Article contributors: Andrew Hassanali and Anne Pellegrino.

One year ago, Los Angeles suffered the most damaging wildfires in the region’s history, primarily impacting the communities of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. Our thoughts are with the people impacted and those working tirelessly to rebuild.

As more communities expand into the wildland-urban interface, governments need new tools to increase preparedness and accelerate response efforts. Planet offers a unique combination of daily satellite monitoring, responsive high-resolution tasking, an unmatched archive of historical imagery, and AI-enabled solutions for governments contending with more frequent and costly wildfires.

These capabilities helped empower agencies responding to the fires one year ago, and new tools are enhancing disaster preparedness efforts in at-risk regions.

Altadena and the Palisades, One Year Later

In the days immediately following the initial ignition events one year ago, we captured PlanetScope® and SkySat® imagery of the fires, producing visual and spectral records of the fires’ boundaries and impacts. Captured between January 8 and January 10 last year, these images show the early devastation unleashed by the fires in the Altadena and Palisades areas. Planet imaged the same areas in December, about one year later, highlighting the early stages of recovery.

Rapid Building Damage Assessment

The initial timeline of the Palisades Fire reveals how Planet data helped authorities fill critical information gaps and allocate resources. Following the fire’s ignition on January 7, and before airplanes were cleared for aerial flyovers to collect imagery, Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab used Planet data to deliver an early estimate of the number of structures damaged or destroyed by the fire (first made available on January 9). Planet also began sharing wildfire imagery through its Disaster Data portal as soon as January 9, making timely data available to better inform mitigation and response.

Planet’s unique combination of rapid response capabilities and a deep stack of imagery also empowered journalists working to uncover the fire’s origins. Reporters at The Washington Post analyzed Planet data, along with videos, photographs, and radio communications, and determined that the Palisades Fire ignited close to a burn scar left by another fire six days earlier. These reporters postulated that the larger Palisades Fire may have started when the Lachman Fire’s burn scar reignited, a theory that has now gained widespread acceptance. Wildfires that restart from the scars of recent blazes, sometimes called zombie fires, are an increasingly common and worrying trend, further reinforcing the need for consistent monitoring throughout the lifecycle of a fire.

Addressing the Wildfire Threat

While rapid response is vital, Planet data and solutions also play a crucial role in wildfire mitigation workflows, helping authorities better understand risk before events occur. Subtle changes in canopy structure or spectral signals can reveal early stress — such as drought-related dieback, pest outbreaks, or invasive species — long before signs are visible on the ground. High-resolution, near-daily imagery from Planet gives agencies the speed and detail needed to help detect these early warning signs and prioritize areas for investigation or intervention.

By monitoring vegetation health and dryness, agencies can assess fuel loads, identify ignition risks, and track illegal clearing that increases wildfire danger. Planet is developing a suite of data products intended to provide quantitative, science-backed metrics to assist with evaluating wildfire fuels and risks. To inquire about these upcoming products, please contact the Planet Sales team.

The Path Forward: Partnership and Innovation

As we reflect on the one-year anniversary of the historic and devastating fires in Los Angeles, we recognize that massive, deadly fires are occurring with greater frequency, making mitigation and monitoring critically important across commercial and government organizations. Planet is proud to join partners in applying cutting-edge technology to revolutionizing wildfire risk management, enhancing our ability to protect infrastructure, natural resources, and communities.

In addition to our work with customers and partners to address disaster risks, Planet’s Disaster Data program will continue to make select data available to qualified professionals working to respond during major natural disasters. You can learn more about our Disaster Data program and our constellations on our website.