The Pacific Ocean is seen in the distance past houses destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on January 21, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Fire-weary southern California was buffeted on January 20 by dangerous winds, with forecasters warning of an "extremely critical" risk in a region already staggering from the devastation of horrifying blazes. Firefighters continued to make progress snuffing out fires that ravaged 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) in the Los Angeles area, after erupting on January 7 and killing at least 27 people. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)