena-drinking-water-system-impacted-by-eaton-fire/|website=Pasadena Water and Power|publisher=[[City of Pasadena]]|access-date=17 January 2025|archive-date=January 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116204633/https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/pasadena-drinking-water-system-impacted-by-eaton-fire/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Foothill Municipal Water District - Home|url=https://www.fmwd.com/home|website=[[Metropolitan Water District of Southern California]]|access-date=17 January 2025|language=en|archive-date=January 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116204633/https://www.fmwd.com/home|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Pasadena Unified School District]], the [[Los Angeles Unified School District]], and 23 other surrounding school districts announced the closure of all schools in those districts for Wednesday, January&nbsp;8 in response to the fire.<ref name="pasadenanow_20250108_school-closure">{{cite news|title=Pasadena Unified School District Schools Will Be Closed Wednesday |url=https://pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-unified-school-district-schools-will-be-closed-wednesday|access-date=January 8, 2025|work=[[Pasadena Now]]|date=January 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109141021/https://pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-unified-school-district-schools-will-be-closed-wednesday|archive-date=January 9, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Closures for January&nbsp;8 were also announced by [[Pasadena City College]], [[Fuller Theological Seminary]], and the [[California Institute of Technology]].<ref name="coloradoblvd_20250108_eaton-fire">{{cite news|date=January 7, 2025|title=Eaton Fire/Wind Storm: Live Updates|url=https://www.coloradoboulevard.net/eaton-fire-wind-storm-live-updates/|access-date=January 8, 2025|website=[[Colorado Boulevard]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109141233/https://www.coloradoboulevard.net/eaton-fire-live-updates/|archive-date=January 9, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fullerseminary_20250107_pasadena-closure">{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Elijah|date=January 7, 2025 |title=Pasadena Campus Closed Tuesday, January 7 and Wednesday, January 8|url=https://www.fuller.edu/posts/pasadena-campus-closed-tuesday-january-7-and-wednesday-january-8/|website=[[Fuller Theological Seminary]]|access-date=January 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109141136/https://www.fuller.edu/posts/pasadena-campus-closed-tuesday-january-7-and-wednesday-january-8/|archive-date=January 9, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="twitter_20250108_caltech-closure">{{cite tweet|author=Caltech |user=Caltech|author-link=California Institute of Technology |date=January 8, 2025|number=1876863250253627495|title=Due to the Eaton Fire in Altadena and strong winds in the area, Caltech's campus in Pasadena will be closed for all nonessential operations on Wednesday, January 8. For more information, visit Caltech's Emergency Updates page. https://caltech.edu/emergency}}</ref> Many of these closures were extended to Thursday, January&nbsp;9, and Friday, January&nbsp;10.<ref name="pasadenastarnews_20250107_school-closures">{{cite news|date=January 8, 2025|title=LA Unified to close campuses Thursday amid fires |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/07/school-districts-across-the-san-gabriel-valley-closed-due-to-fires/|access-date=January 8, 2025|work=[[Pasadena Star-News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109141237/https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/07/school-districts-across-the-san-gabriel-valley-closed-due-to-fires/|archive-date=January 9, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:20250113-dc-10-air-tanker-eaton-fire-0.jpg|thumb|A [[DC-10 Air Tanker]] drops [[fire retardant]], January&nbsp;13]]Flames on [[Mount Wilson (California)|Mount Wilson]] may have affected local broadcast signals; [[Mount Wilson Observatory]] had to be evacuated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=January 9, 2025|title=Fire Threatens Mt. Wilson Broadcast Transmitters as L.A. TV and Radio Stations on Alert; Observatory Evacuated|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/mt-wilson-broadcast-antennas-fire-tv-radio-stations-observatory-1236271080/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110040032/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/mt-wilson-broadcast-antennas-fire-tv-radio-stations-observatory-1236271080/|url-status=live}}</ref> Local broadcasters [[KLOS]]-FM, [[KABC-TV]], and [[KOCE-TV|PBS SoCal]] temporarily lost over-the-air signals on January&nbsp;9.<ref>{{Cite web|last=James|first=Meg|date=January 10, 2025|title=Disney's KABC and PBS SoCal stations lose over-the-air signal from Mt. Wilson amid Eaton fire|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-01-10/disneys-kabc-station-klos-lose-over-the-air-transmissions|access-date=January 10, 2025|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110182325/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-01-10/disneys-kabc-station-klos-lose-over-the-air-transmissions|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] was evacuated and operations for the [[NASA Deep Space Network]] were moved to an offsite back-up command center.<ref>{{cite web |title=JPL - Emergency Page|url=https://emergency.jpl.nasa.gov/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109074134/https://emergency.jpl.nasa.gov/|archive-date=January 9, 2025|access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=[[JPL]]}}</ref>

