Fires Rage Across Los Angeles Area as Thousands Evacuate
Strong winds in Los Angeles are feeding several fires in the area, with the devastating Pacific Palisades blaze causing more than 30,000 people to evacuate the neighborhood as well as parts of Malibu and Santa Monica.
As of Tuesday evening, Santa Monica residents who live north of San Vicente Boulevard are under an immediate evacuation order, according to the Santa Monica Police.
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Also on Tuesday evening, a fire broke out in the Eaton Canyon area of Altadena, north of Pasadena, had burned several structures and was expanding quickly to over 400 acres. Residents of Altadena and parts of Pasadena were evacuated.
The blaze in the coastal neighborhood is estimated to have burned more than 2900 acres with the initial blaze centering on the Palisades Highlands neighborhood. Residents left hundreds of cars along Palisades Drive and walked down to Sunset Boulevard.
Actor Steve Guttenberg was helping direct vehicles to clear the way for emergency personnel, KTLA reported. Pacific Palisades’ honorary mayor Eugene Levy told the L.A. Times, “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
The grounds of the Getty Villa Museum just off Pacific Coast Highway sustained some fire damage. “Some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but staff and the collection remain safe,” the Getty said in a statement
Palisades Charter High School was also burned along with the Theater Palisades playhouse.
Actor James Woods shared photos of the fire on his X account and was among those who evacuated. He wrote that he was safe but that houses on his street were among the many that had burned.
In addition, President Biden has canceled his planned appearance in the Coachella Valley town of Thermal and will make his remarks to announce the creation of a new national monument at a later date.
The high winds are expected to last through Wednesday, and the National Weather Service said gusts could be up to 100 miles an hour.
The fire started around 10:30 a.m. near Piedra Morada Drive, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles advised residents to “get set for a potential wildfire evacuation by gathering supplies and loved ones.”
An evacuation center is available at the Westwood Recreation Center on Sepulveda.
The fire’s huge plume of smoke was visible across most of Los Angeles by midday Tuesday, and the LAFD also battled a smaller fire in West Hollywood at Sunset and La Cienega earlier Tuesday.
All Malibu schools were closed for the day and Pacific Palisades schools are relocating to other locations.
In December, the Franklin fire burned more than 4,000 acres in nearby Malibu, destroying several homes.
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