FIRE AID BENEFIT CONCERT 2025

Since January 7, 2025, Los Angeles has been grappling with a series of devastating wildfires, notably the Palisades and Eaton fires. These fires have collectively covered over 40,000 acres, resulting in at least 25 fatalities and the destruction of more than 12,000 structures.

There have been many fires sprouting within Southern California, but the two most notable and destructive have been the Pacific Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. The largest, originating in Pacific Palisades, an affluent residential neighborhood tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica mountains, has consumed approximately 23,713 acres. As of January 16, it still remains only 21% contained. The blaze has led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents and has caused significant damage to landmarks, historic homes, and countless communities. The Eaton Fire, located in Altadena, approximately 14 miles from downtown Los Angeles, has burned around 14,117 acres. At its present moment, it is only 45% contained. This particular fire has resulted in extensive property damage as well and has been a significant challenge for firefighting efforts due to the region’s topography and weather conditions.

A monumental firefighting operation continues to be underway, involving personnel from across North America, including teams from Mexico, Canada, and the Navajo Scouts. Command posts have been established to coordinate strategies, provide resources, and support firefighters with necessities such as meals and equipment. Improved weather conditions, including higher humidity and reduced winds, have provided some respite to firefighting efforts. However, forecasts indicate that conditions may worsen again by Sunday, potentially escalating the wildfire threat. As of now, over 82,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

The fires terrorizing Southern California have displaced over 200,000 residents and only a fraction of those people have had the opportunity to return to their homes. In an effort to give back to the community and collect funds to assist victims of the fire, many artists have come together to put on a Benefit Concert. This concert will take place at two iconic Los Angeles venues, the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, on January 30. The event will be a collaboration between Live Nation and AEG Presents and bring together the largest names in music. Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Earth Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, P!nk, Green Day, Dave Matthews & John Mayer, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Stephen Stills, Sting, and Stevie Nicks are all set to perform. More recently, artists like Stevie Wonder, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak, Dawes, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, No Doubt, and The Black Crowes have also joined the lineup. Additional lineups are forthcoming as more artists get added and venue breakdown develops.

FireAid will be available to livestream on multiple platforms including Apple Music, Apple TV app, Max, iHeart Radio, KTLA+, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video, Sirius XM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube. Over 70 AMC Theaters are set to stream the concert as well.

The proceeds from the concert will go towards a nonprofit specifically created for the event that will “focus on rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced families, and advancing fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure LA is better prepared for fire emergencies” as per their press release. Tickets for the benefit at both venues will be on sale Wednesday, January 22 at 12 p.m on Ticketmaster’s website.

Written by: Ana Oquendo