Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proclaimed Jan. 7 a Day of Remembrance for the Los Angeles fires, ordering flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.
“As we mourn the victims of the Los Angeles fires, we also honor the first responders, community leaders and public servants who ran toward danger and went above and beyond to protect Angelenos,” Newsom said in the proclamation. He also recognized the resilience of survivors continuing to rebuild while carrying grief and hope.
The proclamation reaffirmed the state’s commitment to recovery efforts, stating California “will stand with these communities until recovery is complete, homes are rebuilt and lives are restored as fully possible.”
On Jan. 7, 2025, fires ignited across the Los Angeles region amid dry conditions and extreme Santa Ana winds. The two largest blazes — the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire — devastated communities in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Topanga and Altadena, destroying homes and displacing thousands.
The Palisades Fire claimed 12 lives, while the Eaton Fire killed 19 people. Firefighters fully contained both fires by Jan. 31, 2025.
“Today, California remembers and honors those 31 people, grieving with their families and friends,” the proclamation read, adding that the state also honors all Californians lost to wildfires over the years, including victims of the Tubbs, Camp and North Complex fires.