If you’re looking out your window in Los Angeles today, January 18, 2026, and wondering what percent contained is the Palisades fire, the answer is actually a bit of a relief: it is 100% contained.
Honestly, it’s more than just contained. It’s extinguished.
The fire isn't active right now. But if you’re asking because the smoke seems to linger in your memory—or because the construction crews on PCH are making your morning commute a nightmare—you aren't alone. We are exactly one year and eleven days since the spark that changed everything for the Westside.
The Current Status: 100% Contained and "Extinguished"
Technically, the "Palisades Fire" incident was officially closed out by CAL FIRE and the LAFD back on January 31, 2025.
It’s been exactly a year since the final containment lines were "mopped up." For those who need the hard data, the fire ended its run at 23,448 acres. That is a massive scar. We’re talking about a burn area that stretched from the hills above Pacific Palisades all the way through Topanga and deep into Malibu.
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While the fire is at 0% active growth, the recovery is nowhere near 100%.
Why Everyone is Talking About the Palisades Fire This Week
You’ve probably seen the news clips lately. Just a few days ago, on January 7, 2026, the city held a "White Glove Flag Presentation and Remembrance Ceremony." It was a heavy day.
People are still grappling with the fact that 12 neighbors lost their lives in that blaze. When you ask about containment today, you’re likely feeling the "anniversary effect." The trauma of the 105,000 people who had to evacuate hasn't just evaporated because the flames did.
The Numbers That Still Sting
- Total Acreage: 23,448.
- Structures Destroyed: 6,837.
- Damage Estimate: Roughly $25 billion.
- The Cause: It was originally suspected to be arson, specifically a "rekindling" of the Lachman fire from a few days prior.
The Rebuilding Reality: It’s Not Just Ashes Anymore
So, if the fire is contained, what is the status of the neighborhood?
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It’s a mixed bag. As of this month, the state has issued over 2,600 residential permits for the Palisades and Altadena areas. That sounds like a lot, but remember: nearly 13,000 homes were lost across all the January 2025 fires (including the Eaton Fire).
Walking through the Palisades now, you’ll see "For Sale" signs on empty dirt lots where multi-million dollar estates once stood. You'll see "scraped" land where the toxic ash has finally been removed. But you'll also see new framing going up. It's a slow, grueling process of fighting with insurance companies and waiting for architects.
What to Watch Out For Right Now
Even though we aren't currently fighting the Palisades fire, January in Southern California is always a nervous time.
The Santa Ana winds that fueled the 2025 disaster are a recurring seasonal threat. Fire officials have been much more aggressive this year. You might have noticed the LAFD "pre-deploying" engines on Red Flag days—that’s a direct lesson learned from last year's containment struggles.
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There was a lot of heat (pun intended) on the LAFD for how they monitored the "smoldering terrain" before the fire broke out last year. Now, they aren't taking chances. If a bush so much as smokes in the Santa Monica Mountains, you’ll see three helicopters on it within minutes.
Practical Steps for Local Residents
If you live in the "WUI" (Wildland-Urban Interface), "contained" is a temporary status. The risk is perpetual.
- Check your 2026 Insurance Policy: Many providers have dropped coverage in the 90272 and 90265 zip codes over the last twelve months. If you’re on the California FAIR Plan, make sure your premiums are current.
- Hardening Your Home: Don't wait for summer. Clear those dead leaves from your gutters now. The 2025 fire jumped from roof to roof because of ember casts, not just direct flame contact.
- Stay Informed: Follow the @LAFD and @CAL_FIRE X accounts (formerly Twitter). They are still the gold standard for real-time containment updates if a new start occurs.
The Palisades fire is 100% contained, but the landscape of the Westside has been permanently altered. We’re moving from the "firefighting" phase into the "resilience" phase. It’s less about the percentage of a line on a map and more about how we build back so this doesn't happen again.
Next Step: You should verify your evacuation zone via the Los Angeles County "Know Your Zone" portal, as several boundaries were redrawn following the 2025 burn pattern analysis.