It is hard to believe it’s already been a year since the sky over Los Angeles turned that sickly, apocalyptic shade of orange. Honestly, sitting here in January 2026, the vibe is a lot different than it was last winter. Last year, we were dealing with the Eaton and Palisades fires—monsters that basically rewrote the record books for Southern California.
Right now? Things are quiet. Like, eerily quiet.
According to the latest stats from CAL FIRE, we’ve only seen about 12 wildfires statewide so far in 2026, burning a grand total of... one acre. That is a massive win compared to the 40,000+ acres that had already turned to ash by this time last year. But just because the hills aren't currently on fire doesn't mean the drama is over. Not even close.
Why the 2025 Firestorms Still Matter
If you live in Altadena or the Pacific Palisades, you’re probably still dealing with the fallout. These weren't just "normal" brush fires. They were hurricane-force firestorms.
The Eaton Fire alone took 19 lives and wrecked over 9,400 structures. When you add the Palisades Fire to the mix, the death toll hit 31. We’re talking about the fifth-deadliest and second-most destructive fire event in the entire history of California.
Kinda makes you realize why people are still so on edge whenever the wind picks up.
✨ Don't miss: Election Where to Watch: How to Find Real-Time Results Without the Chaos
Right now, the news isn't about active flames; it’s about the massive legal and political battles happening in the aftermath. Just this week, Southern California Edison (SCE) dropped a bombshell. They filed cross-complaints in the Los Angeles Superior Court, basically pointing the finger at everyone else.
SCE is being sued by nearly 1,000 victims who say the utility’s equipment started the spark. Edison isn’t exactly denying that their lines might have been the culprit—they've admitted "circumstantial evidence" suggests a high-voltage line ignited the mess during those 100-mph winds.
But they’re claiming that L.A. County and various water agencies made everything way worse.
The Water and Warning Failures
According to Edison’s lawyers, there were two huge failures on the night of January 7, 2025:
- The Water Ran Out: Firefighters allegedly showed up to hydrants that were basically bone dry. Imagine trying to stop a 14,000-acre fire with no water pressure.
- Delayed Warnings: This is the part that really stings. In the primarily Black neighborhoods of West Altadena—where almost all the victims lived—evacuation orders didn't go out until 3:25 a.m. the next morning. The fire had already been raging for nine hours.
It’s a messy, complicated situation that’s going to take years to untangle in court.
🔗 Read more: Daniel Blank New Castle PA: The Tragic Story and the Name Confusion
The Weird Science of "Weather Whiplash"
You might be wondering why January, of all months, became the peak of fire season last year. Usually, we’re worried about August or September.
Scientists like Chad Hanson from the John Muir Project and experts at UCLA have been talking about this "weather whiplash" thing. Basically, California had two incredibly wet years in 2023 and 2024. That sounds good, right?
Well, it caused a massive explosion of grass and brush.
Then, the rain just... stopped. The fall of 2024 was the driest on record for Southern California. All that lush green grass turned into a literal powder keg. By the time the Santa Ana winds hit in January 2025, the vegetation was at record-low moisture levels.
The good news for us right now? We’ve actually had some decent winter storms lately. The U.S. Drought Monitor just moved California out of drought status as of January 15, 2026. That moisture is the main reason why we aren't seeing a repeat of last year's catastrophe.
💡 You might also like: Clayton County News: What Most People Get Wrong About the Gateway to the World
California’s New Game Plan for 2026
Governor Newsom hasn't been sitting around. He’s been signing executive orders (like N-24-25 and N-26-25) to stop "predatory land speculators" from lowballing fire survivors for their charred lots.
But the real change is coming from CAL FIRE and their new 2026 Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan.
They’re moving away from just counting how many acres they’ve "treated" and looking at actual outcomes. They just announced $62.6 million in grants for 84 local prevention projects. A lot of this is going toward "home hardening"—basically helping people fix their roofs and vents so a stray ember doesn't burn their whole house down.
There’s also a big push for "beneficial fire."
It sounds counterintuitive, but we need to burn stuff on purpose during the wet months to keep the "monster" fires from having enough fuel in the summer.
What You Should Actually Do Now
If you’re living in a high-risk area, don't let the current green hills fool you. That grass is just future fuel. Here is what you should be focused on right now while the weather is on our side:
- Check Your Vents: Most homes in the 2025 fires didn't burn from a wall of flame; they burned because embers got sucked into attic vents. Upgrade to ember-resistant mesh.
- The Five-Foot Rule: Keep the area within five feet of your house completely clear of dead leaves, wood mulch, or flammable plants. This is the most critical "defensible space" zone.
- Update Your Tech: Make sure you're signed up for Genasys Protect (formerly Zonehaven). It’s what most counties are using now for real-time evacuation maps.
- Inventory Your Life: Take a video of every room in your house and upload it to the cloud. If you ever have to deal with an insurance claim like the Eaton Fire victims, you'll be glad you have proof of what you owned.
The reality of living in California in 2026 is that fire season never really "ends"—it just takes breaks. We’re in a lucky break right now thanks to the winter rains. Use this time to get your property ready before the next Santa Ana wind event inevitably rolls through.