By January&nbsp;10, a 6:00&nbsp;p.m. to 6:00&nbsp;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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stoddard|first=Catherine|date=January 10, 2025 |title=Los Angeles wildfires: National Guard assists with firefighting, public safety efforts |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/los-angeles-wildfires-national-guard-assists-firefighting-public-safety-efforts|access-date=January 11, 2025|website=[[KTTV]]}}</ref>

=== Response === Beginning on January&nbsp;10,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gantz|first=Tracy |date=January 11, 2025|title=Thousands Pour Into Santa Anita Donation Site|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/282076/thousands-pour-into-santa-anita-donation-site |access-date=January 12, 2025|website=[[The Blood-Horse]]}}</ref> thousands of volunteers and donators convened at the parking lot of [[Santa Anita Park]] to assist those displaced and impacted by the fire.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rivera|first=Anissa|date=January 11, 2025|title=Amid Eaton fire devastation, Santa Anita Park transforms into an aid center for victims|url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/11/amid-eaton-fire-devastation-santa-anita-park-transforms-into-an-aid-center-for-victims/|access-date=January 12, 2025|website=[[Pasadena Star News]]|archive-date=January 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112003635/https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/11/amid-eaton-fire-devastation-santa-anita-park-transforms-into-an-aid-center-for-victims/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Misinformation on social media regarding the fire spread was common. For instance, CalFire reported that misinformation circulating on Facebook falsely claiming individuals could come to California to join clean up crews.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/16/2025 at 6:28 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/6369c915-6346-47f7-ac0b-b72d55350a69|access-date=2025-01-23|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|archive-date=January 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121121512/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/6369c915-6346-47f7-ac0b-b72d55350a69|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Structures destroyed == [[File:Altadenaeaton aviris 20250111 lrg.jpg|thumb|A false-color image showing areas burned by the Eaton Fire, captured by NASA's [[Airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer|AVIRIS]]-3]] [[File:Burntsign2.jpg|thumb|Destroyed exterior buildings at the abandoned St. Luke's Medical Center following the fires]]

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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fortin|first=Jacey|date=17 January 2025|title=Update from Jacey Fortin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/16/us/la-wildfires-california/733d2c34-2dd8-5270-a87b-03a385879253?smid=url-share|access-date=17 January 2025|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=January 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119075338/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/16/us/la-wildfires-california/733d2c34-2dd8-5270-a87b-03a385879253?smid=url-share|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of structures destroyed was updated to 9,418, with an additional 1,071 structures damaged, as of January&nbsp;21.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/21/2025 at 12:15 PM {{!}} CAL FIRE|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/7b2f782e-cc38-4cce-94a0-9409e3ba904b|website=[[CAL FIRE]]|access-date=22 January 2025|archive-date=February 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212095630/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/7b2f782e-cc38-4cce-94a0-9409e3ba904b|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire destroyed residential sections of [[Altadena, California|Altadena]] which were settled by African-Americans who moved west in the 1920s and 1930s, during the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]], and had created a working and middle-class neighborhood that had persisted for over a century.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Callahan|first=Yesha|date=January 9, 2024|title=Eaton Fire Devastates Historic Altadena, Displacing Black Families and Destroying Legacies|url=https://www.bet.com/article/7a2tc6/eaton-fire-devastates-altadena-leaving-black-families-among-the-forgotten-victims|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[BET]]|archive-date=January 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109210643/https://www.bet.com/article/7a2tc6/eaton-fire-devastates-altadena-leaving-black-families-among-the-forgotten-victims|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire destroyed nearly half of all Black households in Altadena.<ref name=":3" />[[File:Destroyed home and vehicle caused by the Eaton Fire, 2025.jpg|thumb|A destroyed home and vehicle in northern Altadena]] [[File:Altadena Community Church front view february, 2025 photograph.jpg|thumb|The ruins of Altadena Community Church]]

=== Popular structures and landmarks destroyed === Among the historic or culturally significant structures destroyed are:

