Talk:January 2025 Southern California wildfires

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Wildfire Mid‑importance

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An item related to this article has been nominated to appear on the Main Page in the "In the news" section. You can visit the nomination to take part in the discussion. Editors are encouraged to update the article with information obtained from reliable news sources to include recent events.
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A map is needed

Without a map, this article is very confusing to follow. Is the entire city of Los Angeles in flames or smoky? ErrorCorrection1 (talk) 17:27, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Agree that a map would be a major improvement. Jusdafax (talk) 17:32, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Can this NYT map be used as a source Waleed (talk) 18:16, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Probably not, and it’s behind a paywall I believe, at least for me. Jusdafax (talk) 19:12, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Pinging @Penitentes - the fire mapper Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 19:35, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'll see what I can do when updated fire perimeters are released for at least the Palisades and Eaton fires. Penitentes (talk) 20:03, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I originally thought Rancho Palos Verdes was on fire. No, it's the area north of Santa Monica. This is a link to a BBC map. A Wikipedia map could be made to point out the general area. If necessary, credit the BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg525q2ggl4o ErrorCorrection1 (talk) 20:25, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Someone could even scan a hand drawn map. We, Wikipedians, don't need to steal intellectual property of news sources. ErrorCorrection1 (talk) 20:29, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I believe the NASA FIRMS Map isn't copyrighted https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@14.5,-9.0,3.0z ExiaMesa (talk) 02:09, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I believe that is not fire perimeters, just heat signatures. Best we have right now until an unnamed editor saves our asses with good looking QGIS maps. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 02:15, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Combining Articles

I don't know how to formally nominate it but currently there is lots of articles discussing the same topic. I feel like we should combine the Palisades Fire (2025), Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire articles into this article. Besides this article and the other 3 already mentioned there is also the 2025 California wildfires article. I feel like the three individual fire articles should be just redirects to this article (January 2025 Southern California Wildfires). What are your guys' thoughts on the matter? Middle Mac CJM (talk) 21:37, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Pending full assessment of the impacts from each I think the Palisades and Eaton fires will each have more than enough notoriety and content to justify keeping their articles separate. 2025 California wildfires will grow as the year goes on to cover all significant wildfire activity for the calendar year, so it's not really relevant here. Penitentes (talk) 21:51, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That makes sense! Thank you @Penitentes! -Middle Mac CJM (talk) 22:10, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I feel like Hurst should be merged though; doesn't appear to have that much effect so far.

f Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 22:19, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

We don't know the exact amount of damage, though. If above 20, it should have its own article. WatchOutBroo (talk) 06:29, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Incorporating referenced confirmed death toll

Currently, the current death toll in the infobox is not part of the current article (as far as I could find), the most recent death toll update refers to the Eaton article referencing L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.[1]. Since the death toll is likely to increase, would it be better to directly cite this in the infobox or would it better to try incorporating it in prose (and change it when the death toll increases)? 31.44.227.152 (talk) 00:08, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I added a line about the death toll to the Eaton section. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 00:10, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, I appreciate the help! 31.44.227.152 (talk) 00:12, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Also I see you lurking in ITN/making constructive edits. Maybe consider making an account? Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 00:37, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Mentioning the Storm Prediction Center (SPC)

NWS SPC also predicted that the weather on Jan 7-9 would be critical, with the 8th being extremely critical. Can I add the SPC FireWX outlooks? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hanami-Sakura (talk • contribs) 15:55, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but please don't make it too cramped with images. Maybe only include 1? Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 15:59, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Notability

With the new table added, it is becoming evident to me that we need guidelines on what fires to include, both in the table and the article itself. IMO, some of the 1 acre fires with no structural damage can be removed. Any suggestions for rules? Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 00:58, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

To be more specific:

Riverside: keep table(structures damaged)

Sunset: remove from table(no damage)

Gulch: remove from table(no damage)

King: remove from table(no damage)

Huntington: remove from table(no damage)

Bert: Leaning on remove from table because unknown if damage.

