Adrian
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has announced a new initiative to help firearm owners reclaim their weapons recovered from the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire earlier this year. The wildfire, which began on January 7, 2025, scorched 23,448 acres on the west side of Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
In a press release issued Wednesday, the LAPD urged individuals who believe they may have lost firearms in the blaze to contact the department’s Gun Recovery Unit via email. To initiate the recovery process, owners must provide personal identifying information, including proof of residential address and a detailed description of their firearm.
ALAN HAMILTON, LAPD Chief of Detectives, emphasized the department’s commitment to reuniting owners with their firearms. “Since January, our officers have been meticulously recovering and rendering approximately 500 firearms safe,” he said. “We recognize that these firearms may hold significant sentimental value to their owners, whether as family heirlooms, historical pieces, or personal mementos, and we are doing our best to reunite them with their owners.”
The recovery effort, conducted in collaboration with local agencies and debris removal teams, yielded approximately 500 firearms. Many of the weapons sustained severe fire damage, complicating identification efforts. Despite their condition, the LAPD remains dedicated to processing, identifying, and returning the firearms to their rightful owners.
To report a lost firearm, community members are encouraged to file a lost property report at any LAPD police station or online at [lapdonline.org](https://www.lapdonline.org). Alternatively, they can contact the Gun Recovery Unit directly via email at [palisadesfire@lapd.online](mailto:palisadesfire@lapd.online).
The Palisades Fire, along with the Eaton Fire—which burned 14,201 acres—has been labeled the worst natural disaster in Los Angeles County history. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fires claimed 28 lives and damaged or destroyed over 16,000 structures. At their peak, the infernos forced the evacuation of 180,000 residents.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic losses at more than $250 billion.
**Sources:**
[LAPD Official Website](https://www.lapdonline.org)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
AccuWeather