* Altadena Community Garden<ref>Namkung, Victoria (24 February 2025). "LA’s urban farmers pledge to rebuild and replant ‘even more than ever before’ after devastating wildfires". ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 5 August 2025. [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2025/feb/24/california-wildfires-altadena-farmers] </ref><ref name="CivilEats2025">{{Cite web |last=Tseng |first=Esther |date=2025-01-22 |title=In LA’s Altadena Neighborhood, Community Food Solutions Feed Wildfire Recovery |url=https://civileats.com/2025/01/22/in-los-angeless-altadena-neighborhood-community-food-solutions-feed-wildfire-recovery/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Civil Eats |language=en}} </ref> * Altadena Community Church<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|author=laconservancy|date=January 10, 2025|title=A partial list of historic places destroyed|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqP_ZOgy2q/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==|access-date=January 10, 2025|website=[[Instagram]]|archive-date=January 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111192934/https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqP_ZOgy2q/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="latimes_20250108_altadena">{{Cite web|last1=Rainey|first1=James |last2=Solis|first2=Nathan|last3=Ormseth|first3=Matthew|last4=Mejia |first4=Brittny|last5=Gomez|first5=Melissa|date=January 8, 2025 |title=With firefighters stretched thin, Altadena residents battle to save homes from flames |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/night-of-terror-in-altadena|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109125307/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/night-of-terror-in-altadena|archive-date=January 9, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=January 10, 2025 |title=California's wildfires: Congregations vow to help neighbours even as their buildings are lost to fires |url=https://sightmagazine.com.au/features/californias-wildfires-congregations-vow-to-help-neighbours-even-as-their-buildings-are-lost-to-fires/ |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=Sight Magazine }}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Lubell|first=Sam|date=January 15, 2025|title=The Design Legacy of Los Angeles That Fell to the Fires|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/arts/design/fires-architecture-burned-neutra-ain.html|access-date=2025-01-15|work=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116000717/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/arts/design/fires-architecture-burned-neutra-ain.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * Altadena Golf Course Clubhouse<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=January 8, 2025|title=Media Release: Statement: Fire and Windstorm Impacts to LA County Parks|url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CALACOUNTY/bulletins/3cb770c?reqfrom=share|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[County of Los Angeles, California]]|archive-date=January 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111055439/https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CALACOUNTY/bulletins/3cb770c?reqfrom=share|url-status=live}}</ref> * Altadena Hardware, an 80-year-old store<ref name="Partlow2021">{{Cite news|last=Partlow|first=Joshua|date=January 10, 2021|title='No one has a home': What fire took from one California neighborhood|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/10/eaton-fire-altadena-los-angeles-destruction/|access-date=January 10, 2021|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-date=January 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120100551/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/10/eaton-fire-altadena-los-angeles-destruction/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> * [[Altadena Town & Country Club]] * [[Andrew McNally House]]<ref name="Partlow2021" /><ref name=":0" /> * Aveson School of Leaders Charter School<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Altadena community mourns loss of mindful charter school |url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/aveson-school |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=KCRW |language=en}}</ref> (previously Noyes Elementary) * [[The Bunny Museum|Bunny Museum]]<ref name="Partlow2021" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="latimes_20250108_altadena" /> * [[List of nature centers in California|Eaton Canyon Nature Center]], Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last1=Mumphrey|first1=Cheyanne|last2=Lurye|first2=Sharon|date=January 12, 2025|title=Fires burn Los Angeles schools and destroy outdoor education sanctuaries|url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-eaton-canyon-school-closures-ea9da53b96b13bd566e1cab1ba12bc1a?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0xFha9O_UUWIbBoAitsKX-224DjsjzxekbQuOSt0US9ooeU1_aCLSoWOU_aem_MOx6vkUH0ka3HEJLz7Htxw#tqb8nagu23rq48kpf6pqhe2icaxf0mzes|access-date=2025-01-12|website=[[AP News]]|language=en|archive-date=January 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119074846/https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-eaton-canyon-school-closures-ea9da53b96b13bd566e1cab1ba12bc1a?