As devastating wildfires fanned by powerful winds ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, a video of a street shrouded in smoke was shared in social media posts with a false claim that it was filmed in the United States' second-biggest city.

Containing wildfires—never mind extinguishing them—in parched and windy conditions can be monstrously difficult. Dry vegetation is rocket fuel for blazes and wind both feeds the flames and spreads the embers. “The winds are like pointing an air blower at a fireplace,” says Gershunov, “except it’s not contained and it’s on a much larger scale.”

Jan. 27 A new wildfire was reported today at 5:27 a.m. in Los Angeles County. The wildfire has been burning on private land. There is currently no information on the containment of the fire and its cause remains unknown.

The Eaton and Palisades fires have consumed more than 37,000 acres of homes, businesses and landmarks in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.