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Death Toll From January LA Wildfires Reaches 31 After Altadena Find

Debris cleanup is nearly finished; forensic teams will begin DNA analysis to identify the latest wildfire victim.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 15: Volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse help homeowner Dennis Higgins (NOT PICTURED) search for meaningful personal items in the remains of his home which burned in the Palisades Fire on March 15, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Higgins and his wife Nicole had lived in the home for about 30 years. Over 16,000 structures were destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Thousands of acres were burned when huge fires ripped through the Los Angeles area in January
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Overview

  • Human remains discovered July 21 on La Venezia Court in Altadena have been designated Unidentified Doe #431 by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
  • Official figures confirm 31 fatalities from the twin blazes, comprising 19 in the Eaton fire and 12 in the Palisades fire.
  • Only one other victim, found in mid-January in Pacific Palisades, remains unidentified with identification efforts ongoing.
  • Forensic officials rely on dental records, DNA comparisons, medical records and radiographs to confirm identities, a complex process that can take considerable time.
  • Debris removal across more than 37,000 burned acres is nearly complete as federal and state aid supports rebuilding, hazard mitigation and policy reforms.