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0xFha9O_UUWIbBoAitsKX-224DjsjzxekbQuOSt0US9ooeU1_aCLSoWOU_aem_MOx6vkUH0ka3HEJLz7Htxw#tqb8nagu23rq48kpf6pqhe2icaxf0mzes|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park|Farnsworth Park]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" /> * Fox's Restaurant<ref name="Partlow2021" /><ref name=":0" /> * Holmes House<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunter|first=Jeremy|date=January 24, 2025|title=After the Altadena Fire: An Ode to Our House |url=https://archinect.com/features/article/150462082/after-the-altadena-fire-an-ode-to-our-house|access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=Archinect}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Craig|date=February 23, 2022|title=Holmes House: County of Los Angeles Historic Landmark No. 8|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=192512|work=[[Historical Marker Database]]|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208234828/https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=192512|url-status=live}}</ref> * Jane's Cottage/[[Jane's Village]]<ref name=":0" /> * Little Red Hen Coffee Shop<ref name=":0" /> * Masjid Al-Taqwa Mosque<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> * [[Friends of Nature|Nature Friends]] Clubhouse in [[Sierra Madre, California|Sierra Madre]]<ref name=":7" /> * Odyssey Charter School - South<ref name=":5" /> * Oh Happy Day Vegan Cafe<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wynne |first=Alice |date=2022-11-15 |title=The Endearing Hippie Vegan Paradise Tucked Into the Foothills of Altadena |url=https://la.eater.com/2022/11/15/23460470/oh-happy-days-altadena-cafe-natural-grocery-store-restaurant |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Eater LA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Vanessa |date=2025-01-16 |title=O Happy Days, the beloved Altadena grocery store, was lost to the fires |url=https://www.latimes.com/00000194-70dc-dbaa-a9be-7edce7e70000-123 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en}}</ref> * Park Planned Homes, a 1940s development by [[Gregory Ain]] that was one of the first Modernist housing developments in the United States<ref name=":7" /> * Pasadena Church of Christ<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cockrell|first=Calvin|date=January 8, 2025|title=California church burns in wildfire outbreak|url=https://christianchronicle.org/california-church-burns-in-wildfire-outbreak/|access-date=January 10, 2025|website=[[The Christian Chronicle]]|archive-date=January 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109192248/https://christianchronicle.org/california-church-burns-in-wildfire-outbreak/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> * [[Pasadena Waldorf School]], including [[Scripps Hall (California)|Scripps Hall]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /> * [[Pauline Lowe Residence]], a Modernist house by [[Harwell Hamilton Harris]]<ref name=":7" /> * [[Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School]]<ref name=":0" /> * Saint Mark's School<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Saint Mark's School in Altadena destroyed in fire |url=https://www.foxla.com/video/1576603 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=FOX 11 Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-23 |title=Welcome Home - Saint Mark's School |url=https://saint-marks.org/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Mark's School in Altadena destroyed in Eaton Fire |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/education/2025/01/16/saint-mark-s-school-burned-down- |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=spectrumnews1.com |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121170317/https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/education/2025/01/16/saint-mark-s-school-burned-down- |url-status=live }}</ref> (except for preschool<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title='There's a little bit of hope here:' 3 men help save part of Saint Mark's school during Eaton Fire |url=https://abc7.com/post/california-wildfires-3-men-share-moment-banded-together-save-part-saint-marks-school-altadena-during-eaton-fire/15819305/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213093446/https://abc7.com/post/california-wildfires-3-men-share-moment-banded-together-save-part-saint-marks-school-altadena-during-eaton-fire/15819305/ |url-status=live }}</ref>) * [[St. Luke Medical Center]] (external buildings only) * St. Mark's Episcopal Church<ref name=":2" /><ref name="episcopalns_20250108_church-destruction">{{Cite web |last=Paulsen|first=David|date=January 8, 2025|title=Episcopal church, 2 rectories destroyed by deadly fast-moving wildfires raging in Southern California |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/08/fast-moving-wildfires-threaten-communities-force-evacuations-in-southern-california/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109141603/https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/08/fast-moving-wildfires-threaten-communities-force-evacuations-in-southern-california/|archive-date=January 9, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=[[Episcopal News Service]]}}</ref> * Straub House, residence of architect [[Calvin C. Straub|Calvin Straub]]<ref name=":7" /> * [[Theosophical Society Pasadena|Theosophical Library Center]]<ref name=":0" /> * The Terraces at Park Marino Senior Living Complex<ref name="Partlow2021" /><ref name=":0" /> * William D. Davies Memorial Building at Charles S. Farnsworth Park<ref name=":7" /> * [[Zane Grey Estate]]<ref name=":0" /> * [[Zorthian Ranch]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last1=Shalby|first1=Colleen|last2=Gomez|first2=Melissa|last3=Mejia|first3=Brittny|date=January 11, 2025|title=Altadena had soul, solitude and community. Can those qualities survive devastating firestorm?|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/eaton-fire-destroys-much-of-old-altadena-an-eclectic-foothill-enclave|access-date=2025-01-12|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|archive-date=January 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112235523/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/eaton-fire-destroys-much-of-old-altadena-an-eclectic-foothill-enclave|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rivera|first=Anissa|date=January 10, 2025 |title=At Altadena's fabled Zorthian Ranch, disbelief at the devastation|url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/09/at-altadenas-fabled-zorthian-ranch-disbelief-at-the-devastation/|access-date=2025-01-12|website=[[Pasadena Star News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:20250212-eaton-fire-burn-scar-chaparral-altadena.jpg|thumb|Burned chaparral on the outskirts of Altadena on February 11, approximately one month after the fire]]

