One year after the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history tore through their community, Malibu residents will gather to remember those lost and reflect on a year of painful recovery and unexpected resilience.
The City of Malibu will host "Palisades Fire Commemoration: Finding Strength in Community" on Jan. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at City Hall, marking the anniversary of the disaster that destroyed more than 6,800 structures and claimed 12 lives across the region.
"The one-year mark reminds us of both the pain we experienced and the strength we discovered in one another," Mayor Marianne Riggins said. "Through loss, uncertainty, and recovery, our community has shown extraordinary resilience. As we look ahead, we remain focused on supporting every resident, honoring what we've overcome, and building a future rooted in hope and long-term restoration."
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7, 2025, amid powerful Santa Ana winds and drought conditions, spreading rapidly through Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu. Driven by wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, the blaze scorched more than 23,000 acres before firefighters achieved full containment on Jan. 31, 2025.
The fire destroyed 6,837 structures and damaged approximately 973 more, according to CAL FIRE damage assessments. It forced the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents and affected an estimated 100,000 people across Los Angeles's westside communities. The disaster became the third-most destructive wildfire in California history.
Entire neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and hillside Malibu were reduced to rubble, with iconic coastal stretches along Pacific Coast Highway left in ruins. The fire obliterated homes, businesses and public infrastructure, with the City of Los Angeles estimating roughly $350 million in public infrastructure damage.
Beyond the immediate destruction, the fire's health impact proved far more extensive than initially understood. While 12 people died directly in the flames, a public health study later estimated that approximately 440 deaths in Los Angeles County were attributable to the January 2025 wildfires, with most linked to smoke inhalation and respiratory emergencies among vulnerable populations.
Investigators determined the fire likely ignited when an earlier eight-acre New Year's Day brush fire, suspected to be arson, wasn't fully extinguished and rekindled under intense winds. Federal authorities arrested a suspect in October 2025 for allegedly starting that initial blaze.
The commemoration event will include a formal program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. featuring a native Chumash blessing and a moment of silence for three Malibu community members who lost their lives in the fire. Malibu Poet Laureate Charlotte Ward will present a remembrance poem written for the occasion. A reception will follow with light refreshments, a memorial space and an art gallery honoring first responders and community members.
The event will be livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel, and no RSVPs are required.
City officials described the Palisades Fire as the greatest disaster Malibu has ever endured, noting it was part of a historic regional catastrophe that destroyed thousands of homes across Southern California.
The fire also caused extensive environmental damage, generating toxic urban ash containing heavy metals, asbestos and other hazardous substances. Los Angeles County issued ocean water advisories warning of contaminated runoff along beaches from Malibu to LAX, and the massive smoke plume created hazardous air quality across the region for days.
"In the wake of the Palisades Fire, the city was left traumatized, its landscape transformed and its collective heart wounded," city officials said in announcing the commemoration. "Yet even amid the ashes, the resilience of Malibu's people began to take shape, as neighbors supported one another and the long, difficult path toward healing and recovery quietly began."
The January 2025 fire marked the first time on record that Southern California experienced "extremely critical" fire weather conditions in January, underscoring concerns about climate change extending the traditional fire season.
As residents prepare to mark the somber anniversary, city leaders emphasized their commitment to supporting recovery efforts and building a more resilient community for the future.