Los Angeles is facing its most catastrophic wildfire ever, ignited by a small spark in a backyard.
Within just a few hours, the fire expanded to engulf 20 square miles of luxury mansions, and despite the relentless efforts of firefighters, the blaze remains uncontrollable.
A tiny spark in a backyard quickly became Los Angeles’ worst wildfire in history. Over 20 square miles have been razed in just under 48 hours.
What caused the devastating LA wildfire
A perfect storm of dry conditions, overgrown vegetation, and uncharacteristic winds created the perfect environment for the blaze.
What began as a small plume of smoke grew rapidly into a raging fire.
Time-lapse footage shows the fire’s quick escalation. What started in a backyard around 10 a.m. on Tuesday soon tore through dry shrubbery, engulfing entire areas of the city.
LA Wildfire ris through iconic mansions
In less than two days, the fire spread across the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Santa Monica, causing an estimated $48 billion in damages.
Hollywood celebrities, including those in Pacific Palisades, watched as their mansions were destroyed.
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley described the fire as unlike anything seen in the city’s history, spreading at an unprecedented rate.
Could this catastropic fire have been predicted?
Previously, Joe Rogan, in a 2024 podcast, shared a chilling prediction made by a firefighter.
Joe Rogan’s prediction video quickly went viral and sparked reactions among viewers.
In the footage, Rogan shared with guest and fellow comedian Sam Morril, saying ‘He said: ”One day, it’s just gonna be the right wind and fire’s gonna start in the right place and it’s gonna burn through LA all the way to the ocean and there’s not a f***ing thing we can do about it”.
‘If the wind hits the wrong way, it’s just going to burn through LA,’ he added.
This eerie forecast seems to have come true. Favorable winds and environmental conditions allowed the fire to grow uncontrollable.
How climate patterns contributed to the blaze
While, scientists at UCLA have attributed the fire to a global phenomenon known as ‘hydroclimate whiplash.’ This pattern involves extreme shifts between wet and dry weather.
Heavy El Niño rains in 2023 caused explosive vegetation growth. Afterward, Southern California experienced a hot summer and a dry start to 2025, leaving the vegetation highly flammable.
Santa Ana winds intensify the inferno
The Santa Ana winds, warm and gusty, blew from the interior toward the coast. These winds rapidly fueled the fire, pushing it across the dry vegetation.
The combination of wet conditions followed by severe heat and drought created the perfect conditions for this devastating blaze.
According to report, the fire has scorched large portions of iconic southern California real estate. Areas from Malibu to Santa Monica, and Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze.
In Studio City, several homes caught fire late Wednesday. A four-story building fire spread to neighboring properties, adding to the destruction.
Reports state that the disaster has claimed at least five lives, destroyed over 2,000 structures, and left thousands of residents with nothing.
The unprecedented spread and severity of this fire have left the city in shock, and recovery will take years.