=== Cleanup === LA County Public Works Department, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]], and the Army Corps of Engineers are responsible for the debris clean up effort. Altadena Green is a group of locals trying to preserve as many trees as possible in the affected area, as Phase 2 of the debris cleanup may threaten to taken down trees that could otherwise be saved.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=After the Eaton Fire, this group is working to save Altadena's surviving trees |url=https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/eaton-fire-altadena-green-trees |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=LAist |language=en}}</ref>

== Aftermath == [[File:Altadena Not for Sale sign post-Eaton Fire.jpg|thumb|246x246px|[[Altadena Not for Sale]] community group's yard sign at burnt out property]] As the community of Altadena recovered from the Eaton Fire, rebuild and relief efforts began. Community centered groups like [[Altadena Not for Sale]] and Altagether, as well as the Altadena Collective<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michelson |first=Melissa |date=2025-04-13 |title=Not a Cookie-Cutter Comeback: Meet the Altadena Collective for Reconstruction! ‹ ColoradoBoulevard.net |url=https://www.coloradoboulevard.net/not-a-cookie-cutter-comeback-meet-the-altadena-collective-for-reconstruction/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.coloradoboulevard.net |language=en-US}}</ref> and other coalitions formed in an effort to keep outside land speculators at bay and support Altadenans to restore their community. [[Community land trust|Community Land Trust]] efforts also got underway.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-30 |title=As developers swoop in post LA fires, one nonprofit offers an alternative to Altadena sellers |url=https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/eaton-fire-palisades-altadena-developer-home-lot-sale-greenline-nonprofit |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=LAist |language=en}}</ref>

== Litigation == On January&nbsp;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]]''.<ref name="Lawsuits" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Noah|last2=Hernandez|first2=Salvador|date=January 13, 2025|title=Four lawsuits filed against Southern California Edison over Eaton fire|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-13/lawsuits-filed-against-southern-california-edison-over-eaton-fire|access-date=January 16, 2025|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=January 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116124515/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-13/lawsuits-filed-against-southern-california-edison-over-eaton-fire|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Harter|first=Clara|date=January 16, 2024|title=Family of Eaton fire victim sues Southern California Edison for wrongful death|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-16/family-of-eaton-fire-victim-sues-southern-california-edison-for-wrongful-death|access-date=January 16, 2024|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=January 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116113420/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-16/family-of-eaton-fire-victim-sues-southern-california-edison-for-wrongful-death|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 17, Nadrich Law Corporation filed a lawsuit against SCE on behalf of four households whose residences were destroyed in the Eaton Fire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eaton Fire Lawyer |url=https://personalinjurylawcal.com/eaton-wildfire-lawyer |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers |language=en}}</ref> On March 5, Los Angeles County, Pasadena and the City of Sierra Madre filed a lawsuit against SCE, seeking compensation for losses caused by the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=LA County, Pasadena sue SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire damages |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/la-county-pasadena-sue-socal-edison-eaton-fire |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=FOX 11 |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2025, the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] sued Southern California Edison, claiming that the public utility company was at fault for the fire.<ref name=":4" />

