Honestly, looking at the smoke over the San Gabriel Mountains today, you’ve probably felt that familiar knot in your stomach. It’s January 2026, and while we're supposed to be in the middle of a "wet" winter, the reality on the ground feels a lot different. People keep asking about active fires in los angeles county because, frankly, the trauma from last year’s Eaton and Palisades disasters is still incredibly fresh.
Just this evening, a new blaze dubbed the Carter Fire sparked up on private land in LA County.
Reported around 8:26 p.m. on January 16, this fire is the latest reminder that the "fire season" is basically a year-round reality now. We aren't seeing 100,000-acre monsters tonight, but for the families living near the brush, even a small plume of gray smoke is enough to trigger a frantic search for the "Go Bag."
The Current Situation: Active Fires in Los Angeles County Right Now
If you’re checking the maps, the Carter Fire is the name you’ll see popping up in the latest dispatch feeds. It’s small right now. But as anyone who lived through the 2025 Eaton Fire knows, "small" is a relative term that can change in about fifteen minutes if the winds decide to kick up.
Current stats from CAL FIRE show that across the state, we’ve already had about 12 wildfires this year. That sounds low, but when you consider we're only two weeks into January, it’s a bit unsettling. Especially when you compare it to the fact that we’ve only had about one acre burned total so far—meaning firefighters are hitting these starts fast and hard.
Aside from the brush fires, the LAFD has been dealing with a string of "Major Emergency" structure fires this week. On January 13, over 100 firefighters had to battle a massive blaze in a vacant commercial building in North Hills. Then there was another one in Winnetka. These aren't forest fires, but they contribute to that general sense of "where is that smoke coming from?" that permeates the valley lately.
Why January Feels So Weird
Most people think of fire as a summer problem. But Southern California is a different beast.
Last year, the Eaton Fire ignited on January 7, 2025. It killed 19 people. It destroyed over 9,400 homes.
Right now, Southern California Edison is actually in the middle of a massive legal battle, suing the county and water agencies over that specific fire. They're claiming the county failed to issue timely evacuation alerts and that there wasn't enough water to fight the flames. This legal drama is happening now, just as we’re marking the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.
It’s a weird mix of mourning the past and watching the horizon for the next one.
The Science of the "Winter" Fire
Why are there active fires in los angeles county when it should be raining?
Basically, we’re in a "whiplash" weather pattern.
We had a few storms in early January that prompted mudslide warnings—LAFD even had to lift evacuation orders in some burn scars on January 5. But then the rain stopped. The sun came out. The Santa Ana winds started doing their thing.
When you get that combination of "standing dead vegetation" from previous dry years and a few days of 70-degree weather with single-digit humidity, the hills become a tinderbox. It doesn't matter if it rained two weeks ago. If the top layer of fuel is dry, it’ll go up.
- Fuel Moisture: Despite the rain, the "heavy" fuels (like old oak trees and thick brush) are still dangerously dry in many parts of the county.
- The Wind Factor: Santa Ana events are the primary drivers of January fires. They compress air as it drops from the high desert, heating it up and drying it out.
- Urban Interface: In LA, we live right on top of the fuel. A sparked transformer or a tossed cigarette in North Hills or Hollywood Hills West can become a major incident in minutes.
What the Experts Are Saying
Fire Chief Jaime Moore recently released a message on the anniversary of the Palisades Fire, acknowledging that these dates are "painful" and "reopen wounds." It’s not just about the fire on the map; it’s about the collective PTSD of a city that feels like it’s constantly under threat.
The National Interagency Fire Center is keeping a close eye on private land areas where the Carter Fire is currently burning. There’s no official containment percentage yet, which is standard for a fire that just started a couple of hours ago. They’re likely using ground crews to "mop up" the perimeter before the morning winds can test the lines.
How to Stay Actually Prepared (Not Just "AI Prepared")
Forget the generic advice. If you live in LA County, you need to be doing these specific things right now:
1. Check the "Watch Duty" App
If you don't have this, get it. It’s often faster than official government Tweets (or whatever we're calling them now). It uses radio scanners and citizen reports to give you a real-time look at where the trucks are heading.
2. The 15-Minute Drill
Could you get your dog, your hard drive, your birth certificate, and your grandmother into the car in 15 minutes? Last year’s Palisades Fire proved that's sometimes all the lead time you get.
3. Dust Off the Air Purifiers
Even small fires like the one in North Hills or the Carter Fire can tank the AQI (Air Quality Index) in localized pockets. If you smell smoke, keep your windows shut. The fine particulate matter from these fires is nasty for your lungs, even if the flames are miles away.
4. Register for NotifyLA
Go to the city or county website and make sure your phone number is actually in the system. Don't rely on your neighbor's Ring camera to tell you it's time to go.
Looking Ahead
The outlook for the rest of January 2026 is "near normal," which in Southern California still means we have to be on high alert. We’re expecting more "whiplash" weather—alternating between cold, moist days and these warm, dry wind events.
The biggest threat right now isn't a massive forest fire, but these smaller, fast-moving "flash" fires in the grasslands and the urban interface. Keep your eyes on the hills, especially during those windy afternoons.
If you see smoke, don't wait for a news alert. Check the LAFD alerts page or your local fire department’s social feed immediately. In LA, the difference between a "rubbish fire" and a "Major Emergency" is often just a few gusts of wind.
Next Steps for Residents:
Check your local "Zone" on the Genasys Protect map (formerly Know Your Zone). Knowing your specific evacuation zone number is the fastest way to understand if an order applies to you when the sirens start. Clear any new growth or dead weeds within 30 feet of your home this weekend while the weather is clear—it's the single best thing you can do to help firefighters save your house.