The Eaton and Palisades fires in January caused an unprecedented level of destruction, killing at least 30 people, destroying more than 16,000 homes in L.A. County and leaving a burn zone 2½ times the size of New York’s Manhattan. Two weeks into peak fire season, wildfires are spreading in California. Officials say it’s just the beginning.

The Madre fire burning in San Luis Obispo County has grown to become the largest wildfire California has seen this year. It comes after Southern California was ravaged by wildfires in January, which resulted in the widespread destruction of homes and the deaths of at least 29 people.

The Madre Fire is the largest wildfire in California in 2025 — surpassing the Los Angeles-area fires that devastated parts of the region in January.