In July 2025, Southern California Edison announced the establishment of a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program to provide voluntary, expedited payments to individuals and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire in exchange for limiting or waiving their right to sue the utility.<ref>[https://newsroom.edison.com/releases/southern-california-edison-announces-wildfire-recovery-compensation-program-for-eaton-fire-launching-this-fall Southern California Edison announces Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program for Eaton Fire launching this fall]</ref> The program covers claims related to property destruction, smoke and ash damage, business interruption, personal injury, and wrongful death, and explicitly states that participation does not constitute an admission of liability by the company.<ref>[https://abc7.com/post/southern-california-edison-launching-compensation-program-eaton-fire-victims/17265181/Southern California Edison launching compensation program for Eaton Fire victims]</ref> Edison described the initiative as a way to help victims rebuild more quickly and avoid lengthy litigation. However, critics, including residents and attorneys representing fire survivors, have argued that the proposed payouts may undervalue actual damages and pressure participants to accept reduced settlements in lieu of pursuing full legal claims.<ref>[https://www.foxla.com/news/socal-edison-launching-compensation-eaton-fire-victims-residents-skeptical SoCal Edison launching compensation for Eaton Fire victims; residents skeptical]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carollo |first=Malena |date=2025-10-09 |title=Edison’s Eaton Fire compensation plan isn’t enough, residents say |url=https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/10/eaton-fire-compensation-plan-criticized-in-altadena/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}}</ref>

Community groups and attorneys representing Eaton Fire survivors criticized the proposed compensation framework, arguing that it excluded many affected households from eligibility and undervalued losses relative to insurance shortfalls and market rates.<ref>[https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/10/eaton-fire-compensation-plan-criticized-in-altadena/ Eaton Fire compensation plan criticized in Altadena – CalMatters]</ref> Some residents and advocacy organizations proposed a countermeasure known as the “Fix What You Broke” amendment, which called for expanded eligibility maps, higher base payouts, and non-economic damages for trauma and displacement.<ref>[https://www.foxla.com/news/eaton-fire-survivors-respond-edisons-draft-compensation-plan Eaton Fire survivors respond to Edison’s draft compensation plan]</ref> Under the amendment, adult residents affected by smoke and soot would receive $20,000 each, children $5,000, and families of deceased victims up to $1.5 million per individual, with additional benefits for surviving spouses.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/eaton-fire-survivors-unsatisfied-with-socal-edisons-compensation-program/ Eaton Fire survivors unsatisfied with SoCal Edison’s compensation program]</ref> Critics contended that the utility’s program, by requiring participants to waive further litigation, limited victims’ leverage in seeking full accountability for the disaster’s causes and aftermath.<ref>[https://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/socal-edison-eaton-fire-victims-payout-plan-reaction SoCal Edison Eaton Fire victims react to payout plan – LAist]</ref>

In an April 2026 article, Los Angeles times state that Southern California Edison is employing aggressive legal tactics, including attorney-client privilege claims and protective orders, to withhold internal investigation data regarding the devastating Eaton Fire. Critics and victims' attorneys argue that these methods conceal safety failures and prevent public knowledge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal strategy used by Edison shields fire data {{!}} Los Angeles Times - newspaper - Read this story on Magzter.com |url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/newspaper/Los-Angeles-Times/LEGAL-STRATEGY-USED-BY-EDISON-SHIELDS-FIRE-DATA |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Magzter |language=en}}</ref>

== Growth and Containment Table == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Date !Acres Burned !Containment !Citation |- |January 7 |400 | rowspan="3" |0% | rowspan="25" |{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} |- |January 8 |10,600 |- |January 9 |13,690 |- |January 10 | rowspan="9" |14,117 |3% |- |January 11 |15% |- |January 12 |27% |- |January 13 |33% |- |January 14 |35% |- |January 15 |45% |- |January 16 |55% |- |January 17 |65% |- |January 18 |73% |- |January 19 | rowspan="12" |14,021 |81% |- |January 20 |87% |- |January 21 |89% |- |January 22 | rowspan="9" |95% |- |January 23 |- |January 24 |- |January 25 |- |January 26 |- |January 27 |- |January 28 |- |January 29 |- |January 30 |- |January 31 |14,021 |100% |}

== See also == {{Portal|California }} * [[January 2025 Southern California wildfires]] ** [[Palisades Fire]] * [[Kinneloa Fire]], a destructive wildfire in the same location in 1993

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire/ Eaton Fire Recovery Information] – an up-to-date map of damage assessments to every building in the fire area {{2025 wildfires}} {{California wildfires}} {{California wildfires by deaths}}

[[Category:2025 in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Altadena, California]] [[Category:January 2025 Southern California wildfires]] [[Category:Wildfires in Los Angeles County, California]]