Palisades Fire

Extracted Attributes

• Cause

  Arson (alleged reignition of the Lachman Fire)

• Location

  Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County, California, United States

• Event Type

  Wildfire

• Fatalities

  12 people

• Area Burned

  37 square miles (23,713 acres)

• Structures Destroyed

  6,837 structures

• Historical Significance

  3rd most destructive wildfire in California history; most destructive in Los Angeles history

• Primary Meteorological Driver

  Santa Ana winds (gusts up to 70 mph)

Timeline

• The Lachman Fire, an 8-acre blaze allegedly caused by arson, ignites and is not fully extinguished. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2025-01-01

• The Palisades Fire ignites in the Santa Monica Mountains at approximately 10:20 a.m. due to the reignition of the Lachman Fire. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2025-01-07

• The Eaton Fire starts in Altadena at approximately 6:00 p.m., stretching emergency resources thin. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2025-01-07

• CAL FIRE issues a final report confirming the destruction of 6,837 structures. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2025-01-30

• The Palisades Fire is declared fully contained. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2025-01-31

• Jonathan Rinderknecht is arrested in Florida and charged with three felony counts of arson related to the fire. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2025-10-08

• One-year anniversary of the fire; Adam Carolla discusses the event and failed rebuilding efforts on the All-In Podcast. (Source: Document bcec8ed3-1e39-42da-8f4c-3798f2e75e1f)

  2026-01-07

• Scheduled start date for the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2026-04-21

Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire was a highly destructive wildfire that began in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025, and grew to destroy large areas of Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu before it was fully contained on January 31. One of a series of wildfires in Southern California driven by extremely powerful Santa Ana winds, it spread to 37 sq mi (95 km2), killed 12 people, and destroyed 6,837 structures, making it the tenth-deadliest and third-most destructive California wildfire on record and the most destructive to occur in the history of the city of Los Angeles. The fire burned simultaneously with the similarly destructive Eaton Fire at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. On October 8, federal authorities arrested a man in Florida and charged him with three felony counts of arson, alleging that he set an earlier fire on January 1 using a combustible material that was not fully extinguished and later reignited to become the Palisades Fire.

Web Search Results

• Palisades Fire - Wikipedia

  The fire completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades; almost every structure in the area north of Sunset Boulevard burned to the ground. With the exception of the Palisades Village outdoor mall, most of the neighborhood's downtown was leveled. Destroyed or heavily damaged structures included the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades, Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, St. Matthew's Episcopal Parish School "St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and School (Pacific Palisades, California)"), Village School, and the landmarked Pacific Palisades Business Block building. An archive containing at least 100,000 scores by Arnold Schoenberg was destroyed; no original manuscripts were lost, however it was the main collection which owner Belmont Music [...] ## Impact [edit] ### Structures destroyed [edit] According to Wildfire Alliance statistics, the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,837 structures, per CAL FIRE's final report on January 30, 2025. Earlier estimates included 1,900 structures by January 8 (Wildfire Alliance) and 3,501 by February 4 (LAFD), reflecting ongoing assessments, making it the most destructive in Los Angeles's history. It surpassed the Sayre Fire, the second-most destructive, which destroyed 604 structures in 2008, and the Bel Air Fire which destroyed nearly 500 houses in 1961. Smoke from the fire and other nearby fires caused severe air pollution in the Los Angeles area, with residents advised to wear masks in areas rated as red on the Air quality index. [...] The Palisades branch of the Los Angeles Public Library was destroyed. The Los Angeles Unified School District schools Palisades Elementary and Marquez Elementary Schools were destroyed. Palisades Charter High School was "badly damaged", with around 40% of the campus being damaged or destroyed. The main classroom and administration buildings were successfully protected by fire crews, but buildings on the edge of campus, closer to Sunset, burnt down. The Theatre Palisades was destroyed by the fire, and vegetation at the Getty Villa caught fire although the building itself was unscathed. The house of Will Rogers and the stables at the Will Rogers State Historic Park were destroyed; park staff safely evacuated the horses and removed some of the exhibited memorabilia. The historic Topanga

• The 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires: Lessons and Key Recommendations

  According to the Department of Justice, the Palisades Fire is thought to have been caused by the reignition of the Lachman Fire, an 8-acre blaze that burned six days earlier. The Lachman Fire was allegedly caused by intentional and malicious arson. In October 2025, authorities arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht in connection with the Palisades Fire; he has pleaded not guilty and faces trial beginning on April 21, 2026. The Palisades Fire began on the morning of the 7th and was noticed by residents around 10:30 a.m. The Eaton Fire in Altadena started around 6:00 p.m. on the same day, and the leading theory is that the fire was caused by failed power transmission lines. Because the wildfires erupted on opposite ends of Los Angeles, the emergency response was stretched thin, fighting what was [...] The most serious accusation against LAFD is that its negligence resulted in the Palisades Fire. An ongoing lawsuit against California State Parks alleges that the failure to monitor the Lachman Fire contributed to the outbreak of the Palisades Fire (the lawsuit is not against LAFD because state laws provide immunity to firefighters). LAFD did not use thermal imaging to confirm that the fire was extinguished, which is considered standard protocol to prevent fires from rekindling. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Times reports that firefighter texts reveal that they were ordered to leave even though “they complained the ground was still smoldering and rocks remained hot to the touch.” The firefighters proceeded to leave the scene. These texts reveal that the battalion chief had been told that [...] texts reveal that the battalion chief had been told that it was a bad idea to leave the site unprotected because of the “visible signs of smoldering terrain.” The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is currently conducting an investigation into the fire’s causes. As it stands, the leading hypothesis for the origins of the Palisades Fire is that it was a rekindle of the Lachman Fire, which means that LAFD may share much of the blame.

