2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

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First Place: Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

From January 7 to 31, 2025, a series of 14 destructive wildfires affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Diego County in California, United States. The fires were exacerbated by drought conditions, low humidity, a buildup of vegetation from the previous winter, and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, which in some places reached 100 miles per hour. The wildfires killed between 31 and 440 people, forced more than 200,000 to evacuate, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,529 acres of land in total. Most of the damage was from the two largest fires: the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades. The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A firefighter jumps over a fence while fighting the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A person evacuates on bike as embers blow during the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood Los Angeles.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A resident sprays their property with a garden hose as the Eaton Fire engulfs structures across the street, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A man walks past a fire-ravaged business after the Eaton Fire swept through Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

The devastation of the Palisades Fire is seen at sunset in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

First Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas, return to Mantia's fire-damaged home after the Eaton Fire swept through, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place: Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

On June 6, 2025, protests began in Los Angeles after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided several city locations to arrest individuals allegedly involved in illegal immigration to the United States. Some protests turned into riots after protestors clashed with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and ICE. People take cover as a fire work explodes during a protest near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A man shouts into a megaphone outside City Hall during a protest over federal immigration enforcement raids on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Demonstrators move an object as a makeshift shelter during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Protesters jump over a fence to avoid being kettled by police during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Protesters attempt to light a Molotov cocktail as a firework explodes during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

California Highway Patrol officers try to dodge rocks being thrown near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Law enforcement investigate a car with a person inside during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A person carries an injured protester to cover during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Spectators watch during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Demonstrators standoff against law enforcement on horseback during a protest Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

People run from police during protests over federal immigration enforcement raids on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in down town Los Angeles.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Second Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A person displaying multiple flags walks past a burning car during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025.

Ethan Swope / Associated Press

Third Place: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Firefighters pull a hose as they battle the Palisades Fire on January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The wind-driven Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County destroyed over 16,000 structures and killed 28 people. It is estimated that roperty and capital losses from the fires could possibly reach between $95 billion to $164 billion.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A firefighting helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire on January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

LFirefighters walk down a hill as they battle the Palisades Fire on January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A firefighter walks along a hillside burned by the Palisades Fire on January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Khaled Fouad (L) and Mimi Laine (R) embrace as they inspect a family member's property that was destroyed by Eaton Fire on January 09, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Mimi Laine reaches for an intact figurine that she found while inspecting her mother's home that was destroyed by Eaton Fire on January 09, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

A cupid statue stands in the rubble of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Los Angeles County firefighters spray water on a burning home as they battle the Eaton Fire on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire sit in the parking area of a burned auto shop on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Fire engulfs a home as the Eaton Fire moves through the area on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

Los Angeles County firefighters spray water on a burning home as the Eaton Fire moved through the area on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Third Place - 2025 Domestic (U.S.) Spot News Picture Story

The Eaton Fire burns through a neighborhood on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images