Where People Went During and After the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Wildfires
Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, January 7 saw the start of two of California’s most destructive wildfires. The Palisades Fire scorched over 23,000 acres and destroyed at least 10,000 structures across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Santa Monica Mountains, while the Eaton Fire consumed more than 14,000 acres and destroyed approximately 7,000 structures in Altadena and Pasadena.
Using population mobility data captured by Meta’s Data for Good platform, we have obtained valuable insights about where populations relocated during and after the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
These maps show the z-score of census tracts where impacted populations relocated, highlighting areas with significant differences between the observed movement during the crisis and typical patterns during baseline conditions.
For Palisades, the dark orange areas on the map show where most populations relocated, and for Eaton, the dark blue areas show where most populations relocated.
Between January 7 and January 24, those impacted by the Palisades Fire primarily evacuated to Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Studio City, and Tarzana. Meanwhile, those affected by the Eaton Fire predominantly relocated to Glendale, Pasadena, Tujunga, Burbank, and Azusa.
Continued analysis of long-term population movement data can strengthen evacuation strategies, aid recovery efforts, and help receiving communities prepare as wildfires grow more frequent and severe.