VIDEO/PHOTOS: On Jan. 7, 2025, two deadly and devastating wildfires erupted: the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. The Palisades Fire scorched more than 23,000 acres in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood and the neighboring community of Malibu. More than 6,800 structures were destroyed, and at least 12 people died in the blaze, which burned for 24 days.
The KTLA 5 News team – some of whom were directly impacted – reported live from the devastated areas, sharing harrowing footage of the firefight, interviewing evacuees and victims, and leaving no angle uncovered. Coverage continued for weeks as firefighters slowly gained containment on the two fires while also battling other blazes that erupted during that chaotic time in Southern California’s history.
An Uber driver from Florida, Jonathan Rinderknecht, was later arrested for intentionally starting the fire after it was discerned the Palisades Fire stemmed from an earlier fire which Rinderknecht is accused of setting on Jan. 1, 2025, near the Skull Rock Trailhead.