• Palisades Fire | Los Angeles Fire Department

  + #### VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RETURNING: Please visit for vital information for returning home after a wildfire. + #### For additional information on the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County residents should contact Palisades Fires Information Line at (213) 484-5604. SIZE: 23, 713 acres with 31% containment CURFEW: For the safety of residents, a curfew remains in place from 6PM to 6AM CAUSE: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) has been deployed to investigate the cause of the Pacific Palisades fire. Submit tips by texting ATFLA to 63975 and then follow the link to create a report or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Tips can remain anonymous. [...] For valuable resources and important updates from your City and County officials, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/. On this page, you’ll find information on disaster recovery assistance, emergency contacts, community support services, and guidance on rebuilding and recovery efforts for those affected by the Palisades Fire. Los Angeles City Palisades Fire Links: + LA City - Emergency Management: Home | Emergency Management Department + LAFD: Los Angeles Fire Department + LAPD: Palisades Fire | Los Angeles Fire Department + LADWP: Pacific Palisades Fire Los Angeles County Palisades Fire Links: + LA County – Emergency Operations Center: Palisades Fire – LA County Recovers + LA County Fire: Emergency Operations - Fire Department [...] For valuable resources and important updates from your City and County officials, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/. On this page, you’ll find information on disaster recovery assistance, emergency contacts, community support services, and guidance on rebuilding and recovery efforts for those affected by the Palisades Fire. Los Angeles City Palisades Fire Links: + LA City - Emergency Management: Home | Emergency Management Department + LAFD: Los Angeles Fire Department + LAPD: Palisades Fire | Los Angeles Fire Department + LADWP: Pacific Palisades Fire Los Angeles County Palisades Fire Links: + LA County – Emergency Operations Center: Palisades Fire – LA County Recovers + LA County Fire: Emergency Operations - Fire Department

• Palisades Fire death toll grows as containment increases to 63%

  The fire was reported around 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday and immediately began heading toward the community of Pacific Palisades, driven by 70 mph wind gusts. The fire grew from 10 acres to 200 acres in just minutes. During the early hours of evacuations, some residents fleeing the fire were told by officers to abandon their cars and walk to safety. Many were seen holding bags and pets as they made their way towards the ocean. Abandoned vehicles were then bulldozed to make room for emergency vehicles. > Total destruction in Malibu. These were beachfront homes on Pacific Coast Highway. #palisadesfire pic.twitter.com/DhQnJMmoUW > > — Liz Kreutz (@LizKreutzNews) January 8, 2025 ## Evacuation map and orders [...] Santa Monica-Malibu USD has been closed since Thursday. "We watch with all of you in disbelief the devastation and displacement caused by the Palisades fire, which continues to grow and evade containment," Superintendent Antonio Shelton wrote in a statement. Nearly two dozen school districts are totally closed due to the wildfires — you can find a full list here. The Los Angeles Unified School District also closed Thursday. Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Charter Elementary School were destroyed by the fire, an LAUSD spokesperson confirmed Wednesday afternoon. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said that Palisades High suffered significant damage due to the fire. ## Road closures [...] ## What we know about the deaths L.A. County's medical examiner has confirmed 11 deaths in the Palisades Fire. One victim, Charles Mortimer, 84, died at a hospital. Sponsored message ## Damage so far Officials are mapping where homes and businesses have been lost. ## Videos: What the damage looks like The damage on Fiske Road in Pacific Palisades. ( Sal Gonzalez / California Newsroom ) Commercial corridor in Pacific Palisades. ( Sal Gonzalez / California Newsroom ) Destruction along a stretch of PCH on Sunday morning in Malibu. ( Saul Gonzalez / California Newsroom ) ## Curfews in place Curfews are now in place for fire areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.

• Palisades Fire Incident Information Archive | Malibu, CA

  Fire Status Update # Fire Status ## Incident Updates Size: 23,707 acres, 100% containment. Extreme hazards remain within evacuation area. Structures: CalFire confirmed 6,831 structures destroyed and 973 damaged in total affected area (Palisades and Malibu). City number: 720. View damage assessment maps and recovery resources at Los Angeles County Recovery website. During this emergency response period, City operations are temporarily modified to prioritize public safety and critical infrastructure needs. Essential services will remain active, with key personnel continuing to address urgent matters. Malibu EOC public hotline support is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 310-456-2489. Community Resources [...] 1. January 7-10 January 10, 2025 7:42 PM 12:08 PM 9:30 AM 5:00 AM 1:00 AM January 9, 2025 9:00 PM 3:00 PM 11:00 AM January 8, 2025 8:00 PM 12:00 PM 9:00 AM January 7, 2025 11:30 PM – CITY URGES RESIDENTS TO PREPARE TO EVACUATE The Palisades Fire remains uncontained and is being driven by extreme Santa Ana winds, creating a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation. The City of Malibu urges all residents not currently under evacuation orders to be prepared to evacuate. If you require additional time to evacuate, or if you have pets or livestock, consider making preparations to leave now. What You Should Do Now: [...] Skip to Main Content Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Website Sign In 1. Home 2. City Government 3. Palisades Fire Incident Information Archive # Palisades Fire Incident Information Archive This webpage serves as a centralized source of up-to-date information and resources related to the Palisades Fire and winter storms. The City remains committed to providing accurate, timely information regarding the fire and storm emergencies and important community resources. On this webpage, you can find the latest: Recovery and Rebuilding Resources Fire Status Community Resources, Utility Updates, Traffic Updates ### Metro Information:

• Country

  United States

• Instance Of

  Q169950