Palisades Fire

Thankfully, Santa Monica did not sustain any direct wildfire damage from the January 2025 Palisades Fire. The city remains a partner in regional recovery and remains committed to supporting our neighbors and others impacted by the fire. The city of Santa Monica is open, safe, accessible to the public and here to serve the westside community.

Santa Monica's beaches are open and welcoming visitors and locals for both sand and water activities.

After rigorous post-fire testing of the ocean and sand, public health officials have lifted all fire-related closures on local beaches, concluding results did not show any levels that are dangerous to human health. Data and analysis are now publicly available at the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board’s website.

As debris removal efforts continue in the burn areas north of Santa Monica, high tides may wash up large pieces of fire debris along the coastline. Beachgoers should continue to stay away from fire debris in the water or on beaches.

All exits from the I-10 Freeway into Santa Monica are open. Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica is open, including access to Pier and beach parking lots. For the latest information on freeway/road closures, follow Caltrans District 7 or see quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, has relocated its Santa Monica Business Recovery Center to the Main Library’s Courtyard Café at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. The Center provides personalized assistance to businesses affected by regional wildfires. Hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted or schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct. 8.

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FAQ

Environmental health advisories & testing

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH): For fire safety and health information, including the latest testing data posted as part of the agency's Post-Fire Air, Soil and Water Assessment Plan. For questions or concerns, call the Public Health Infoline at (833) 540-0473, open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Watch the latest DPH Wildfire Town Hall.
Ocean water/beaches: Visit LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors' Beach Health site for the latest information related to beaches and ocean water. LA County DPH monitors beach and ocean water quality conditions. For the latest information and map, please visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach. It is recommended beachgoers check conditions before their trip to the coast and follow all posted signage.
Heal the Bay: Find information on the fire's impact on ocean water quality from environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay's blog.
Air quality: For the latest information on air quality in the region, visit AQMD.
Non-hazardous debris removal: Phase 2 of fire debris removal is underway, coordinated and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The completion of Phase 2 in the Palisades and along Pacific Coast Highway is critical for continuing our coastline’s economic recovery and reducing environmental impacts. Track Phase 2 progress at Phase 2: Fire Debris Removal – LA County Recovers.
EPA cleanup: On Feb. 25, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had completed its work to safely dispose of household hazardous materials from areas burned by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Learn about cleanup of hazardous materials in the burn zones at 2025 California Wildfires | US EPA.

Recovery resources 

Local resources:

The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, has relocated its Santa Monica Business Recovery Center to the Main Library’s Courtyard Café at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. The Center provides personalized assistance to business affected by regional wildfires. Hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted or schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct. 8.

Regional, state & federal resources:

State and local disaster resources: CA.gov/LAfires 
LA County: recovery.lacounty.gov 
City of LA: recovery.lacity.gov
FEMA: Visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Hotline at 1-800-621-3362, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST, for eligibility information.

The FEMA westside Disaster Recovery Center is located at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Operation hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days per week.
Download this letter confirming the evacuation zones for the city of Santa Monica if needed for your FEMA reimbursement application (deadline March 31).

The Red Cross is currently reaching out to wildfire survivors to discuss their eligibility for financial assistance. If you received a message or call from a Red Cross representative, please visit redcross.org/gethelp to learn more.
If your home insurance has been canceled or suspended due to the fires, or you have questions about your home insurance related to the fires, please call the California Department of Insurance at (800) 927-4357 or go here.

Volunteer & donate

Be sure to use official, verified channels to avoid scams. 

The city is not currently accepting any in-kind donations including food, clothes or beverages. While we appreciate your generosity, please do not drop off items at any fire stations or city facilities. 
Consider volunteering for or donating to Santa MoniCares, which collects donations, discounts and offers available to first responders and evacuees.
Find other volunteering opportunities at L.A. Works, which mobilizes volunteers to address critical issues impacting our community. 
The county of Los Angeles has set up a central portal for relief efforts here.
If you are interested in volunteering or making an in-kind or monetary donation to support response and recovery efforts, please consider visiting the California Donations Portal. 
Other trusted organizations assisting with the L.A. fires are Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Westside Food Bank, California Community Foundation, American Red Cross, and Salvation Army.