Tyler: Keep table(damage)

Scout: remove from table(no noted damage)

Woodley: remove from table(no impact AFAIK)

Olivas: keep table(injury reported)

Lidia: keep table, no section(large size, 348 acres, but no damage reported)

Sunset: keep table, no opinion on section(wide ranging evacs but no known structure damage, location gives it lots of coverage)

Pinging @Middle Mac CJM: for thoughts Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 05:05, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I suggest to keep the ones in large population areas at least for now as they provide a small barometer of the danger of the event. They can be removed later as the list of notable fires grow. 2603:8000:CD01:5181:F1A7:9CC9:620F:1F3A (talk) 05:53, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There is a general notability to the number of fires during this extreme event even if the fires are small. This should not be lost in any pruning. Cheers, 〜 Adflatuss • talk 05:58, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

National Interagency Fire Center

This is the federal echelon (not updated on the weekend).

https://www.nifc.gov

kencf0618 (talk) 01:35, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

More useful sources:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ - within NIFC site

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents - CAL FIRE Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 02:05, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks. I've decided to focus on the Timeline of the 2025 Palisades Fire; these'll come in handy. I anticipate that much of it shall be down to the minute...! kencf0618 (talk) 13:20, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If I were you, I would merge that into the palisades fire article. Just a thought though. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 15:57, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Name

Should the name be changed? I've seen it commonly referred to L.A. fires. --> 2025 Los Angeles wildfires Teutonkahmun (talk) 02:40, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

there are likely to be many more fires in LA this year, even after these ones are contained. given that, the month is helpful. Delectopierre (talk) 05:17, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Another Fire??

Okay I may be wrong but according to the Associated Press,

"Another fire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills, officials say, As officials were providing a media update about the fires around 5:50 p.m., Los Angeles city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley announced that a new blaze had broken out in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon. She said all available resources were responding and excused herself to attend to that blaze."

Is this information already reflected but under a name I don't recognize in the table of fires? Or should it be added?

Middle Mac CJM (talk) 02:44, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It's been named the Sunset Fire. ExiaMesa (talk) 02:49, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you @ExiaMesa! Also, just out of curiosity, who names the fires? Also, is there a place where they post info about them specifically. Right now I am just looking at the live updates from the Associated Press. Middle Mac CJM (talk) 02:50, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

NP, I think it's generally the first responders who name the fire based on a criteria. For active fires I've been using this as a source.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/Incidents ExiaMesa (talk) 02:53, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you @ExiaMesa! Middle Mac CJM (talk) 02:55, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

it's often named by dispatchers as first responders are arriving at the fire. a fire a 123 main st is more easily referred to as the 'main st fire' over the radio. once first responders have organically settled on a name, they will also use that name when releasing public info. so far as i know, there are no official guidelines. Delectopierre (talk) 05:20, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hey @Haha169, I see you added the Sunset Fire to the table of fires but I believe we already have an entry for that fire in the table. :) Middle Mac CJM (talk) 03:32, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

They're different fires but called the same thing, I believe. The earlier one happened yesterday and was contained, this new one broke out this evening and it's not yet contained. --haha169 (talk) 03:44, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! Wow this is so insane Middle Mac CJM (talk) 04:06, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Celebrity homes destroyed

Is there a section for celebrities homes that have been destroyed? I’ve read about many now, and I expect that there will be a loss of cultural artifacts that were in private collections too. Victor Grigas (talk) 03:25, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I am not sure if there is a section dedicated to it but I do know I added info on that somewhere in the article. Just Control F for "Paris Hilton". Middle Mac CJM (talk) 03:34, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Sunset Fire and Woodley Fire

Hello! Can we agree that both the Woodley Fire and Sunset Fire, although both spread rapidly and are devastating, are not notable to have their own sections, let alone their own page. I thing categorizing them in "Other Fires" and listing them in the table is fine. Heart ^(talk) 03:41, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This. Both are not nearly as destructive/large as the main focus, Eaton/Palisades/Hurst. IMO Hurst isn't even notable enough for its own article. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 04:18, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I would agree with the sentiment for the Woodley fire, however I think the Sunset Fire is sufficiently notable to have its own section (not article) for the time being given that, as opposed to the Woodley fire, it rapidly spreading in a residential area, and the current magnitude of evacuation orders pertaining to it. ExiaMesa (talk) 04:20, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Acreage burned by Olivias

