Stunning before and after satellite images show devastation caused by LA wildfires

World News

Five major wildfires continued to burn across Los Angeles County on Friday morning—with the largest of them covering nearly 20,000 acres—as newly released satellite images showed the scale of destruction caused by the blazes, which have killed at least 10 people.
APTOPIX California Wildfires

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

Key Takeaways
  • As of Friday morning, fires continued to rage across at least 35,000 acres, with the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles’ affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena covering 19,978 acres and 13,690 acres, respectively.
  • Only 6% of the Palisades Fire has been brought under control, while the Eaton Fire’s containment remains at 0%.
  • So far, the fires have destroyed over 10,000 structures in the affected areas, including homes, businesses and other buildings, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s tracker showed.
  • The death toll from the fires rose on Thursday night to 10, while Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters nearly 180,000 were under evacuation orders.
What To Watch For

Los Angeles County remains under a “Red Flag” warning for fire weather conditions until Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service. The agency said the warning is in place due to a forecast of moderate to strong Santa Ana winds continuing across much of Los Angeles County and neighboring Ventura County, increasing the risk of fire spread. Gusts above 80 mph were recorded in the mountains outside Los Angeles overnight.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- OCTOBER 20, 2024:  Sequence image 02.  Maxar BEFORE satellite imagery of homes before the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

A satellite image from Maxar showing homes in the Pacific Palisades before the fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 9, 2025:  Sequence image 03.  Maxar AFTER I.R. satellite imagery of homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Note: Red indicates healthy greeen vegitation.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 202

A satellite image from Maxar showing homes in the Pacific Palisades after the fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- OCTOBER 20, 2024:  Sequence image 04.  Maxar BEFORE satellite imagery of additional homes before the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

Another satellite image of the Pacific Palisades before the fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 9, 2025:  Sequence image 05.  Maxar AFTER I.R. satellite imagery of additional homes of the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Note: Red indicates healthy green vegitation.  Please use: Sate

A satellite image showing homes destroyed in the Pacific Palisades after the fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 18, 2024:  Sequence image 07.  BEFORE Maxar satellite imagery of La Costa Beach, Malibu, Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

A satellite image taken before the fire of homes in Malibu’s La Costa Beach.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 9, 2025:  Sequence image 08.  AFTER Maxar satellite imagery of La Costa Beach, Malibu, Los Angeles, California following the devestating fires.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

A satellite image taken after the fire destroyed homes in Malibu’s La Costa Beach.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- OCTOBER 20, 2024:  Sequence image 09.  Maxar BEFORE satellite imagery of additional homes before the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

A satellite image from October showing homes in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, which is the site of the largest fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 9, 2025:  Sequence image 10.  Maxar AFTER satellite imagery of additional homes of the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

A satellite image of the same neighborhood taken on Thursday showing the devastation caused by the Palisades fire.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

LOS ANGELES FIRES, CALIFORNIA -- JANUARY 9, 2025:  Sequence image 01.  Maxar overview satellite imagery of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, California.  Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

Maxar overview satellite imagery of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, California.

DigitalGlobe/Getty Images/Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies.

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