Parts of Los Angeles under evacuation as Palisades fire picks up due to high winds
LOS ANGELES — Two fires have ignited in the Los Angeles area Tuesday, including one dubbed the Palisades fire that exploded to more than 1,200 acres and has forced evacuations, as the area expects to see some of the worst winds in more than a decade.
Residents in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood almost 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, have been ordered to evacuate as a fast-moving fire grown to more than 1,200 acres, threatening nearly 26,000 people and 13,000 structures, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Areas of Malibu east of Las Flores were also included in the evacuation order.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was on the ground Tuesday afternoon while being briefed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) about the Palisades fire, according to a post on social platform X.
"Californians in the affected areas should stay alert and follow evacuation orders from local authorities http://Ready.CA.Gov," Newsom said in the post.
Newsom announced while on the ground that California had secured federal assistance to help battle the Palisades Fire, according to a press release from the governor's office.
"Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire. In addition to prepositioning dozens of firefighting engines and personnel in advance of the fire threat, we have secured funding from the federal government to fight this destructive, fast-moving fire," Newsom said, per the press release.
"I urge those in Southern California to listen to local officials and follow trusted sources of information during this critical and dangerous time," he added.
Firefighters are also battling another blaze in West Hollywood, which also started Tuesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The cause of both fires is currently under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Southern California is forecast to experience a "destructive and potentially life-threatening windstorm" until noon Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, with wind gusts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties of 50 mph to 80 mph and isolated gusts of 80 mph to 100 mph in the mountains and foothills. Residents are advised to stay indoors, away from windows and to expect power outages.
Residents in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties are advised to stay vigilant of critical fire weather conditions through Thursday.
LAFD Capt. Erik Scott warned that these winds will have the potential to create some "explosive wildfire behavior.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a post on X, urged Angelenos to sign up for @NotifyLA alerts and follow the LAFD for updated information.
"In preparation for high winds, LAFD pre-deployed strike teams in and near areas prone to wildfire. Firefighters are now actively and aggressively responding to the #PalisadesFire with support from regional partners," Bass also said in the post. "Angelenos in the area are urged to heed evacuation warnings and follow direction from public safety officials. Due to increasing winds, this is a very dangerous situation."
Malibu public schools were canceled Tuesday due to "dangerous weather conditions."
The Pacific Coast Highway is closed from the 10 Freeway to Topanga Canyon, only allowing limited access to ease the movement of evacuees and emergency vehicles, officials said. They are also asking residents to avoid the area west of Interstate 405 between Sunset Boulevard and the 101 Freeway to allow emergency responders to work.
In an interview with KTLA, actor Steve Guttenberg urged residents near the Pacific Palisades fire to leave keys in cars left behind so others can move them out of the way and clear paths for firetrucks.
Guttenberg, a Pacific Palisades resident, said he had friends in the evacuation area who couldn't get out because of the traffic and stranded cars.
"It's really important for people to band together. Don't worry about your personal property. Just get out," Guttenberg added.
Fire officials say these "significant winds" will potentially create some "explosive wildfire behavior" and warned residents in areas prone to wildfires to be prepared to evacuate.
"Predetermine what's important to you and your family and what you're going to take in the event that somebody knocks on your door and says you need to leave," Scott told KCAL News Tuesday.
Katherine E. Fleming, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a press release that the Getty Villa in Malibu will remain closed at least through Jan. 13. While some trees and vegetation on the site have burned, no structures are on fire and staff and the collections remain safe, she added.
"Additional fire prevention measures in place at the Villa include water storage on-site. Irrigation was immediately deployed throughout the grounds Tuesday morning. Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections," Fleming said in the press release.
Residents evacuating can go to a shelter at the Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., in Los Angeles, which also accepts small animals. An emergency shelter for large animals has opened at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank.
Updated at 9:09 p.m. EST.