The two sources (Watch Duty & fire.ca.gov) are conflicted regarding the total acres burned. Cane we agree to defer to fire.ca.gov given it's more established to be credible. ExiaMesa (talk) 04:28, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

first...what do you mean 'by Olivias'?

secondly, watch duty monitors radio traffic, uses satellite imagery, firecams, and and has a code of conduct. meanwhile cal fire has to fight the fire, so they are always going to be behind.

i don't feel strongly either way, but would consider wd a very reliable source. Delectopierre (talk) 05:25, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well the fire has ended at this point so it's not a matter of live updates, going to the Watch Duty link, they utilized an estimate at that time and haven't updated it. I'm going to add it as 11 acres. ExiaMesa (talk) 12:49, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Why?

Why is "free palestine nuke israel" even there [listed above section titled "Meteorology"]?

Last I checked [as of: Jan. 9, 2025 @ 00:30 UTC-05:00] what is happening in the Gaza Strip (especially since the, Saturday, October 7th, 2023, terrorist attack) has absolutely nothing to do with the active wildfires in the LA area January, 2025.

Sroth0616 (talk) 05:30, 9 January 2025 (UTC) Sroth0616 (talk) 05:30, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

UPDATE↙️:

I refreshed the page and it [why I made the initial post to the Talk page] is now gone. To whoever removed it, thank you; however, I will leave this thread up.

Sroth0616 (talk) 05:34, 9 January 2025 (UTC) Sroth0616 (talk) 05:34, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In the future, you can just click the vandalism tag on an edit to revert it. Oftentimes current event articles are vandalized Middle Mac CJM (talk) 09:09, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@User:Middle Mac CJM ,-

I wasn't clear in my initial MSG (my fault), when I went to edit it out [on Wikipedia iOS mobile app] I couldn't find it and after a refresh it was still there. In my opinion, I did the second best thing this talk thread.

Sroth0616 (talk) 16:09, 9 January 2025 (UTC) Sroth0616 (talk) 16:09, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

User:Middle Mac CJM , I sometimes forget about vandalism sadly happens. Sroth0616 (talk) 16:11, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

California FAIR Plan

I just created an article for the California FAIR Plan, an insurance program backed by the state of California which many homeowners in the region affected by the fires are enrolled in. Thriley (talk) 05:53, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Mayor Bass

(1) Was MIA. (2) Refused to answer any questions. This needs mention. 32.209.69.24 (talk) 09:24, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please provide a source and better details including how it is relevant. Wikipedia is not a place to push a political agenda. This seems objectively false, though, seeing as she was at a televised press conference on the subject of these wildfires yesterday evening. How can someone be "MIA" and at the same time "refuse to answer questions"? A person can't be asked questions if they are MIA. DJ Cane _(he/him) (Talk) 14:14, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

They were not "missing", they were on a planned trip to Ghana. Further, refusal to answer questions about her absence is not particularly pertinent to the goal of the article. ExiaMesa (talk) 14:33, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In addition to the points mentioned in the comments, I am opposed to mentioning LAFD budget cuts enacted last year by the mayor. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 15:56, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I take that back since it is already mentioned, there's no point deleting it. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 17:02, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Merge proposal

I think Hurst Fire should be merged into this article. Compared to the other two fires with articles (Palisades and Eaton), this fire hasn't had as severe impacts and isn't really notable enough for it's own article - a section on this one would suffice. harrz ^talk 16:24, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose: The references section show that the Hurst Fire meets WP:GNG on its own. Yes, it was less impactful, but it does have decent news coverage. DJ Cane _(he/him) (Talk) 16:29, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Weak Oppose: Defo not nearly as notable as Eaton/Palisades, but probably warrants its own article. Wildfireupdateman :) (talk) 16:49, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Strong Oppose: has a lot of news coverage, and still is impactful Thewetroadinsummer (talk) 17:02, 9 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]