How big are the L.A. fires? Putting the devastation in visual context

Foreboding weather forecasts keep tensions high in Los Angeles as one of North America's largest cities battles wildfires that have already claimed at least two dozen lives and thousands of homes.

Here are some data points that put into context the peril the city is in.

The Palisades and Eaton fires are already among the most destructive in California's history, scorching more than 10,000 structures in just a matter of days. With persistent winds in the forecast, those numbers could climb even higher. For context, Canada's most devastating wildfire — in Fort McMurray, Alta., in 2016—destroyed an estimated 2,400 structures.

At least 24 people have died in the fires that began on Jan. 7. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to ruins, leaving behind an apocalyptic landscape.

Though not the largest in California's history, these fires are still immense. The Palisades Fire, for example, spanned at least 20 kilometres as of Jan. 11 — representing roughly 12 per cent of Toronto and about the same proportion of Montreal.

Los Angeles entered 2025 under dry conditions, despite substantial rainfall earlier in 2024. A parched end to the wet season in September created optimal conditions for the fires to spread rapidly as the new year began.

For a state scarred by devastating wildfires, the early months of 2025 are a grim reminder of the risks. While California endured two brutal wildfire seasons in 2020 and 2021 — burning nearly three million hectares — the years since had brought some reprieve. Data from Cal Fire, however, underscores the persistent threat that looms over the state.