Fires in LA - 27th January 2025

Wildfires across Los Angeles have killed 27 people. These dangerous fires have made over 200,000 people leave their homes.

Pacific Palisades is the area where the first wildfire began, in the morning, on 7th January. That evening, a second fire started burning close to a national forest. During the next few hours, 6 more wildfires started.

Nicole Perri and Kyle Kucharski, who live in Pacific Palisades, had to leave their home. Nicole's shocked by the destruction. She's sad for everyone who's lost their home.

Nicole Perri: "I feel broken. I feel lost. I feel devastated. I don't want to have to tell my boys that this is their home, that is gone. It's so tragic, and I know I'm not the only one. So I feel for everyone who's in this position. I really do."

The reason for the fires isn't clear yet. It may be because it hasn't rained much for the last 8 months. The wind's also been very strong, which is increasing the size of the fires.

Kristin Crowley manages LA's fire service. She said that these wildfires are the worst in Los Angeles's history.

They've destroyed around 17,000 buildings and caused over $135 billion of damage. It'll take time to identify the full costs of the wildfires and their effect on people's lives.