What Started the California Wildfires 2025?

Learn more about the fires that erupted and rapidly spread through Pacific Palisades, California in January 2025.

On January 7, 2025, a major wildfire erupted in Pacific Palisades and quickly tore through surrounding neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. Fueled by extreme Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions, the blaze became one of the most destructive in the city’s history, scorching tens of thousands of acres and leveling thousands of homes.

The city and state responded swiftly: a local emergency was declared by Los Angeles, and Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for California. With hundreds of thousands evacuated and entire communities in ruins, investigators later revealed that the fire was likely set intentionally, and in October 2025, a suspect was arrested in Florida in connection with starting the blaze.

Below, learn more about which areas were hit hardest, what’s known about the cause, and additional details.

How Many Fires Were Burning in California?

At the start of 2025, California battled a series of fast-moving wildfires that spread across Los Angeles County and surrounding areas, marking one of the most destructive beginnings to a fire season in recent memory. The state saw five major active fires during the first weeks of January, all of which have since been fully contained, according to Cal Fire officials.

• Palisades: The largest and deadliest blaze, which ignited on January 7, 2025, burned more than 68,000 acres before reaching 100% containment on January 31.
• Eaton: This northern Los Angeles County blaze scorched around 10,600 acres before being declared fully contained on February 1, 2025.
• Hurst: Burning north of San Fernando, this smaller fire reached roughly 855 acres before firefighters contained it in mid-January.
• Lidia: Igniting in the Acton mountain region on January 8, the fire grew to 350 acres and was declared 100% contained by January 11.
• Sunset: Breaking out in the Hollywood Hills the same week, the Sunset Fire burned 43 acres before being extinguished within 24 hours.

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What Started the Pacific Palisades Fire?

Initially, officials believed that strong Santa Ana winds were the primary factor behind the fire’s rapid spread across Los Angeles County. Gusts reaching nearly 100 miles per hour on the night of January 7, 2025, fueled the flames and made containment nearly impossible in the early hours.

However, investigators later determined that the fire was deliberately set. In October 2025, federal authorities arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old man from Florida, in connection with starting the blaze. According to prosecutors, Rinderknecht allegedly ignited a smaller fire—known as the Lachman Fire—on January 1, 2025, which continued to smolder underground before reigniting days later with the help of strong winds, sparking the massive Palisades inferno.

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Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.
⁰The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day –… pic.twitter.com/UzrFa0Lmrz

— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 8, 2025

What Typically Causes California Wildfires?

California wildfires are caused by a combination of natural and human factors. Drought, high temperatures, and strong winds, particularly from the Santa Ana winds, create ideal conditions for fire. Lightning strikes can ignite dry vegetation, while human activities like arson, faulty power lines, and outdoor equipment can trigger flames. Additionally, overgrown vegetation, climate change, and urban sprawl increase fire risk by providing more fuel and bringing wildfires closer to populated areas.